The Elbert County tribune., 1908-10-08

find 1t difficult to select
among the countless
cases in which l have
NZ been associated with
& II Il Carlton Clarke the one
that will best make
story. At the time of
which this story deals his fame as an
untangler of mysteries had gone far
and wide and our Oak street quarters
often presented a regular procession
OF clients as early and as late as
Clarke was willing to receive them.
Many of my readers doubtless will
recall when the city was shocked by
the mysterious murder of the Honor
able Algernon Sydney Hoppington.
Such was the sensation at the time
that 1t seems almost unnecessary now
to go into the details. The crime, for
crime 1t was upon the face, was dis
covered about four o'clock in the
morning. and so great was the figure
that the Honorable Algernon Sydney
had cut during his three years resi-
dence in Chicago, where he had come
from England to claim the fortune
running well into the millions gra-
ciously founded there by great
uncle. that the newspapers held on
their entire mechanical force for
double-column extra.
l opened the door to admit our old
friend, late Inspector, now Chief,
Shipp. 1t was not his first call at
our humble quarters, for he had long
since discovered where to come for
quiet tip that demanded none of the
official credit in return, and many
stubborn case had he laid before
Clarke.
We had him back into the dining
room. Clarke merely nodded and con-
tinued to sip his coffee and puff at his
cigarette, while he watched the chief
and waited for him to speak
We'll. Mr.. Wizard, suppose you
know what I'm here for before l tell
you," began the chief.
Yes. l should say it is the Hop
pington case. l am afraid I will have
to revise the estimate of the affair /
was just delivering to Mr.. Sexton.
here. Not so simple as it looked then.
Tell us about it. Haven't the servants
put you on the right track?"
mot within thousand miles of the
track. They don't know anything
Hoppington was writing in his library
at eleven o'clock. He called the but
Ter. Biffin, TO get him bottle of wine
Half an hour later he came out to the
dining room, where Biffin was with
Bryson, the other man servant, and
handed them the bottle one-fourth full
and told them to finish it. They did
and that is the last they remember.
Drugged. suppose. have the bottle
with the few drops that were left and
will have them analyzed. The three
maids had been entertaining company,
some OF my men, 1t appears, in the
kitchen. They had just let them out
.he back way and had gone into the
buffers pantry to get a bite to eat be-
fore going up to bed when the door
slammed and they heard the bolt shot
and they were locked in. About an
hour afterward, as near as / can
gather from their hysterical memory
of what happened. they heard pierc-
ing female scream ring through the
house
"And look here! Found It on the
lower Slep Oi tue StOOp, ana tne cnleI
drew from his pocket bundle and on
unrolling 1t displayed a tiny white
satin slipper. No. A. 1t was liter
ally soaked In blood.
"A voman's work. you think?'
uueriei Clarke.
At the Hoppington number we found
one Of those square red stone man.
sions typical of the period Immediate
ly following the fire.
"Ah, he was fancier of orchids, /
see," remarked Clarke.
''Humph," snorted the chief. I'm
sure l don't know what you are talk
ing about, but II you're looking for
clews there are the knife and the slip
per, that are worth more than all your
old orchids put together for my pur-
poses.'
once out of the house Clarke ex-
claimed:
Quick, Sexton. a cab. Well beat
the chief at that little game"
hailed a passing hanson and
Clarke directed the driver to get to the
Auditorium hotel in the quickest pos
sible time.
And can you really lay your hands
on the couple within an hour?"