The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-11-10

| III uOL sure LHdL ulun l. MIS-.
Klopton," said YEARLY. Somebody
did, and the general verdict seems to
point my way"
She stared at me in speechless in
| dignation. Then she fiounced out.
She came back once to say that the
| paper predicted cooler weather, and
that she had put blanket on my bed.
but, to her disappointment, l refused
| to reopen the subject.
At half-past eleven Mcknight and
Hotchkiss came in. Richey has a
habit of stopping his car in front of
the house and honking until some one
comes out. He has a code of signals
! with the horn, which never remem-
Der. Two long and a short blast
mean, / believe, Send out a box of
! cigarettes" and six short blasts,
which sound like a police call, mean
| Can you lend me some money!" To
night | knew something was up, for
he got out and rang the door-bell like
a Christian.
They came into the library, and
Hotchkiss wiped his collar until it
cleaned. Mcknight was aggressively
cheerful.
Not pinched yeti" he exclaimed.
What do you think of that for luck!
You always were a fortunate devil,
Lawrence"
Yes l assented with some bitter
ness, Il hardly know how to contain
myself for joy sometimes. I suppose
| you know"-to Hotchkiss-''that the
police were here while we were at
Cresson, and that they found the bag
that brought from the wreck?"
Things are coming to a head" he
said thoughtfully, unless a little plan
that l have in mind" he hesitated.
Il hope so; 1 am pretty nearly des.
perate," I said, doggedly. I've got a
mental toothache, and the sooner it's
pulled the better"
Tut, tut" sadi Mcknight, think
of the disgrace to the firm if it's senior
member goes up for life, or" he
twisted his handkerchief into a moose
and went through an elaborate pan,
tomime.
! 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 l fancied his cheerful
ness was strained. Hotchkiss was
nervously fumbling my book
Did you ever read the Purloined
Letter, Mr.. Blakeley?" he inquired.
Probably, years ago." said. Poe
isn't it,"
He was choked at my Indifference
1T is a masterpiece" he said, with
enthusiasm. Il re-read it to-day"
And what happened?'
Then l inspected the rooms in the
house off Washington Circle. L
made some discoveries, Mr.. BlakeIey
For one thing, our man there is left
handed" He looked around for oul
approval. There was a small cush
ion on the dresser, and the scarf
pins in it had been stuck in with the
left hand"
Somebody may have twisted the
cushion" l objected, but he looked
hurt, and I 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 paiamas
while 1 found here only the most Sc
verely plain night-shirts."
ANY buttons off?' Mcknight in
quired, looking again at his watch.
THE buttons were there" the anna
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 bott
my visitors listen sharply. Whatever
it was it passed on, however. l was
growing curious and the restraint was
telling on Mcknight. He has nc
talent for secrecy. In the interval we
discussed the strange occurrence al
Cresson, which lost nothing by Hotch
kiss dry narration.
And So" he concluded, the WON
an in the Baltimore hospital is the
wife of Henry Sullivan and the daugh
ter of the man he murdered. No won
uSI he COIidpSSu Mueh ne HSdTu u
the wreck"
Joy. probably" Mcknight put in
rs that clock right, Lawrence? Never
mind, it doesn't matter. By the way
Mrs. Conway dropped in the office yes
terday, while you were away"
What" l sprang from my chair.
Sure thing. Said she had heard
great things of US, and wanted us tC
handle her case against the railroad.
.. Il would like to know what she is
driving at" l reflected. rs she try
ing to reach me through your"
Richey's flippancy is often a cloal
for deeper feeling. He dropped il
now. Yes" he said. she's after the
notes. of course. And I'll tell you
felt like a poltroon-whatever that
may be--when l turned her down
She stood by the door with her face
white, and told me contemptuously
| that | could save Won from a murder