Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-22

knights advice we have arranged a little
interview here tonight. II all has gone as
] planned, Mr. Henry PincSney Sullivan is
by this time under arrest. Within a very
few minutes--he will be here
II wanted to talk to him before he was
locked up" Richey explained Hes clover
enough to be worth knowing, ana, besides.
I'm not so cock-sure of his guilt as our
friend the Patch on the Seat of Govern
ment. No murderer worthy of the name
needs six different motives for the same
crime, beginning with robbery, and ending
with an unpleasant father-in-law."
We were all silent for while. Nc
Knight stationed himself at a window, and
Hotchkiss paced the floor expectantly. ITS
a great day for modern detective methods"
he chirruped while the police have been
guarding houses and standing with their
mouths open waiting for clues to fall in
and choke them, we have pieced together,
bit by bit, fabric"
The door bell rang. followed Immediately
by sounds OF footsteps in the hall. Nc
Knight threw the door open, and Hotch-
kiss raised on his toes, flung out his arm
in a gesture of superb eloquence.
"Behold-your mani" he acclaimed
Through the open doorway came a tall,
blond fellow, clad in light gray, wearing
tan shoes, and followed closely by an Of
ficer.
II brought him here as you suggested,
Mr.. Mcknight" said the constable.
But Mcknight was doubled over tha
library table in silent commissions of mirth,
and 1 was almost as bad. Little Hotchkiss
stood up. his important attitude finally
changing to one of chagrin, while the blond
man ceased to look angry and became
sheeplsh
1t 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 pin into
your cushion with your left hand, which is
most reprehensible; second, you wear-er-
night shirts, instead of pyjamas Worse
than that, perhaps. we find that one OF
them has a buttonhole torn cut at the
neck"
Stuart was bewildered. lie looked from
Mcknight to me, and then at the crest
fallen Hotchkiss.
Il haven't any idea what it's all about"
he said. II was arrested as / reached my
boarding house tonight, after the theater.
and brought directly here. l told the Off
Ger 1t was a mistake"
Poor Hotchkiss tried bravely to justify
the fiasco
You can not deny" he contended, that
Mr.. Andrew Bronson followed you TO your
rooms last Monday evening"
Stuart looked at us and flushed
mo, ] don't deny IT," he said, but there
was nothing criminal about it, on my part.
at least. Mr.. Bronson has been trying to
induce me to secure the forged notes for
him. But did not even know where they
were"
And you were not or the wrecked
Washington Flier?" persisted Hotchkiss.
But Mcknight interfered.
There is no use trying to put the other
mans identity on Stuart, Mr.. Hotehkiss,"
he protested. HE has been our confiden-
tial clerk for six years and has not been
away from the office day for year.
, am afraid that the beautiful fabric we have
pleced out OF all these scraps is going to
be a crazy quilt" His tone was facotious.
but could detect the undercurrent of real
disappointment
/ paid the constable for HIS trouble, and
, he departed. Stuart, still indignant. left
. to 90 back to Washington Circle lie shook
; hands with Mcknight and myself mag
; unanimously, but he hurled a look Of utter
, hatred at Hotchkiss, sunk crestfallen in his
chair.
/. las far as can see." said Mcknight
E dryly, we're exactly as far along as We
> were the day we met at the Carter place
We're not a steap nearer TO finding our
man"
. I'VE have one thing that may be ot
value" / suggested. HE is the husband of
y q bronze-haired woman at Van Kinks hos
. pital and It Is just possible we may trace
him through her. ] hope we are not going
= to lose your valuable cooperation, Mr..
Hotchkiss" / asked
: (To Be Continued.)