The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-06-02


bathroom, and went out the same
way!"
"Oh, come now, chief! Why, he
must have used an aeroplane or a
balloon!"
Not necessarily. A light steel lad
der would have turned the trick.
There were marks on the stills where
The paint had been rubbed off,"
Such ladder must have been
swung from the floor above, them"
commented Kettle.
Precisely. 1t was a foggy, rainy
night, remember. and there was not
much risk of being seen from the
court. Our search begins from that
room in the belmont which is imme-
diately over Hardester's. All those
floors are similar In plan. Then find
out who was registered from that
suite on the ninth floor last night or
yesterday. There's your starter"
But what about the phone from
Hardester?" objected the other.
"A blind. Hardester never sent it.
He had been drugged or was slightly
intoxicated before he was shot--the
doctor will swear to that; the man
who killed him sent the message and
fred the shot you heard, leaving the
receiver hanging on purpose with the
circuit open."
Kettle rose to go. Anything else?'
he queried.
This" rejoined the chief, display
ing an oblong piece of blotting paper.
fresh save for one set of marks in
reverse where it had been used to
blot an addressed envelope Il found
this on the table in Hardesters sit
ting-room; the writing is the same
as that on the hotel register. Hold it
up to the mirror yonder and see what
you make of it,
Lieutenant Kettle did as he was bid
den and uttered a startled exclama-
ton. why, it's plain enough" he
read: Miss Greta Sanders, Detroit,
Mich.!'"
Exactly commented Valentine.
land there's the woman in the case"
Cad. Chief" exclaimed Kettle in
admiration, you beat us ALL"
Valentine let the compliment pass.
did you look at Hardester's sigma
ture on the register?" he asked.
Il did. He hailed from Washington,
l noticed"
The inspector nodded. (which one?
There are upward of forty Washing
tons in the United States"
well, it'll take a little time. Of
course, but we ought to be able to
locate him If that's his home town.
ITS done already, l suspect" re-
turned Valentine. miss Sandars lives
in Detroit. Just consult that post.
office directory and see If there isn't
a Washington in the state Of Michi-
gan
There u.s." announced Kettle.
Il thought so.'' said the chief quiet.
iy. Nov, If you and were couple
of book detectives. we'd sit down
right here, with these facts in our pos
session, and by some mysterious psy-
Geological process reason out the
whole case without leaving headQuar.
'ers, then go out and nab our man.
But being merely ordinary policemen
we've got to work In q different way.
50 I'm going to start the hunt in De.
troit. Here's what l want you to do:
Go up to the belmont. find out who
occupied the suite over Hardester's;
II he's there still-you'll find he isn't
don't let him get away. But you
can learn his name and description,
where he came from and where he
went, perhaps. Meet me with that
information at Grand Central In an
hour"
Valentine received Kettles informa.
ton at the gate Of the concourse
Names Jacob Henderson. city, ar.
rived yesterday noon, carrying Cross
bag; left last night by the midnight
train south over the Pennsy; dapper
little fellow, wiry and active: wears
icane-colored beard and moustache
trimmed In French fashion; was never
at hotel previously"
The two sleuths walked down the
platform.
III bet that midnight train bust.
ness was bluff" said the chief; "it's
even money he's in the city yet: bet.
ter round up all the hotels in town
half dozen men can do it-and wire
me results. II you find Brother Fen.
derson arrest him on suspicion"
: The train began to move, and with
farewell wave the great inspector
was of on the long trip to Detroit,
where he hoped to get behind the
scenes and learn the motive for Har-
dester's taking of.
. Within twenty-four hours Kettle
wired the chief: Henderson arrested.
Denies identity. Refuses to talk"
They had rounded up the suspect by
description over in Brooklyn, at the
Lorraine, where he was registered
under an alias. Meantime Valentine
was hot on the trail in Detroit. What
measure of success he attained may
be Judged from the sequel.
On being confronted with the chief
in person at headquarters, Henderson,
q alias Goldberg, preserved stubborn
silence. He would neither admit nor
deny, and on being taxed with Har-
dester's murder, he smiled scornfully.
The mans nerve was superb. We'll
break him!" declared the inspector.
clamping his jaw. III ever the third
degree was justifiable it's in dealing