The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-24
CHAPTER X.
Red Ink SDOts.

icooiNcu W ody HOtHlHS HiOi Z
about the fan or the spangles to
any member of the household, but
to lay the case, before Hunt, when
he came over to the house the
next morning.
To my surprise. he did not seem
at all impressed with the idea of
Miss Gardiner being implicated.
You let your idea of clues run
away with you, Mr.. King" he
said. Now, it seems to me If
we're going to look for our man
through any clues, we'd better
consider that red ink. When Miss
Leslie threw that inkstand, and so
much ink was spilled on the rug,
it is extremely probable that some
also spattered on the coat of the
assailant."
We'll, 1t seems to me-" / said,
that that's about the most elu-
sive clue you could think Of"
Perhaps you're right" agreed
Hunt, but all the same | shall
try to find that coat"
Then Tom Whiting and his wife
appeared at the library door.
I'VE want you TO go with us for
motor ride, Mr.. King" said
Edith Whiting to me. TON in
sists on my going, and we are TAX
ing Irene with u.s.
1t seemed pathetic to ride away
in Philips big automobile, but as
Tom Whiting had said, the ladies
really needed some fresh air, and
he thought the trip would do us
all good.
Mr.. and Mrs. Whiting sat in
front, for Tom was quite as good
chauffeur as Philip had been;
and Miss Gardiner and l sat be-
hind.
AS there was ample room for
another, Irene proposed that we
stop for Gilbert Crane. This we
did, and he seemed glad to accept
the invitation.
On our return, Mrs. Whiting
asked Mr.. Crane to come in to
luncheon with us, and he accepted.
He alighted before I did, and as
he stood waiting to help Miss Gar
diner out, the midday sunlight
shone full upon him.
looked at him curiously,
thinking what large, fine-look-
ing fellow he was, and how be-
coming his fashionable automo-
bile coat was to him. It's color
was light brownish gray, and as
my eye rested idly upon 1t, | sud
denly noticed something that
made my heart stand still.
On the front of this same coat,
on the lower edge. were several
small spots, visible only in the
Brightest sunlight, which, what
ever they might be, had every APP
pearance of being red ink.
went into the house with the
rest, and, finding that Mr.. Hunt
had gone, | sent a note to him,
asking him to return.
He came just as we finished
luncheon, and, bidding him go
into the library, / picked up Gil
bert Cranes coat from the hat
stand where he had flung it, and
fastened to the library.
l found Hunt there, and after
closing the door l held the front
of the coat toward the window to
catch the bright sunlight, and
drew Hunts attention to the al
most invisible spots on it.
He looked at them in silence a
moment, and then said, abruptly:
Get some more blotters."
We dampened the blotters and
applied them. The results showed
strong evidence that the stains
were similar to those on the car
pet.
Whose coat is it," said Hunt,
though | think he knew.
Gilbert Crane's," I answered,
looking straight at the detective.
Shall l call Crane up here and
ask him If he can explain these
spots on his coat? Somehow, |
can't help thinking that he could
| DO so.
mot yet" said Mr.. Hunt. 81
think it wiser to straighten out a
few points before we speak to Mr..
Crane on the subject. Please bring
Miss Gardiner here"
1 followed Mr.. Hunts sugges-
tons to the letter, but l was dis
turbed at his request for Irene.
Finding Mrs. Whiting in the
hall, l asked her so say to Miss
Gardiner that Mr.. Hunt desired
to see her in the library. re-
turned to the library myself.
found Hunt making a tabulat-
ed statement of certain facts.
"You see, Mr.. King" he said,
with very grave face, while
these things are not positively in