Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-23
CHAPTER xxx-cont,nued.


put his head in and said. Not downtown
yet, sir" Mcbride nodded that he under
stood.
The idea that was uppermost in Mcbride 3
mind was to discover. IL possible, how Miss
Stewart had been mistaken for Miss OIL
strom; but at the same time he realized
the importance Of avoiding any mention
OF Miss ohlstrom That would Immediately
put the detective on her track; perhaps
with unpleasant consequences He had not
the slightest idea what the letter promised
by Mr. Hartley should have referred TO.
so he could not begin on that clue. The
only thing upon which he was at all sure
Of his ground was the slip OF paper that
Hartley had sent over to Groscup, bearing
Miss Stewards name and address. Why
not begin on that?
Mr.. Hartley told me that you had fol-
lowed young lady from this office one
morning last week" he began. and had
traced her to a certain address, which you
gave him. suppose you have established
the fact that she is a Mrs. MAXWELL?
The detective was evidently taken aback.
He did not know exactly what to say. and
not being as ready with subterfuges as Mr..
Hartley, he could not find words to con
ceal his thoughts, 50 he Kept silent lie
could not imagine how to account for Mr..
Hsrtleys extraordinary statement that he
had followed Miss Stewart from that office.
Seeing that he was expected to say some
thing. he twisted his slouch hat a little and
looked at the floor for fully a minute be-
fore ne spoke.
We'll, it's not quite clear to me yet. SIR
and then he stopped, not knowing what
more to say. and not being very clear in
his own mind as to what he was talking
about. He still wanted to gain time.
II suppose you have no idea where Mr..
Maxwell is now the young man went on,
sparring for an opening.
well, know where part of him Is, sir.
But / don't know where his head is. sir
wish did"
What do you mean2" inquired Mcbride
= In evident establishment.
EXCUSE me. sir" the detective said hur-
riedly. but l supposed that MIR. Hartley
had told you my theory of it
He did. But you see he didn't agree with
It." This was shot at venture. Mcbride
had not the slightest idea to what theory
the detective was referring to-
II thought he didn't, sir But it's pretty
clear to me, sir Part of Mr. MaNwell's is
In chemicals at the morgue, and the rest
of him is still in the river somewhere
But you don't mean to say" gasped the
young man.
Sure / do, sir. I'm as certain OF II as
I'm sitting here. Ii was Maynard murdered
him, in that cab. Both of 'em disappeared
the same night. traced the cab to May
nard."
What You mean that cab they found
by the river two or three weeks ago?"
That's the one. sir. Maynard hired that
cab, or stole 1t. and had his pal on the
box He called for Stewart. or Walton, OF
Fletcher, or whatever you call him, at his
hotel and took him away in that cab Cut
him up. Threw him in the river" Johnson
made appropriate motions with his hands
to illustrate the tragedy.
You must be crazy. Why haven't the
police arrested Maynard long ago?
thought there was no clue whatever to the
victim; much less to the murderer"
Well sir, it's hard to prove it, you
know; but that's my theory. Mr.. Hartley
no engaged me on this job to follow Mr.
Fletcher two weeks ago Monday, as yot
know, sir. We shadowed him for thre'
days; but the only person we could fine
him connecting with was Miss Stewart It;
her address / gave Mr.. Hartley. sir. l go
It following Fletcher. 1 never knew sh'
was at this office till MIR. Hartley told
me, sir
1t was on the tip of McBride's tongue tC
tell johnson that Miss Stewart was never
in that office; but he caught himself JUS
in time.
MIR. Hartley probably told you. sir.
NCfooklng at him inquiringly, that we was t.
J watch for Mr.. Fletcher at the EarlswooC
hotel that Thursday night"
Yes, 1 know all about that" said Nc
Bride quickly, seeing that the detective
was evidently feeling his way.
oh, NJ ana has
seen him since. Nor Maynard neither
These statements were each accompanies
by emphatic mods II followed up a clu'
/ had at the Realton, where Fletcher wa
stopping, and made up my mind by put
ting this and that together that this her
\ Cab No. a. which was at the hotel tina
night pretty late, was brought there b!
Maynard. And he went away in It," will
another nod. And no one amt seen hin
since" with a stin more emphatic nod.
'iBut what has that got TO do with Max
we'll or Fletcher? Where does he come in?
Maynard sent up his card to him at tn
hotel. and waited around for him half Al
hour
Did thsy drive Off tosstherT'
NOW you've got me. sir. That's tn
place where my tran is lost. I'm only sur
missing the rest OF IL; but it's a good work
hlk thoof9s Ooh sOu lhulA oVs au
Then you think that Maxwell IL muir
dsredG Why don't you explain your theor,
70 the police and let them help your
yes. sir. think he's the fellow that
In the river. But I'm not giving my theOr.
away 70 the police. They would claim al
the credit for 1t themselves, sir, and throw
me cut They're kind OF down on privat
deGScivss, you know, sir. They hate {
have any one smarter than they, is, sir
the police DO. There's more money in Civ
ing the steer TO the papers sir, than TO tn
police That's my game when I'm throug
with Mr.. Hartley"
What his motive for muTderin
him?" Mcbride asked, not noticing the las
part OF the detectives remarks
Now you've got me again, sir, can
find out much about this Maynard. excep
that he shot and killed a man once be
fore. Wasn't never tried for it, seemingly
These fellows that are in society are prett
hard 10 trace when It comes TO their pr
waite lives sir, What the papers prin