Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-07

more of a hand in RamSay'S death
than |. Now, If you wish to with
draw your offer of a lift"
mot at all A man who has been
so abused by the newspapers as I can
stand little plain speaking. For all
that, on my word, Professor Kent,
had no hand in sending Ramsay on
that dirty business of his
The scientist considered him
thoughtfully. well. believe you,
said he shortly, and got into the ma
chine.
This meeting is a fortunate chance
for me" said Blair presently.
"Chance?" murmured Kent, inter-
negatively.
The car swerved sharply, but i'm
mediately resumed the middle of the
road
Certainly, chance" said the mo-
torist What else should it be?"
"Of course" agreed Kent. LAS you
say
Il said fortunate. continued the
other, because you are, | believe
the very man want There is an
affair that has been troubling me
good deal. ! haven't been able to
look into 1t personally, because Of the
serious Illness of my son, who is at
my place on Sundayman's Creek. But
it is in your line, being entomology
ical, and perhaps criminal"
What is it?" asked Kent.
IAN inexplicable destruction of our
stored woolens by the clothes moth.
You may perhaps know that I am
president of the KinselIa mills. We've
been having a great deal of trouble
this spring, and our superintendent
believes that some enemy is introduce
ing the pest into our warehouses.
Will you take the ease?"
"When?"
start tonight for Connecticut"
Chester Kent's long fingers went to
the lobe on his ear. "Give me until
3 o'clock this afternoon to consider.
Can I reach you by telephone?"
yes. at Hedgerow House, my
place"
THAT Is how far from here?"
Fourteen miles, but you need not
come there. | could return to the
hotel to conclude arrangements. And
I think" he added significantly, that
you would find the project a profita-
BILE one.''
Doubtless. Are you we'll acquaint-
ed with this part of the country, Mr..
Blair?"
Eyes. I've been coming here for
years.
rs there an army post near by?"
Not within a hundred miles.
Nor any officers on special detail
about?''
None so far as I know"
Kent produced from his pocket the
silver star with the shred of cloth
| hanging to it, This may or may not
be an important clue to a curious
death that occurred here three days
ago.
Eyes, I've heard something of it, !"
said the other indifferently. II took
it to be mostly gossip"
Before the death there was a
struggle. This star was found at the
scene of the struggle"
'IIA looks like the star from the
collar of an officer. | should say
positively that 1t was from an army
or navy uniform.
"Positiveness is the greatest tempta-
ton and snare that l have to fight
against" remarked Chester Kent
otherwise | should say positively
that no officer, going to a dubious
rendezvous. would wear a uniform
which would be certain TO make him
conspicuous. Are you yourself an ex-
pert in wooden fabrics, Mr.. Blair?"
81 have BEEN
Gould you tell from that tiny frag.
ment whether or not the whole clotf
is all wool?"
Without replying, Blair gave the
steering handle a quick sweep, anC
the car drew up before a drug store
He took the star and waa( gone few
minutes.
Not all WOOL he announced OF
his return.
Exit the army or navy officer" re
marked Kent.
why SOP
Because regulations require all
wool garments-and get them. Wha
is the fabric?''
"A fairly good mixture, from tn
very elemental chemical test / made
Something in the nature of worste'
batiste, I should judge. from wha
I could make out under the inferio
magnifying- glass that they loane'
me-"
THANK you, Mr.. Blair You'v
eliminated one troublesome hypothesi
for me. I'll telephone you before
o'clock Good day.
From the wooden manufacture
Chester Kent went direct to the Mar
tindale Centre library, where he in
terviewed the librarian.