The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-12-07

Il wanted TO talk TO 1In OS-ors
was locked up Richey explained.
Hes clever enough to be worth
knowing. ard. besides. I'm rct so
cocksure Of his guilt as our friend the
patch on the seat Of government. 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 awhile. Nc
knight stationed himself at a win
dow. and Hotchk.ss paced the 6oor
expectantly. Its q 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
PIE, ed together. bit by bit. q fab
rio"
The door-bell 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 a gesture OF su-
perb elOquence.
"Behold-your man" he de
claimed.
Through the open doorway came .
tall. blond fellow. clad n light gray.
wearing tan shoes. and followed close
ly by an officer
Il brought him here as you suggest
ed. Mr.. Mcknight" said the con
stable.
! Eut Mcknight was doubled over the
library table in silent commissions o!
mirth. ard was almost As bad. Lit.
tie HOtchkiss stood up. his important
attitude finally changing 10 one OF
chagrin. while the blond man ceased
To look angry. and became sheepish.
II was Stuart. our confidential clerk
for the last half dozen years.
Mcknight sat up aEL 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 buttonhOle torn out 1t
the neck"
Stuart was bewildered. He looked
from Mcknight TO me. and then at
the crestfallen Hotchkiss
| Il haven't any idea what rs all
] nh hA
I reached my boarding house tonight.
after the theater. and brought direct
ly here. ! told the officer il was a
| mistake"
| Poor Iiotchkiss tried bravely to
! Justify the fiascO
You can not deny" he contended.
that Mr. Andrew Bronson followed
ynu To your rooms last Monday eve
ming"
| Stuart looked at us and flushed.
| No. I don't deny it," he said. but
| there was nothing criminal about il.
IN my part. a; least. Mr.. Bronson has
been trying TO induce me 10 secure
tine forged notes for him. But l did
| nc: even know where they were"
And you were not on the wrecked
| Washington Flier:" persisted Hotch
kiss. Hut Mcknight interfered.
There IS no use trying to put the
other mans identity on Stuart. Mr..
| Hotchkiss." he protested. He has
| been our confidential clerk for six
years. and has not been away from
the Office a day for year. I am
afraid that the beautiful fabric We
| have pieced out Of al! these scraps is
| going To be crazy quilt" His tone
! WAS facetious. but l could detect the
| undercurren. OF real disappointment.
paid the constable for his trouble.
and he departed. Stuart. still indig-
nant. left to go back To Washington
| Circle. He shook hands with Nc
! Knight and myself maGnanimously.
| but he hurled look Of utter hatred
at Ho;chkiss. sunk crestfallen in his ,
| chair.
As for as l can See" said Nc
A., Knight dryly. were exactly as far
! along as We were the day We met at !
the Carter place. We're not a step |
! nearer TO finding our man"
I'VE have one thing that may be OF |
value" / suggested. HE Is the hus-
band OF a bronze-Eaired woman at
| Van Kinks hospital. and it is Just !
possible We may trace him through |
her. hope We are not going to lose |
your valuable cooperation. Mr.. Hotch- |
kiss" asked.
lie reused at that 10 feeble interest /
"I-oh. Of course not. II You still care |
to have me. II was wondering about |
the man who just went out. Stuart. |
you say? - told his landlady to-
night that be wouldn't need the room
again. hope she hasn't rented it 10
somebody else" !
We checred him as best We could.
and I suggested that We go 10 Balti-
more the next day and try to find the
real Sullivan through his wife. He
left sometime after midnight. and
Richey and I were alone.
gro BE CONTINUED
EzIr- y44