The Columbus journal., 1910-10-26
CHAPTER xvii-Continued.

Was the name Biakcley?" | asked. |
1t might have been-y can't say |
But the m2a wasn't there. and there |
MAS 10. 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
the me ssage sent.
Hes gone. of course"
Yes. I.imped down here In about
three DAYS and took the noon train for
the city"
Ii seemed certainty now that our
man, having hurt himself somewhat
in his jump had stayed quietly in the
farm house until he was able to tray
IL But. to be positive. We decided to
visit the Carter place.
| gave the station agent a five-dOl-
lar bill, which he rolled up with
couple OF others and stuck in his
pocket l turned as We got TO a bend
i'm the road. and he was looking curl
Ously after us.
II was not until we had climbed the
hill ard turned onto the road to the
Carter place that | realized where we
were going Although We approached
II from another direction, | knew the
farm house at once. II was the one
where Alison West and l had break
faStea nine days before. With new
restraint between us, l did not tell
Mcknight | wondered afterward If
he had suspected it. I saw him look
ing hard at the gatepoSt which had
figured i'm one OF our mysteries. but he
asked no questions. Afterward he
grew almost taciturn, for him, and let
me do most of the talking.
We opened the front gate of the
Carter place and went slowly up the
walk. Two ragged youngsters. alike
even to freckles and squintS, We're
playing in the yard.
is your mother around?" asked.
In the front room. Walk in." they
answered in identical tones.
As we got to the porch We heard
voices. and stopped. l knocked. but
the people within. engaged in animat-
ed, rather ona-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. pleasant
faced woman with a checked apron.
rose, somewhat embarrassed. to meet
us. She did not know me. and | was
thankful. But our attention was riv-
eted on a little man who was sitting
before a table. writing busily. 1t was
HotchkiSs,
He got up when he saw us, and had
the grace to look uncomfortable.
Such an interesting case" he said
nervously. Il took the liberty"
Look here" said Mcknight sud
denly, did you make any inquiries
at the station"
A few" he confessed. Il went to
the theater last night felt the need
of a little relaxation-and the sight OF
picture there, a cinematOgraph af
fair. started a new line of thought
Probably the same clew brought YOU
gentlemen. learned a good bit from
the station agent"
The son-of-a-gun." said Mcknight
And you paid him. SUPPOSE"
Il gave him five dollars" was the
apologize answer.
Mrs. Carter. hearing sounds o.
strife in the yard, went out. ant
Hotchkiss folded up his papers.
Il think the identity OF the man i.
established" he said. What numbe
of hat do you wear. Mr. Blakeley?"
Seven and a quarter" l replied.
Well. it's only pilins up evidence.
he said cheerfully. On the night o
the murder you wore gray silk under
clothing. with the second button o
she shirt missing. Your hat had L
h in gilt letters inside. and there wa
a very minute hole in the toe of on
black sock.
Hush" Mcknight protested. Il
word gets to Mrs. klopton that Nj
Blakeley was wrecked, or robbed. @
whatever it was. with 4 button mis-:
ing and hole in one sock, she'll n
.i.e TO the Gid Ladies' home Nv
heard her threaten ii"
Mir. HotchkisS was without a sens
of tumor. He regarded Mcknigt
srayely and went on:
I've been up in the room where tn
man lay while he was unable to 6,
away. and there is nothing there. Ri
found what may be a possible Gle
in the dust heap.
Mrs. Carter tells me that in II
packing his grip the other day ST
shook out of the coat OF the pajam'
some pieces of a telegram AS l II
ure it. the pajamas were his own r
probably had them on when he
fected the exchange.
nodded assent. All had cetain'
OF my own clothing was the suit
paiamas | was wearing and my ba
robe.
Therefore the telegram was n
cot yours have pieces here. b