The Washington times., 1909-04-04

EFORE Clayton took his depar-
l. ture from the home of the Ham
iltons he carefully examined tide
box OF candy which had been
sent u Laura
He was determined TO find out II
possible. who was responsible for the
sending of those poisoned confections,
for ne felt that the solving Of this
mystery was an important step in the
solution Of the other mysteries which
surrounded this unfortunate girl
The poisoned candy incident greatly
complicated the problem, for 1t seemed
to demonstrate that this villainOus
game of plot and counterplot was a
three-cornered fight instead of a strug-
gle confined merely 70 Arthur Barring
ton and his allies on one side and the
late Frank Darlington and his gang on
the ether
CbaracteristicaHy different as their
methods had been. the two brothers
had apparently each played the game
with the same object in view-the win
ming of the girls hand I'm marriage.
But there was a third party who
desired 10 bring about the death Of the
girl.
Who was this person and why would
he or she benefit by accomplishing the
murder Of Laura Hamilton when both
Arthur and Frank Darlington had ex-
pected 10 benefit by duping or forcing
the girl into matrimony?
This new phase of the mystery great
II puzzled Steve Clayton. He eagerly
examined the box Of candy in the hope
of finding some clue 10 the Identity Of
the sender
He had ascertained Dy the pOstmarB
on the wrapper that the package had
been mailed at postal station p. d. lie
also learned BY the name printed in
cold script on the lid Of the box that
the candy had been purchased at Hal
lard's.
This latter detail. however. could no.
be regarded as a very strong clue for
the reason that Hallard the well-knOwr
confectioner, had more than a score OF
shops all over the city and there seemed
To he no means Of telling at which par
ticular store this box had been bought.
But suddenly Clayton made a discov-
cry which caused him TO give vent TO a
joyful exclamation.
on the bottom OF the box was red
! smLdge on which was the distinct inn
preston OF a finger print This smudgC
might have been made with red ink or il
might have been made with blood II
might have been accidentally put there
! by The person who had purchased tn,
/ box Of candy or it might have beer
/ made by one Of Hallards s salesgirI.
whilc the box was in her hands.
! Clayton devoutly hoped that the lat
/ ter was the case. He hoped that the
/ red smudge was blood and that one o.
/ the salesgirls had accidentally imprinted
( it on the box.
J For if this was the case, he told him
I sell, il ought not 10 be impossible 10 fine
! out at which OF Hallard's stores tn,
/ candy had been purchased.
/ All that hc would have TO do would
! be 10 visit each Of the stores in turI
and inquire if one Of she girls had Gu
her hand within the past few days.
To follow up this none too promising
I clue would require the expenditure o
much time and labor; but in Steve.
/ opinion the attempt was we'll worth Tn,
making.
II he could find a girl with a cut han,
in any one Of Hallards many store
he would in ali probability find tn
salesGirl who had sold that box Of cand,
{ and might be able TO get from her a de
| scription Of the person who bought it
with this slim hope. Clayton starte,
, out. but finding that Hallard's store
were all closed for the day. and tina
therefore ne could not begin 20 hun
/ until the following morning. hg decid =,
10 pass some Of the time on his hand
Z by paying another visit 90 his unfor
I tUnate friend and client. Wilbur Leslie
The lieutenant on the desk at the sta
tion house, after some demuT. gave hin
permission TO sec the prisoner again
Clayton found Wilbur Leslie sitting o
a cot in his gloomy cell. his face burie
in his hands. prey 20 the deepest de
lection.
Hello, old fellow Clayton ex
claimed cheerily. Not giving way al