The Huttig news., 1910-06-11

 late
 He put his hand out in front of him, and the satchel fell with bang.
 My Godi he said. and dropped right on the track in heap. q got him into the station and he came around, but he kept on grooming something awful. He'd sprained his ankle, and when he got little better I drove him over in Carter's milk wag or to the Carter place, and l reckon he stayed there spell"
 That's all, is it?' I asked. That's all--or. no. there's some thing else About noon that day one of the Carter twins came down with a note from him asking me to send long-distance message to some one in Washington
 ITO whom?" l asked eagerly.
 q reckon I've forgot the name, but the message was that this fellow and if the man had escaped from the wreck would he come to see him"
 "He wouldn't have sent that mes sage to me- said to Mcknight. rath- CT crestfallen. He'd have every ob- 1 ject in keeping out of my way
 There might be reasons" Nc Knight observed judicially. He might not have found the papers then"
 Was the name Blakeley?" I asked
 "It might have been-I can't say But the man wasn't there. and there was lot of noise. couldn't hear well. Then in half an hour down came the other twin to say the gentleman was taking on awful and didn't want tue message sent
 Hes gone. of cotrse?"
 .Yes. Limped down here in about three days and took the noon train for tbe city"
 It seemed a certainty now that our man, having hurt himself somewhat in his jump, had stayed quietly in the farm house until he was able to trav- el. But, to be positive, We decided to visit the Carter place.
 I gave the station agent a five-del lar bill, which he rolled up with a couple of others and stuck in his pocket I turned as we got to a bend in the road, and he was looking euri- ously after us.
 It was not until we had climbed the 1 hill and turned onto the road to the Carter place that I realized where we were going. Although We approached it from another direction, I knew the farm house at once It was the one where Alison West and had break l lasted nine days before. With a new restraint between us, I did not tell | Mcknight I wondered afterward if | he had suspected it. I saw him look ing hard at the gatepost which had figured in one of our mysteries. but he asked no questio.s. Afterward he grew almost taciturn, for him, and let me do most Of the talking.
 We opened the frnnt gate of the Carter place and went slowly up the walk. Two ragged youngsters, alike even to freckles and squints. were playing in the yard.
 ''ls your mother around?" I asked.
 Tn the front room. Walk in," they answered in identical tones.
 As We got to the porch we heard voices, and stopped. I knocked, but the people within, engaged in animat- ed, rather one-sided conversation, did not answer
 In the front room Walk in. quoted Mcknight. and did SO
 In the stuffy farm parlor two peo- pie were sitting. One, a pleasant faced woman with a checked apron. rose, somewhat embarrassed to meet us. She did not know me. and I was thankful. But our attention was riv- eted on little man who was sitting before table, writing busily It was Hotchkiss!
 He got up when he saw us, and had the grace to look uncomfortable.
 Such an interesting case he said nervously, q took the liberty"
 Look here,' said Mcknight sud denly. did you make any inquiries al the station?"
 "A few" he confessed 'I went to the theater last night felt the need of little relaxation-and the sight of picture there, cinematograph af- fair. started a new line of thought Probably the same clew brought you gentlemen. I learned a good bit from the station agent
 ''The son-of-a-gun," said Mcknight And you paid him. I suppose?"
 q gave him five dollars" was the apologetic answer
 Mrs Carter, hearing sounds of strife in the yard, went out, and Hotehkiss folded up his papers.
 T think the identity of the man is established he said What number of hat do you wear, MT. Blakeley?"
 Seven and quarter" I replied.
 Well. it's only piling up evidence" he said cheerfully "On the night of the murder you wore gray silk under clothing. with the second button of the shirt missing. Your hat had T.. R in gilt letters inside. and there was very minute hole in the toe of one black sock"
 Hush" Mcknight protested If