Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-07

THE buttons were there" the anna
teur detective answered gravely, "but
the buttonhole next the top one was
torn through
Mcknight winked at me furtively.
IT am convinced of one thing"
Hotchkiss went on, clearing his
throat, ''the papers are not in that
room. Either he carries them with
him, or he has sold them"
A sound Non the street made both
my visitors listen sharply. Whatever
it was it passed on, however. l was
growing curious and the restraint was
telling on Mcknight. He has no
talent for secrecy. In the interval we
discussed the strange occurrence at
Cresson, which lost nothing by Hotch-
kiss dry narration.
"And So" he concluded, "the wom-
an in the Baltimore hospital is the
wife of Henry Sullivan and the daugh-
ter of the man he murdered. No won
der he collapsed when he heard of
the wreck"
Coy, probably" Mcknight put in.
"Is that clock right, Lawrence? Never
AAAA0, ~ 0OOSA AdoSSS4s oy Iuc way,
Mrs. Conway dropped in the office yes
terday, while you were away"
What" ! sprang from my chair.
"Sure thing. Said she had heard
great things of US, and wanted us to
handle her case against the railroad"
II would like to know what she is
driving at" I reflected. "Is she try
ing to reach me through you?"
Richey's hippancy is often a cloak
for deeper feeling. He dropped it
now. YES" he said, she's after the
notes. of course. And I'll tell you I
felt like a poltroon-whatever that
may be-when turned her down.
She stood by the door with her face
white, and told me contemptuously
that could save you from a murder
charge and wouldn't do it. She made
me feel like a cur. I was just as
guilty as If could have obliged her.
She limited that there were reasons
and she laid my attitude to beastly
motives"
Nonsense" I said, as easily as I
could. Hotchkiss had gone to the
window. "She was excited. There
are no reasons whatever. she
means"
Richey put his hand on my shout
der. We've been together too long to
let any reasons or 'unreasons' come
between us, old man." he said, not
very steadily.
Hotchkiss, who had been silent,
here came forward in his most i'm
pressive manner. He put his hands
under his coat-tails and coughed.
"Mr. Blakeley." he began. ''by Mr..
Meningitis advice we have arranged
little interview here tonight. II
all has gone as planned, Mr.. Henry
Pinckney Sullivan is by this time I'M
der arrest. Within very few min
utes-he will be here"
Il wanted to talk to him before he
was locked up Richey explained.
He's clever enough to be worth
knowing, and, besides, I'm not SO
cocksure of his guilt as our friend the
patch on the seat Of government. No
murderer worthy of the name needs
crime, beginning with robbery, and
ending with an unpleasant father-in-
law"
We were all silent for awhile. Nc
knight stationed himself at win
dow, and Hotchkiss paced the floor
expectantly. Its a great day for
modern detective methods" he CHR
ruped. while the police have been
guarding houses and standing with
their mouths open waiting for clews
to fall in and choke them. we have
pieced together, bit by bit. fab.
rio"
The door-ben rang. followed imme-
diately by sounds of footsteps in the
hall. Mcknight threw the door open,
and Hotchkiss, raised on his toes,
flung out his arm in gesture of SUI
perb eloquence.
"Behold-your mani" he de-
claimed.
Through the open doorway came a
tall, blond fellow, clad in light gray.
wearing tan shoes, and followed close
" by an officer.
II brought him here ~ you suggest
ed, Mr.. Mcknight" said the con-
stable.
But Mcknight was doubled over the
library table in silent commissions of
mirth. and was almost az bad. Lit
tie Hotchkiss stood up, his important
attitude finally changing to one of
chagrin, while the blond man ceased
to look angry, and became sheepish.
It was Stuart, our confidential clerk
for the last half dozen years!
Mcknight sat up and wiped his
eyes.
Stuart" he said sternly. there are
two very serious things we have
learned about you. First. you jab
your scarf-pins into your cushion with
your left hand, which is most repre-
hensible; second, you wear-er-night
shirts, instead of pajamas. Worse
than that. perhaps, we find that one
Of them has a buttonhole torn out at
the neck"
Stuart was bewildered. He looked
from Mcknight. to me. and then at
the crestfallen Hotchkiss.
II haven't any idea what It's all
about" he said. n was arrested as
| reached my clearinghouse tonight,
lftsr the theateF, and brought direct
y here. told the ohacer it Was .
Poor Hoechfiss tried bravsly to
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