El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-28
The Lacquered Box
By James Keen

A shade of annoyance clouded inspec-
tor Deslane's face as the young man
seated before him finished his story.
My Dear Mr.. Howell. said the in
spector, you have come here to tell
me that your father did not commit sui
eide, but was murdered You try to
explain the fact that the room where
your father was found dead was full
of gas because the jet, being nearly on
a portable table lamp, had been extin-
guished by being knocked to the floor
in some manner. That is barely accept
able, but chat makes the case lock like
accidenz, not murder"
Yes, but"-the young man started to
say. but the inspector cut him off.
II also consider the report of detective
Shaw to be of some value" the inspec-
in Scotland Yard" He stated that the
presence of the lamp on the floor made
the case look like an accident at first,
but he figured, and rightly too, that no
man not contemplating suicide, would
sit calmly by disconnected gas pipe
and allow himself TO be asphyxiated.
No, young man. I understand your
feelings. You cannot bring yourself to
believe something that is apparent to
everybody else because the person in
this case is your father. I'll admit that
1 was surprised when 1 heard that John
Howell had killed himself, because he
had NIB troubles that I know Of"
That is true" said the young man,
and that is why l know he did not
take his own life. Why, my father
used to rail against suicides and call
them the worst towards in the world"
But you admit you know of nobody
who would want to see him dead.
No one" was the reluctant reply.
Then 1 am afraid you are wasting
both my time and your own" said the
inspector finally, rising and extending
a hand to his visitor. L am sorry, but
L cannot share in your theories
The young man reached the door and
Inspector Deslane was already deep in
some papers in his desk when the for
mer hesitated.
Just one thing more" he said to the
inspector. Did Detective Shaw say
anything about a little lacquered box
that was found on the table near his
body?"
Il believe he did" answered the in
spector ,frowning at the persistence of
his visitor What had that TO do with
the case?''
Nothing. except that it had just been
received through the mail with no
marks on it to show who the sender
was. And besides that it was abso-
lutely empty except for some absorbent
cotton in it
Inspector Deslane sat silent for a
moment. Then he reached for his hat
as if struck with a sudden resolve.
Young man." he said. as he went
to the door, your story of the box has
made me think that there may be some
thing more in your fathers death than
appears on the surface 1 will go to
your house with you to clear up this
one point
Arrived at the house Inspector Des-
lane looked curiously around the rich
ly furnished dining room where John
Howell, one of London's most famous
physicians, had been found dead a week
before.
The inspectors face. however. did
not betray his thoughts when the son
of the dead man entered the room and
plOced a small lacquered box in the de-
tectives hands.
The box itself was perfectly plain as
was the paper wrapper that had been
around it. The address on the wrapper
had been typewriter, so there was no
clue there to the sender. and the in
terror of the box contained only a layer
Of medicated cotton, as the young man
had said.
The inspector examined the box
closely and then pulled out the cotton.
Taking a small magnifying glass from
his pocket he gazed through it at the
cotton and then suddenly arose and
carried it to the window.
Come here" he called to the son.
What does. this look like to your
Young Howell gazed at the filmy
stuff in the Inspectors hands and saw
nesting in the center of it a tiny bit
IF something that glistened like a
diamond.
What does that look like to your
he inspector asked him.
"A small piece of ism glass or
MICA" replied the other
1T is neither, but it is something
hat leads me TO think, my boy, that
you are right"
That my father was murdered?"
sasped the young man.
YES" replied Inspected Deslane,
and in a most horrible manner But |
he question is who could have done I!
{. Your father had no enemies, you !
ay.''
None that any of us knew about"