Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-08-06
That's Clements!" muttered the de

That's Clements!' muttered the de-
tective.
The doctor came in at the moment
with sheet of paper in his hand
which he passed to the detective. say
ing: ff4EEst b
This fell from his clothes some
where just now. 1t has a strange look,
considering the circumstances. and IN
case he shouldn't recover"
rs there any danger Of that?' Sy-
monds interrupted, quickly. Il
There is no telling yet. You would
better copy that, at all events. II
may be nothing-still ! would make
sure of it."
looked at the paper and
thought SO too. most decidedly, for
It was. or seemed to be. nothing less
than a note in cypher. 1t ran:
II cikccoco mcfcmf cmcfceecof con
onkckf ockiceuiceu onf clcclfck ccee
mkfmcg lcfck onfce onkcfocciccee
ecfococckci cifcee emf ofcfocck clccici
cgfof ccee keoge onkf omcof lckn /
cmoccion cecfon of cifYce."
There was neither address nor sig
nature nor date, but the detective set
himself at once to copying 1t out. for.
as the doctor said. in the -circum-
stances 1t had a queer look. When he
had taken the characters down he re-
turned the paper. at the same time
suggesting a search OF the patients
pockets for additional finds. And as
the doctor gave him one glance and
returned to the parlor. he left the be-
wildered Symonds rejecting that here
was man who was trying to impress
him with the notion that he was al.
together too good for this world.
The policeman who had examined
the lower parts OF the house returned
saying that the rooms were all desert
ed. and appeared as II nobody had
been in them for hours. The fire In
the range was so low that the kitch-
en- was like a barn. and the doors
were wide open all the way out from
the basement hall-four OF them: and
the gate itself. in the back fence
which gave on a lane. though It wns
closed. had not one Of Its three bolts
shot into place.
You go out the back door," said
the detective. "and see II you can ind
anybody that saw any woman, or any
body else. going In or out thu. gate.
Whoever 1t was that done II must iavs
slid in that way. and with all them
'winders over there somebody must
have seen EN-" : = - =
They might have gone out that
way" returned the policeman. but
I don't see how they could 60 to work
to git in. The back ways 10 kept bolt
ed up tiehter-ail them gates along
there In the lane-than the front
ways Is. And there's all them doors
-four of EN-! And every one always
locked up tighter'n a drum. I'll bet
cher
You go on and do as you're told. May.
be the maids left 'em open on purpose
for somebody-how do We know? We
got to go slow. a little at time. and
pick 1t up wherever we can. You go
over there to them houses. It's a
chance OF getting wise to something.
anyway. and well take IT," q
The officer started without more
words. and the detective ascended to-
ward the upper regions. He met the
second policeman coming down. and
his report of the condition OF the top
floors was a repetition Of the other
mans regarding the lower ones. He
said that the doors were open all the
way up. ladder led to the skylight.
and that also was half-wide. "A bunch
Of yeggmen." he said. might slide
in from the roof and skate all over the
premises unbeknownst with only deafy
to buck against. and she asleep in the
parlor!"
We'll. then. you go to the neighbors
in this block and find out what you
can" Symonds ordered. It's likely
enough they came in by the skylight
and skipped out by the gate. That
would account for the open doors
down there-if the maids want in the
game. I'll hang round here some and
see how the boy pulls on. II he comes
to 1t will save us a bunch Of TROUBLED"
The doctor entered roiselessly and
closed the door. r..s Z
Hes malingering." he said. In an
undertone, nodding sidewise In the
patients direction. IF he will he can
speak as well as you or can"
why. that's funny. tool" Symonds
exclaimed in a whisper. r.N
HE probably has his reasons. He 10
hurt but very little and doubtless has
been conscious some time. perhaps
hearing all that has passed in his
room. But we'll fix him. Just put
your foot up here--sit down and rest
your leg on this chair. There. Ill
show Won what I want YOU to do"
He held the foot firmly by the heel
with one hand and with the other
gave the toe n sudden. sharp twist in
ward.
ouch! Quit IT," cried Symonds.
His face for once expressed something
and IL uas mt ANYTHING nlea SAINT