Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-08-11

I'm not sure that | didn't, MRS.
Klopton," l said YEARLY. Somebody
did, and the general verdict seems to
point my way"
She stared at me in speeches. inv
dignation. Then she floupced out.
She came back once to say that the
paper predicted cooler weather, and
that she had put blanket on my bed,
but, to her disappointment, l refused
to reopen the subject.
At half-past eleven Mcknight and
Hotchkiss came in. Richey has a
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 box OF
cigarettes" and six short blasts,
which sound like police call, mean
Can you lend me some money! To
night / knew something was up, for
he got out and rang the door-bell like
a Christian
They came into the library, and
Hotchkiss wiped his collar until it
cleaned. Mcknight was aggressively
cheerful.
Not pinched yeti" he exclaimed.
What do you think of that for luck!
You always were fortunate devil,
Lawrence"
yes" l assented with some bitter
ness, Il hardly know how to contain
myself for joy sometimes. suppose
you know"-to Hotchkiss-"th the
police were here while we were at
Cresson, and that they found the bag
that brought from the wreck?"
Things are coming to head" he
said thoughtfully, unless little plan
that l 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 moose
and went through an elaborate pan
tomime.
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 al
his watch, and l fancied his cheerful
ness was strained. Hotchkiss was
nervously fumbling my book
Did you ever read the Purloinet
Letter, Mr. Blakeley?" he inquired.
Probably, years ago." said. poe
isn't it?"
He was choked at my Indifference
1T is a masterpiece" he said, will
enthusiasm. 81 re-read it today"
And what happened?"
Then l inspected the rooms in the
house off Washington Circle. /
made some discoveries, Mr.. Blakeley
For one thing, our man there is left
handed" He looked around for ou
approval. "There was small cush
ion on the dresser, and the scarf
pins in it had been stuck in with thu
left hand"
Somebody may have twisted thu
cushion" l objected, but he looked
hurt, and desisted.
There is only one discrepancy" HI
admitted, "but it troubles me. Ac
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."
amy buttons OFF," Mcknight in
quired, looking again at his watch.
THE buttons were there" the anna
teur detective answered gravely, "bu
the buttonhole next the top one wal
torn through"
Mcknight winked at me furtively.
81 am convinced of one thing,
Hotchkiss went on, clearing hi
throat, 1.-THE papers are not in tina
room. Either he carries them will
him, or he has sold them"
A sound on the street made boil
my visitors listen sharply. Whatever
it was it passed on, however. l wal
growing curious and the restraint wal
telling on Mcknight. He has NJ
talent for secrecy. In the interval VIZ
discussed the strange occurrence a
Cresson, which lost nothing by Hotch
kiss dry narration.
"And So" he concluded, "the won
an in the Baltimore hospital is thu
wife of Henry Sullivan and the daugh
ter of the man he murdered. No won
der he collapsed when he heard o
; the wreck"
Joy, probably" Mcknight put in
rs that clock right, Lawrence? NeveI
mind, it doesn't matter BY the way
Mrs. Conway dropped in the office yes
terday, while you were away"
What" sprang from my chair.
Sure thing. Said she had hearC
great things of us, and wanted us t
handle her case against the railroad.
81 would like to know what she II
driving at" / reflected. rs she try
ing to reach me through your"
Richey's flippancy is often cloal
for deeper feeling. He dropped
now. Eyes," he said, She's after thu
notes, of course. And I'll tell you
felt like a poltroon-whatever thai
may be-when turned her down
She stood by the door with her face