The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-11-26
Copyright. 1913, by the Bobbs-Menill Company

| BuC the next hOlhCht hV AAesU $500
the washstand and pulled 1t out from
the wall. Behind it, where 1t had
fallen. lay a towel covered with stains
as IL some one had wiped bloody hands
on it. He held 1t up, his face working
with excitement l could only cover
my eyes.
This looks better" he said and be-
gan making quick search OF the
room, running from one piece of furni-
ture to another, pulling out bureau
drawers, drawing the bed out from the
| wall and crawling along the Dashboard
with a lighted match in his hand. he
gave shout of triumph finally and re-
appeared from behind the bed with the
!, broken end of my knife in his hand.
VERY clumsy" he said; very clum-
sy. Peter, the dog, could have done
better"
I had been examining the wall paper
about the washstand. Among the ink
spots were one or two reddish ones
that made me SILVER. And seeing
scrap of note paper stuck between the
base board and the wall dug it out
with hairpin and threw it into the
crate, to be burned later. 1t was by
the merest chance there was no ire
there. The next moment Mr.. Hol-
combe was on his knees by the fire
place reaching for the scrap.
Never do that under such circum-
stances" he snapped, fishing among
the ashes. ''YOu might throw away
valuable Hello, HOwellp'
| turned and saw young man IN
the doorway, smiling. his hat In his
hand. Even at that first glance
liked Mr.. Howell, and later, when ev-
cry one was against him and many
curious things were developing. stood
by him through everything and even
helped him to the thing he wanted
more than anything else In the world.
But that, of course, was later.
"Whats the trouble. Holcombe" he
asked. Hitting the trail againT
| "A very curious thing that | just
happened on" said Mr.. Holcombe.
Mrs. Pitman. this is Mr.. Howell, of
whom spoke. Sit down, Howell, and
let me read you something"
With the crumpled paper still un-
his notebook and read aloud what he
had written. have it before me now:
"'Dog meat. 81, boat hire'-thats not
it. Here. Yesterday, Sunday, March
4, Mrs. Pitman, landlady at AZ Union
street, heard two of her boarders quar-
reling, man and his wife. Mans
name, Philip Ladley. Wife's name.
Jennie Ladley, known as Jennie Brice
at the Liberty Stock company. where
she has been playing small parts.'"
Mr.. Howell nodded. I've heard OF
her." he said. Not much Of an ac-
tress, | believe"
1.-The husband was also an actor,
out of work, and employing his leisure
time in writing a play"
"Everybody's doing it." said Mr.
Howell idly.
1.-The Shuberts were to star him In
this" | put in. HE said that the
climax at the end of the second act
Mr.. Holcombe shut his notebook
with snap. after we have finished
gossiping." he said, ''I'll 60 on"
Employing his leisure time III
writing play" quoted Mr.. Howell.
Exactly The husband and wife
were not on good terms. They quar-
relied frequently. On Sunday they
fought all day. and Mrs. Ladley told
Mrs. Pitman she was married to a
fend. At 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon
| ,,x .
about s. Mrs. Pitinan carried their
supper to them at @. and both ate
heartily. She did not see Mrs. Ladley
at the time, but heard her in the next
room. They were apparently reconcil
ed. Mrs. Pitman reports Mr.. Ladley
In high good humor. II the quarrel
recommended during the night the 9th.
err boarder. named Reynolds. in the
next room heard nothing Mrs. Pit
man was up and down until o'clock.
when she dozed off. She heard no I'M
usual sound.
lat approximately 2 o'clock In the
morning, however. this Reynolds came
to the room and said he had heard
some one in boat In the lower hall.
| AAC anu n1l6 L iIiuull lIiN u.
boat, which Mrs. Pitman uses during a
flood and which she had tied to the
stair rail was gone. having been cut
loose, not united Everything else
was quiet, except that Mrs. Ladley's
dog had been shut In q third story
room.
"'At a quarter after that morning
Mrs. Pitman. thoroughly awake, heard
the boat returning and, going to the
stairs. met Ladley coming in. He
muttered something about having gone
for medicine for his wife and went to
his room. shutting the dog out. This
Is worth attention. for the dog ordina.
rily slept in their ROOM"
what sort of dog?" asked Mr.
Howell. He had been listening atten
dvalx.