The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-02-10

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twinkling became red-handed MUIR
derer. He then had made good his
escape.
Although Felix Hazard was &C.
| quainted with the published accounts
of the crime, he wanted to hear the
story from Mr.. Kendal's own lips.
Before departing, however, he sup
| piled certain details not contained in
| the published report.
Some time on Wednesday, the
twentieth" Mr.. Kendall averred, How
ard presented himself at the house and
gave Mrs. F1euroy my letter. A sheet
or two of 1t was found, by the police.
But the portion Of it that would ex-
plain away the very worst feature
against Howard has not come to light.
AS matter of fact, if you had the
entire letter you would see at once
that it constituted strong evidence in
his favor. / will explain.
His purpose in coming to Chicago
was twofold-to visit me and my
family and to approve of my choice of
piece of property that was to be
my wedding present to him and his
wife. For this purpose l had drawn
on my bank for $4,000 The bargain
was too good one to risk any chance
of somebody else stepping in and
swapping 1t up. So | informed him
in the same letter that the money had
been sent to the house to be placed
in the library safe by Mrs. Fleuroy
subject to his demand.
Now then, somebody-God knows
it was not Howard; he never could
have done such a thing-somebod
during the night of the twentieth
forced the safe door and took not
only the money, but certain of my
Wifes and daughters jewels, which
we're not in my safe-deposit box; most
ly priceless heirlooms that we always
keep by us, but none the less intrin-
sically worth thousands of dollars.
"A description of these has been
| furnished the police. Among the miss
ing trinkets are three one-dollar gold
pieces whose dates remember-1S67,
1870 and 1881.
There was no sign that the house
had been broken into; but next morn
ing Howard was missing and has been
ever since; it's four days now. Why
was he not there to prevent the das-
tardly crime. or at least to give the
alarm?i
Both Felix Hazard and his chief re-
| r1oa In Cd l.,
this outburst, and in a moment the
harassed old gentleman continued.
Nov l want you to consider this:
Howard did not have to force my
safe nor commit murder to obtain the
1000; Constance had received ex-
plicit instructions to give it to him
whenever he asked for it. AS for the
stolen jewels, they did not offer
sufficient additional inducement for
him to have resorted to the graver
crime. Besides, while not man of
afiiuence, my nephew enjoys a sub
stantial income; he has always lived
within it, and the girl he is engaged to
marry is well-to-do in her own right.
There is positively no motive that i'm
plicates Howard in this crime.
81 want you to find him-find him
before the police do-and try to get
from him the information that will
clear him. Spare no expense"
How about this young lady to
whom Mr., Gentry is engaged?" Felix
Hazard inquired. Can she throw any
light upon the matter-where he now
is, for instance?"
mo. none at all. She absolutely
refuses to talk about it further than
to maintain an unshakable belief in
his innocence"
Hazards eyes narrowed; but he
didn't press this phase except to get
Miss Gladys Rutherfords address.
After Mr.. Kendall had departed,
Hazard went through the general of
fee, where the clicking of many type
writers blended in rafting blur, and
down a short corridor to a door
marked Private" He raped light
ly upon the frosted glass panel, and
when pleasant contralto voice babe
him enter, opened the door and went
in.
At desk sat girl, whose striking
individuality, whose cool, self-pos-
sessed poise at once would have i'm
pressed one. Furthermore, and aside
from her attractive personality, she
was a remarkably pretty girl. with
wide, calm gray eyes, wealth of
wavy chestnut hair, and beautiful
transparency of complexion that be-
tokened perfect health.
This was Miss Helen Bertel, one of
the Sutherlands most valued opera
tives. She looked up inquiringly as
Hazard entered. and waited for him
to speak.
Helen" said he, ARE you too busy
to help me in little matter?"
The girl sighed resignedly and laid
aside several typewriter sheets
which she had been perusing.
DO have to go anywhere?" she
asked
Not unless you want to. Perhaps
can excite your professional zeal suf-
ficiently to endure the ordeal of CO.
operating with me-"
For the first time since his entrance
the immobility of her handsome face
was broken. She wrinkled her nose
and stuck out the tip of her tongue at
him.