The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-03-30
presslve manner. He put HIS hands
under his coat-tai!s ard coughed.


little interview here tonight. II
all has gone as planned, Mr.. Henry
Pinckney Sullivan is by this time un'
der arrest. Within very few MIN
utes-he will be here"
Il wanted to talk to him before he
was locked up, Richey explained.
Hes clever enough to be worth
knowing, and, besides, I'm not so
cocksure of his guilt as our friend the
patch IN the seat of government. No
murderer worthy of the name needs
six different motives for the same
crime, beginning with robbery, and
ending with an unpleasant father-in.
law"
We were all silent for awhile. Nc
Knight stationed himself at a win
dow, and Hotchkiss paced the floor
expectantly. Its a great day for
modern detective Methods he CHR
ruped. while this police have been
guarding houses and standing with
their mouths open waiting for clews
to fall in and choke them, we have
pieced together, bit by Bit a fab.
ric-"
The door-bell rang, followed imme-
diately by sounds of footsteps in the
hall. Mcknight threw the door open.
and Hotchkiss, raised on his toes.
flung out his arm in a gesture OF SUI
perb eloquence.
"Behold-your mani" he de-
claimed
Through the open doorway came a
tall, blond fellow, clad in light gray.
wearing tan shoes, and followed close
ly by an officer.
II brought him here as you suggest
ed, Mr.. Mcknight" said the con-
stable.
But Mcknight was doubled over the
library table in silent commissions of
mirth, and | was almost as bad. Lit
tie Hotchkiss stood up, his important
attitude finally changing to one OF
chagrIn, while the blond man ceased
to look angry, and became sheepjsh.
1t was Stuart, our confidential CLERK
for the last half dozen years!
Mcknight sat up and wiped his
eyes.
Stuart" he said sternly, there are
two very serious things we have
learned about you. First, you jab
your scarf-pins into your cushion with
your left hand, which is most repre-.
hensible; second. you wear-er-night,
shirts, instead of pajamas. Worse
than that, perhaps, we find that one
of them has a buttonhole torn out at
the neck
Stuart was bewildered He looked
from Mcknight to me, and then at
the crestfallen Hotchkiss.
II haven't any idea what it's all
about" he said Il was arrested az
/ reached my clearinghouse tonight.
latter the theater, and brought direct.
ly here. / told the officer it was a
mistake"
Poor Hotchkiss tried bravely to
justify The fia"co.
you can NOT deny" he contendcd,
that Mr.. Andrew Bronson followed
you to your rooms last Monday eve
ming"
Stuart looked at us and flushed.
mo, I don't deny it," he said, but
there was nothing criminal about it.
on my part, at least. Mr.. Bronson has
been trying to induce me to secure
the forged notes for him. But | did
not even know where they were"
"And you were not on the wrecked
Washington Flier?" persisted Hotch
kiss. But Mcknight interfered.
There is no use trying to put the
other mans identity on Stuart, Mr.
Hotchkiss,'' he protested. He has
been our confidential clerk for six
years, and has not been away from
the office day for year. / am
afraid that the beautiful fabric we
have pieced out of all these scraps Is
going to be crazy quilt" His tons
was facetious, but could detect the
undercurrent of real disappointment
/ paid the constable for his trouble.
and he departed. Stuart, still indig
nant, left to go back to Washington
Circle. He shook hands with Nc.
Knight and myself magnaniHlOusly.
but he hurled look of utter hatred
at Hotchkiss, sunk crestfallen in his
chair
AS for as can see,' said Nc.
Knight dryly, we're exactly, as far
along as we were the day we nat az
the Carter place We're not a step
nearer to finding our man."
1--WE have one thing that may be OF
value" I suggested. He is the hus.
band of a bronze-haired woman at
Van Kinks hospital, and it is just
possible we may trace him through
her. / hope we are not going to lose
your valuable cooperation, Mr.. Hotch.
kiss?" / asked.
He reused at that to feeble interest
sI-oh, of course not, if you still care
to have me, II was wondering about
the man who just went out, Stuart
you say? T. told his landlady to
night that he wouldn't need the room
again. hope she hasn't rented it te
10 rIr-<,t