The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-28
The Harnpden
Murder

Old Hampden was dead-murdered
It seemed odd that 1t could be 80
that morning as l walked up the wide
avenue leading to the great stone
building that had stood on Hampdeu
Heights for a hundred years.
He had been buried three weeks
when they telegraphed for me. and
on my arrival, went to the house. up
into the room where they had found
him lying so CHASTITY and grim.
The best detectives in the city had
examined the house, and failed to find
clue l could hardly hope to do
better than they had done, but made
the circuit Of the apartment three
times. examined the doors. then the
windows. and finally. without the
least idea Of finding anything. glanced
behind the screen that half concealed
the fireplace; for John Hampden. hav'
Ing q fondness for old.time ways
chung to the broad stone hearths and
wide chimneys of ancient days.
For a moment I was startled al
what saw, but recovering myself
stopped down and examined It.
There, firmly stamped In the half
baked ashes. was the imprint OF q
foot, a singulariy made affair. looking
as though the foot that wore It was
deformed.
I went out Of the house and passed
round to the eastern side.
A horse had been tethered In q
cluster Of trees not far away. and
there. hidden in the rotten end Of a
decaying log, I found the boot itself.
stiff with human gore.
The name of the manufacturer was
stamped on the inside, and taking the
down train the next morning. I called
at his Office.
I described the article, and asked
him the name Of his customer.
"His name is Hughes" replied the
bootmaker. "and I am now making
him another pair. He will call for
them In less than an hour"
"Please detain him until I return.
II I should not be In when he comes"
I said.
ny what right do you command
such a thing?"
This" a.
I opened my coat and showed the
glittering badge that shone brightly
as the sunshine rested on It.
A shadow fell for moment on the
door-sill and half.suppressed impre-
cation reached by ears. l looked up.
and standing before me. his eyes
riveted ON the glimmering badge Of
my Office. was q man whom instinct.
lively felt to be the one for whom
was seeking.
He suspected my object. for az I i'd
vanced toward him he turned and ned
down the street.
"That was the very mani" cried
the dealer.
II thought So" I replied. and hast
lily leaving the shop. I hurried to the
chief Of police. Like . swift fash
the wires Of the telegraph had carried
. minute description Of the assassin
to all points IN the city. and the out.
let's Of escape were enectually guard
ed.
But like a fox under cover, he kept
US at bay. and It was two weeks and
over ere. In tho densely populated
city. | found him.
One evening q lady and two gen
tlemen stopped at the hotel where
boarded. and engaged rooms. One o.
the gentlemen was very III. and NUT
fed completely in shawls and comfort
erS.
I often sent up fruit and little dell
cacieo to tempt his appetite. and once
went to his door: but he declined Il
see me. stating that he was really to,
Ill and dispirited to sec any one.
The next thing I heard was BIZ
death. and his wife. young and ole
gant.looking lady. wrote me . note
asking me to send an undertaken :
them.
| I watched tho hearse drive up
the door the next morning to couvs
tho corpse to the train. for Il ha
been his request to have bic bod
buried In HE native state. Yieldin
to IN uncomfortable Impulse. I 70
lowed the body. and seated myss
near the conn after Il had been a
; posted In the baggage car.
His wife wept profusely. and woul
not leave the corpse. - the oGlciaI
made her % comfortable % possibl
where she va.
The lady seemed very nervous. On
after while asked me II Il would n
be pleasanter for me to cit with u
other passenger. But preferred
remain where I was. Ny eyes coul
not and would not leave that dismi
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