The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-03-02
CHAPTER XVII-CoAtinued.

WAS the name Blakeley?" I asked.
1T 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
the message sent"
Hes gone, of cOurse?"
''Yes Limped down here in about
three DAYS and took the noon train for
the city
1t 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 trav-
ell 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 a
couple Of others and stuck in mis-
pocket. I turned as we got to a bend
in the road, and he was looking curl
ously after US.
It was not until we had climbed the
hill and turned onto the road to the
Carter place that | realized where we
were going. Although We approached
It from another direction, knew the
farm house at once. 1t was the one
where Alison West and | had break
tasted nine days before. With a new
restraint between US, I did not tell
Mcknight. ! wondered afterward If
he had suspected it. | saw him look
ing hard at the gatepost which had
figured in 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, were
playing in the yard.
as your mother around?" I asked.
'In 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 antmat-
ed, rather one-sided conversation, did
not answer.
In the front room. Walk in,'
quoted Mcknight. aud 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 l was
thankful But our attention was riv-
eted on little man who was sitting
before 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. q went to
the theater last night felt the need
of little reIaXation-and the sight of
a 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-ofa-gun," said Mcknight
And you paid him, I suppose?"
a gave him five dollars" was the
apologize answer.
Mrs. Carter, hearing sounds of
strife in the yard, went out, and
Hotchkiss folded up his papers.
81 think the identity of the man is
established" he said. What number
of hat do You wear, Mr.. Blakeley?"
Seven and a quarter" | replied
We'll, 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 L.
b in gilt letters inside, and there was
a very minute hole in the toe of one
black sock"
'Hush," Mcknight protested. IF
word gets to Mrs. KlOptOn that Mr..
Blakeley was wrecked, or robbed or
whatever it was, with button miss
ing and a hole in one sock, she'll re-
tire to the Old Ladies home. I've
heard her threaten it."
Mr.. Hotchkiss was without a sense
of humor. He regarded Mcknight
gravely and went on;
I've been up in the room where the
man lay while he was unable to get