The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-16
CHAPTER XVI.
On to Richmond,

CHAPTER XVI.
On to Richmond.
Strangely enough, [ was not dis
tnrbod that day. Mcknight did not ap
pear at all, sat at my desk and
transacted routine business all after
noon, working with feyerish energy
Like n man on the verge of a critical
illness or hazardous journey, | cleared
up my correspondence, paid bills until
/ had writer's cramp from signing
checks, read over my will, and paid up
my life insurance, made to the benefit
of an elderly sister of my mothers.
j no longer dreaded arrest After
that morning in the station, | felt that
everything would be relief from the
tension. [ went home with perfect
openness, courting the warrant that
Knew was waiting, but-I was not mo-
Tested. The. delay puzzled me. The
early part of the evening was unevent-
iul, L read until late, with occasional
lapses, when my book lay at my elbow,
and smoked and thought. Mrs. Klop-
ton closed the house with ostentatious
caution, about eleven. and hung around
waiting to enlarge on the outrageous
ness of the police search. / did not
encourage her.
Zone would think she concluded
PomPouSiS, ohe iooC IN tne nall, that
you were something you oughn t to be.
Mr.. Lawrence. They acted as though
you had committed crime
IN not sure that | didn't, Mrs.
klopton," / said YEARLY. "Some.
body did, and the general verdict seems
to point my way
She stared at me in specchless in.
dlgnaton. Then she founccd out. She
came back once To say that the paper
predicted cooler weather, and that She
had put a blanket on my bed but. TO
her disappointment, / refused to reopen
the subject.
At half past eleven Mcknight and
Hotchkiss came in. Richey has a hab-
1t of stopping his car in front Of the
house and honklng until some one
comes out. He has n codo of signals
with the horn, which I never remem.
Der, Two long and short blast mean,
believe, "Send out a box of cigar.
cites. y and SIX short blasts, which
sound like police call, mean HCan
you lend me some money7' Tonight
| knew something was up. for he got
out and rang the door bell like a Chris
tian,
They came into tho library. and
Hotchklss wiped his collar until II
cleaned, Mcknight was aggressively
cheerful
"Not pinched yetG" he exclaimed.
What do you think of that for luck!
You always were a fortunate devil,
Lawrence,
yes" I assentcd, with some bitter
myself for Joy sometimes. I suppose
You know''-to Hotchkiss-" that the
poIlce were here while we were at
Cresson, and that they found the bag
that | brought from the wrcck7"
Things are coming TO a head.' he
said thoughtfully, "unless a little plan
that have in mind" he hesitated.
perate,' I said dogGedly. GIVE got
{. mental toothache, and the sooner
Tut, tut" said Mcknight, "think
of the disgrace to the firm If its senior
member goes up for life, or" he
twisted has handkerchief into a moose,
and went through an elaborate panto.
mime.
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 at his
watch. and I fancied his cheerfulness
was strained. Hotchkiss was nervous
ly fumbling my book
Did you ever read 'The Purloined
Letter, Mr.. Blakcley?" he inquired.
Probably, years ago." l said. "Poe.
He. was choked at my indifference.
1T is masterpiece, =" he said, with
enthusiasm: 81 re-read it today"
And what happened?''
Then ! inspected the rooms in the
house off Washington Circle. IL made
some discoveries, Mr.. Blakeley. For
one thing, our man there is left t.hand-
edi Cd, HG T, looked around for our .appro-
val, There was small cushion on
the dresser, and the scarf pins in it had
been stuck in with the left hand
Somebody may have twisted the
cushion. / objected, but he looked
hurt. and ] desisted.
There is only one discrepancy, he
admitted, but it troubles me Ac- |
cording to Mrs. Carter, at the farm
house, our man wore gaudy pajamas,
while I found here only the most Sc
verely plain night shirts. -
Any buttons OFF," Mcknight in. |
CURED. looking again at his watch.
The buttons were there the ANA.
teur detective answered gravely, "but |
the buttonhole next the top one was |
torn through
Mcknight winked at me furtively.
Il am convinced of one thing
Hotchkiss went on, clearing his throat |
= the papers are not In that room
Either he carries them with him, or he |
has sold them -
a sound on the street made both nv
visitors listen sharply. Whatever ii |
was 1t passed on, however. was grow
lhg curious and the restraint was telling
on Mcknight He has no talent for
secrecy In the interval we discussed
the strange occurrence at Cressou.
which lost nothing by Hotchkiss' dry
'
And so,' he concluded. "the WON