The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-06-26

in the house. There's one place Nv,
been through. and I've u notion to ~
there again. Come with the"
Sloan followed Birch through th,
! hall aud up Digit of stairs to the
third door. where there were several
bedchambers and billiard room uD
der the mansard roof. From the pas
sage u door led intn an open attic that
/ ran across the back of the house. A
window at the back overlooked the
wing containing the servants quarters.
I aud overhead was n trapdoor leading
to the roof A narrow ladder led to
the trapdoor.
From the doorway where they stood
they could see that the dust Of the
door was untrarked near the window.
and any hope that the murderer might
have gained the roof of the wing and
entered the house by the attic window
was at once diSpPllpd
suddenly Birch touched his CHIEFS arm.
Look there. sir he whispered.
Sloan bent his keen eyes to the floor
and saw the trace of footprints in the
dust. Some one had passed from the
ladder to the paSsageway and gone
back again Instantly Birch had made
II detour so Us not to disturb the tell
tale marks with his own boots and he
was w the ladder and was lifting the
trapduor.
|, "Unfastened. sir" he reported: "evi-
IDENTIFY pried up from the roof-luck
broken"
He passed up on to the roof. and
Sloan followed.
The large expanse Of fat. timed roof
was surrounded by fancifnl iron rail
ing. In one place the railing had dis.
appeared. There WAS Il gap of per-
haps fifteen feet Birch crept to the
edge Of the roof and pcered over.
Funny thing" be commented; that
iron railing is down On the ground
there-looks as though il had recently
fallen. Let's have Blunt up here" He
fetched the valet. and the two dete,'-
the astonished servant.
But. sir" he protested. II am sure
II was not broken yesterday, because
the gardener would have removed it,
He cut the grass yesterday and cleaned
up the yard thoroughly. You see. Ii
has fallen directly underneath the u.
brary windows. and some Of 1t sticks
right up in the turf"
You heard no sound in the night.
you are sure?"
Il am sure. sir. ] sleep in the wing
yonder. and at the head OF my bed Is
a bell that connects with Mr.. Hin
mans room. One OF the servants in
the house next door was coming home
from party very late last night or
early this morning. and she declares
she saw a big blackbird lowering over
this house. She is very superStitious.
sir. and suppose she's imagined that
since hearing Of the murder
Very likely" said Sloan in a pecu-
lar tone, and his eyes met those Of his
young assistant with significant
glance. Thank you. Blunt That will
do for the present"
When the valet had disappeared
down the trapdoor Birch dropped TO
his knees and made a searching ex.
animation of the roof. In the slight
layer Of dust some clew might be
found.
Its here. sir"-he looked up with a
smiling face-"the tracks Of the big
blackbird.' And the discovery reveals
how the other two murders We're com
mitted"
Sloan knelt down beside him and
watched the movement Of Birch's Tin.
gers as be pointed out the tracks made
by the rubber tired landing wheels OF
an aeroplane. When the machine had
made its departure it had carried away
fifteen feet Of the. ornamental raiiing
from the roof.
Find a foreigner who answers to
the description Of Van Benjidck. II
he is a skilled aviator he's your man."
was SlOan's decision.
"You remember that the residence Of
Mr.. Flickinger is OF this same type
fat roof and SO forth?" questioned
Birch as they returned to the office.
Il remember. and | also recollect
that Thomas Benson lived at the Hotel
Batwell. and his room was in the an.
mex. dat rooted wing
Once in the office Sloan picked up
the afternoon edition OF New York
newspaper. Suddenly he uttered
sharp exclamation and pointed to a
glaring headline on the front page.
You won't have 10 took any further, /
Birch. Your mans found and lost I
gone TO his reward. Listen TO this:
Another daring aviator met death |
early this morning In some unknown |
manner. Rudolf Benjidrk. well known
as fearless tlier. was found crushed |
TO death under the body of his heavy |
aeroplane on the grounds of the Broad |
brook Country club IL is not known !
at what moment ar under what circum.
stances Renjidck met his death. but il
IL supposed that he was trying ont the
big machine which he recently pur.
chased. An investigation is being
made into the natter"
Robert Birth had arisen and was but.
toning his coat
am ha thor. NJ that fny.ctsratfa,, -