The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-12-01

1 LlbuEH JOu hAA
I'm not sure that | didn't, Mrs
Klopton," | said YEARLY. Somebody
did, and the general verdict seems tc
point my way"
She stared at me in speeches. III
dignation. Then she flounced out
She came back once to say that the
paper predicted cooler weather, anc
that she had put a blanket on my bed
but, to her disappointment. / refused
to reopen the subject.
At half-past eleven Mcknight and
Hotchkiss came in. Richey has
habit of stopping his car in front Of
the house and honking until some one
comes out. He has a code of signals
with the horn, which / never remem
Der. Two long and a short blast
mean, | believe, Send out a box OF
cigarettes" and six short blasts
which sound like a police call, mean
Can you lend me some money!" To
night | knew something was up, fol-
he got out and rang the door-oel like
a Christian.
They came into the library, and
Hotchkiss wiped his collar until 1t
cleaned. Mcknight vas aggressively
cheerful.
Not pinched yeti" he exclaimed
What do you think Of that for luck!
You always were a fortunate devil
Lawrence"
yes" / a~ssented with some bitter,
ness, 81 hardly know how to contain
myself for JOY sometimes. / suppose
you know"-to Hotchkiss-"that the
police were here while we were at
Cresson, and that they found the bag
that / brought from the wreck?'
Things are coming to a head" he
said thoughtfully, unless a little plan
that / have in mind" he hesitated.
81 hope so; l am pretty nearly des
perate," | said, doggedly. i've got a
mental toothache, and the sooner it's
pulled the better"
Tut, tut" sadi Mcknight, think
of the disgrace to the firm if its senior
member goes up for life, Or" he
twisted his handkerchief into a moose
and went through an elaborate pan
tomiIne.
Although jail isn't so bad, any
how" he finished, there are fellows
that get the habit and keep going
back and going back" He looked a
his watch, and l fancied his cheerful
ness was strained. Hotchkiss was
unr,,,,-l,y f,-,hI;n- NV hnnI
Did you ever read the Purloinet
Letter, Mr.. Blakeley?" he inquired.
Probably ears ago." said. "P0e
isn't it?"
He was choked at my Indifference
1T is a masterpiece" he said. will
enthusiasm. II re-read it to-day"
And what happened?"
Then / inspected the rooms in the
house off Washington Circle. L
made some discoveries, Mr.. Blakeley
For one thing, our man there is left
handed" He looked around for ouI
approval. There was a small cush
ion on the dresser, and the scarf
pins in it had been stuck in with tn
left hand"
Somebody may have twisted tn
cushion" l objected, but he looke'
hurt, and | desisted.
There is only one discrepancy" h
admitted, "but it troubles me. AZ
cording to Mrs. Carter, at the farm
house, our man wore gaudy pajamaS
while l found here only the most Sc
verely plain night-shirts."
ANY buttons OFF," Mcknight il
CURED, looking again at his watch.
THE buttons were there" the anna
teur detective answered gravely, "bu
the ~buttonhole next the top one wa
torn through"
Mcknight winked at me furtively.
Il am convinced of one thing,
Hotchkiss went on, clearing hi
throat, "the papers are not in the
room, Either he carries them wit
him, or he has sold them"
A sound on the street made bot
my visitors listen sharply. Whateve
it was it passed on, however. l wa
growing curious and the restraint wa
telling on Mcknight. He has II
talent for secrecy. In the interval "
discussed the strange occurrence {
Cresson, which lost nothing by Hotel
; kiss dry narration.
! "And So" he concluded, the won
an in the Baltimore hospital is ii
wife of Henry Sullivan and the daug.
J ter of the man he murdered. No wo,
! der he collapsed when he heard
. the wreck"
: SOY, probably" Mcknight put 1
! is that clock right, Lawrence? Nev'
mind, IL doesn't matter. BY the wa
: Mrs. Conway dropped in the office We
terday, while you were away"
What" ! sprang from my chair
Sure thing. Said she had hear
great things Of us. and wanted us
handle her case against the railroad
Il would like to know what she
/ driving at" | reflected. rs she tr
ing to reach me through your"
: Richey's fippancy is often a cloa
for deeper feeling. He dropped
i now. YES" he said, she's after Il
notes. of course. And I'll tell you
d felt like a poltroon-whatever tn;
n may be-when / turned her dow
She stood by the door with her fa'
0 white, and told NE contemptuous