The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-03-02
The Murder
at Smiths
Corner
Mystery Of o Lost Town and Its
Solution
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation 1911
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Hey, there!' he called authorize.
lively.
The agent appeared from an obscure
cubby hole and surveyed the newcomer
curiously.
els this Smiths Corner?" asked
Nash, the detective. -~.
''Ne, 1t amt returned the agent
shortly. ''This is West Shutdown
81 knew it, gritted the other be
tween bis teeth as the train ratified
away into the distance. 1--WE found
Smthville, Smiths Pond, East, West,
North and South Smithtown, but nary
Smiths Cornerp'
lis 1t ON the map| asked the agent
with hkewarm interest.
81 haven't found it yet
Then there amt no such place"
said the agent with conviction. IF
there was such q place." be went on
argumentatively, I'D be selling tickets
to it, wouldn't I?'
If the railroad ran through it, said
the s1euth shrewdly.
We'll, it don't, because / don't recol.
lect ever selling ticket to no Smiths
Corner. What do you want there, any
way? Selling patent reapers p ~....
The detective drew himself up to his
pudgy height. do lock as if / sold
patent reapers? he demanded con-
temptuously.
The other looked him over critically
Il can't say as you do. Maybe you're
in the book line
This is my line" said the detective
as he tossed back the lapel of his coat
and for q brief instant displayed
shining star,
Withdrawing respectfully toward his
cubby hole. "Why didn't you say you
was somebody"
"Don't l look like anybody" snapped
the angry Mr.. Nash.
'Of course, OF course!'' treasured the
agent, thrusting his face close to the
wire grating of the ticket window.
Seems zoo bad you can't find that
there Smiths Corner. I expect you've
been looking for it some time, eh 2"
"A week or more" returned the de-
tective.
What's happened? Somebody muir
dered down there?" quizzed the agent
curiously.
mo, but the murderer is down
there
Gosh! What murderer
Don't you read the papers?" de-
maDdAd Naah aanrnfu1lv
Sometimes, but they make me
sleepy. They're terrible exciting. don't
you think so?''
very exciting! Say, is there any
body around here who knows where
Smiths Corner is?" asked the detec.
tive peeyishly.
You can ask down to the store"
The agent tipped a thumb over his
shoulder. For all I know It may be
in Kalamazoo
For all You know about this local.
ity you might as well be in Kalama.
Zoo" snapped Mr.. Nash as he rolled
out Of the station and down the street
toward the general store.
In half hour he was back again
red Of face and exasperated as to man.
ner
Find out?" asked the agent.
Find out?" beloved the detective.
Find out nothing! Never saw such
q congaess of mossbacks in all my life.
This station will never be anything ex-
cept water tank stop TIL you have
half dozen first class funerals in the
village
Great gosh!,' gasped the agent in
This amt no water tank
station"
sOf course. it isn't even that!'' The |
detective bumped his shoulders ana
walked down the length of the station |
platform. He peered anxiously into
he distance. Presently he turned to |
ind the agent close behind him.
Il don't mind hearing about that
here murder insinuated the agent,
vide smile on his freckied face.
Don't, Ell? What do You want to
rnow about it,"
Whatever there is to tell. who was
Iilled?'
"A man named Henderson
WHO done it?''
That's what I'm trying to find out
Vaded the detective.
Il should think therd'd be some elew
on could follow up"
They all end at Smiths Corner
aid the detective grimiy.
And you can't find Smiths Cornerg'
mot yet
The agent doubled himself with sup
ressed laughter. +
Kind OF funny he sputtered.
What's funny r demanded Nash
'ascibly.
That you're looking for man that's
aid to be at Smiths Corner and you
ant find that town On the map Is
'.Snre you can't find Smiths Corner
y the map?" insisted the detective. I.
You can look for yourself said the
ian surlily
The detective made no reply, but
1alked modify around and around
1e little platform that encirclesi the
tation house. He consulted the time
lble and found that there would not
. another train for half hour. This /