Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-02-17


did, and the general verdict seems to
point my way"
She stared at me in speechless in
dignation. Then she founced 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
habit of stopping his car in front OF
the house and honking until some one
comes out. He has q code of signals
with the horn, which I never remem-
her. Two long and short blast
mean, l believe. "Send out a box of
cigarettes" and six short blasts.
which sound like police call, mean
Can you lend me some money!? To
night l 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 1t
cleaned. Mcknight was aggressively
cheerful.
mot pinched yeti" he exclaimed.
What do you think of that for luck!
You always were a fortunate devil,
Lawrence"
YES" I assented with some bitter
ness. II hardly know how to contain
myself for Joy sometimes. suppose
you know"-to Hotchkiss-"that the
police were here while we were at
Cresson. and that they found the bag
that I brought from the wreck?"
Things are coming to a head" he
said thoughtfully. unless a little plan
that have in mind" he hesitated.
Il hope so; I am pretty nearly des-
perate." I said. doggedly. I've got
mental toothache, and the sooner it's
pulled the better"
Tut. tut" sadi Mcknight, think
of the disgrace to the firm II its 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 fancied his cheerful
ness was strained. Hotchkiss was
ncrvously 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. 81 re-read It today"
And what happened?"
Then ! inspected the rooms in the
house on Washington Circle. II
made some discoveries, Mr.. Blakeley.
For one thing. our man there Is left
handed" He looked around for our
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
hurt. and ! desisted.
There is only one discrepancy" he
admitted. but 1t troubles me. Ac-
cording to Mrs. Carter. at the farm
house, our man wore gaudy pajamas.
while ! 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 both
my visitors listen sharply. Whatever
1t was It passed on. however. was
growing curious and the restraint was
telling on Mcknight. He has no
talent for secrecy. In the interval we
discussed the strange occurrence at
Cresson. which lost nothing by Hotch-
kiss dry narration.
And so." he concluded, "the wom-
an in the Baltimore hospital is the
wife OF Henry Sullivan and the daugh.
ter of the man he murdered. No won
der he collapsed when he heard OF
the wreck"
Joy. probably" Mcknight put in.
rs that clock right, Lawrence? Never
mind, IL doesn't matter. BY the way.
Mrs. Conway dropped in the office yes
terday. while you were away"
What" I sprang from my chair.
Sure thing. Said she had heard
great things of us. and wanted us to
handle her. case against the railroad"
II would like to know what she is
driving at" I reflected. "Is she try
ing to reach me through your"
Richey's flippancy is often a cloak
for deeper feeling. He dropped It
now. Yes" he said. she's after the
notes. OF course. And I'll tell you ]
nj h. h,.