The Washington times., 1909-04-07
CHAPTER xxx.
THE WASTE PAPER BASKET.
HE janitor's words had no great

49, HE janitor's words had no great
erect upon Detective Peabody,
who had never heard OF the
mysterious, tall, dark bearded
man. and consequently saw no speclai
significance in the janitor's description
Of the tenant Of room 900.
steve CIayton's emotion, however.
was so evident that the detective gazed
ht him In amazement.
DO you know this fellow?' he in
uuIred. Have you ever met him.
Stevs?~
Yes, 7 have met him" replied Clay
ton. 81 don't know much about him. 1
am sorry TO say; but know that he IS
q desperate character and monster In
human form"
How do you know THAR inquired
Peabody eagerly.
Because the assassination Of Frank
HARRINGTON Is not the first act OF vio-
Ience this scoundrel has been engaged
In. A week or so ago he tried TO lid
nap Laura Hamilton-if it had not been
for the Intervention OF the girls father,
Wilbur Leslie. and myself. he would
have succeeded IN carrying her off by
force in a big red automobile. He has
also tried 10 kiln the girl by sending her
poisoned candles through the mail. oh.
he IL a fine gentleman assure you. 1
haven't the slightest doubt now that It
was he who committed the murder"
why haven't you told me about him
before2' demanded the detective sus-
piciousiy-
Because the possibility Of his being
connected with the murder of Frank
harrington never entered my head until
now" replied Clayton 81 did not think
that these other things had any direct
bearing upon the murder; but now
see that the assassination OF Frank
harrington IS merely a part OF the
mysterious and diabolical game Of plot
and counterpart which has been puz-
cling me for days.
He proceeded to give Peabody a. brief
outline OF the exciting and mysterious
Incidents which had followed the find
<ing OF the photograph in the library
hook by Wilbur Leslie.
Gee whizzr' exclaimed the detective.
when he had finished. THAT certainly
Is a strange yarn. Steve. I wonder
what It all means. I wonder who that
girl really IS and why those fellows
have been so greatly interested In her
I wonder why that photograph was
placed In the library hook. This sure
j. has turned out 10 be a queer case. +"
1T IS the greatest mystery I have
ever heard Of declared Clayton.
''You and I have got to find the an
swer together. Frank"
Yes: but first Of all we must find
this fellow with the whiskers. That is
most important. These other mysteri-
Gus details constitute a very pretty
=
UP 20 me TO apprehend this murderer
before turn my attention to anything
else.
IT am inclined to agree with you now
that this fellow MorOso OF that is his
real name, which / suppose it isnD. is
the murderer of Frank harrington. l
have get &C get him"
do you suppose there Is any chance
OF his returning to room 1892" sug-
gested Clayton.
mo. I'm afraid not. He has gone
for good He viii rever take advan-
tage of the months rent he paid I'm
advance for that office. 1 firmly be-
Iieve he hired that office for the ex-
press purpose OF getting an opportunity
20 shoot at Frank harrington across the
sir-shaft. and, having succeeded. It is
ridiculous 10 suppose that he win re-
Turn here"
II wonder why he did kin Frank Bar
rington," said Clayton. thoughtfully
II cant comprehend that at all. II Il
had been Arthur harrington he shot II
would have been very easy TO under
stand, for Arthur had won the love OF
that girl and was about 20 marry her
but why should the tail. dark-bearded
man have murdered Frank Darlington
who had lost in the rascally contest for
the girls hand"
The detective shrugged his shoulders
helplessly.
1T does seem queer. but II IS no use
trying 20 get at the motive until we
have got the man. he replied. ''Once
we have that fellow in our grasp
don't apprehend much difficulty In find
ing out what were his reasons for muir
dering harrington.
Wouldn't II be n good idea for US q
go upstairs TO room 800 and make an
Inspection? We may find something
there that will help US to find our man,
suggested Clayton.
Eyes. That's a good graft" said Pea.
body. % Twas just about TO propose &
myself"
The above conversation had taken
place on the sidewalk outside the ofhc,
ogder that their talk should not b,
overheard by the janitor
They now re-entered the building, and
as they did so the jsnitor came runnin.
toward them ole-riy.
Hey Gca.s.