Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 22, 1910, Page 24

¥ [ | . TTRS. ITARGARET ELDER TIRS.LYDIA SHRAKE RANDMA Tydia Shrake, 167 grandchildren, and Baby Gulley with fifty-eight grand- parents, constitute the beginning and the end of one of the most remarkable families that ever lived. 1t is the only instance on record of & family of six generations all living at once, with an additional remarkable fea- ture that all are females. Their home is at Wyalusing, Wis., and for the last eixty- five years the descendants have mostly in- habited this town and they constitute to- day most all there is of the town, When you speak of a six-generation family it usually would represent about 200 years, but not so with this. Ninety-six years is all that is embraced from Grandma Shrake to Baby Gulley. In this history there are a great many interesting facts, Just think of one woman having 167 chil- dren, grandehildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildron and great-great- great-grandchildren! It is certainly strenu- ous enough to out-Rooseveit Roosevelt him- self. Grandma Shrake's posterity is as fol- lows: Children .,... with MRS RACHEL GOFF Grandchildren ... Great-grandehildren el e Great-great-grandchildren . Great-great-great-grandchiidrea And it Is equally interesting to start at the other end with Baby Guiley and ascer- taln the number of grandmas who live to spoll the child, for it is usually the custom of attributing the responsibility of spolling the child to the grandparents, if they are fortunate enough to have such. In this list all but two are livin Baby Gulley's parents’ parents Their parents . T Their parents ..... Their parents ......... Total 5§ Less deceased ones..... TURIRRIARE S 0 5 30e0s Grasnt eonoss tinitiaas sl Here are the names of the six generations in their proper order commencing with Grandma Shrake: First generation Second generation Third Generation. .. Fourth generation..Mrs Fifth generation,. Sixth generation. ....Mrs. Lydia Shrake Mrs. Magrgaret Elder Mrs. \Rachel Goff Malissa. Spaulding +ive.:Mrs. Cora Gulley ...Baby Agnes Gulley TIRS. TTALLSSA THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: MAY 22 SPAULDING I1R3.CORA GULLEY AND BABY The head of tnis remarkabie mnily is a woman of remarkable vitality. She was born in Connesville, Fayette County, Pa., in 1814, and Is now In her ninety-seventh year. She was married at the age of 18 years. Ten children were born to bless the union. The five sons were all in the civil war. Her husband was a soldler in the war of 1812. At the head of the second generation Is Margaret Ault Elder. She was married at the age of 15 years to John Elder and is the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living. In the third generation Rachel Elder, at the age of 17 years, was married to Warren Gotff. She is the mother of twelve childrer seven now llving. Malissa Goff is at the head of the fourth generation. At the age of 15 years she was united in marriage with W. A. Spaulding. She has three children, all living Cora Spaulding Gulley is at the head of the fifth generation, at the age of 16 years marrying Raymond Gulley. They have but the one child, Agnes Naom| Reah Gulley, the only representative of the sixth gener- ation. soldiers BILL NYE 0N ASTRONOMY Remarks of Old Humorist Apply to Halley's Comet. STAR GAZING THANKLESS JOB Nye Could Not Sce Wisdom ting Up Nights Study Red Mot to “New Comets, rom the Comet Factory.” ficld of the means to At like hungry not ask Find 1t own new Never and take you lie in There astronomy s much in the great discolraging who hasn't the, time rummage around 4hrough the heavens times 1 any @imost hopeless and saying to the great world: “Grope on for another sclentific fact cut for yourself. Hunt up your 1uld planets, and fet me have ask again tu sit up at care of a new-born world, bed and reck not 1 get less to order that is to snvant nor teel vearning, torever.. Do me a rest night while me no sal for night afte: examining nigh the track- when I ought in bed. 1 wacritice my heaith In that tho public may know &t once the presence of a red hot comet, fresh trcm the faotory. And what thanks do 1 get? Then, again, vou take a certain stvle of star, which you learn from Prof. Simon Newcomb Is such a distance that it takes fifty thousand years for its light to reach Boston. Now we will suppose that after looking over {he large stock of now and econd-hand stars, and after examining the spring catalogue and pricelist, I decide that cne of the smaller size will do me, and buy it. How do I know that it was there when 1 bought it? Its cold and silent rays nay have ceased 48,00 years before I was born and the intelligence be still the way. There I8 tvo much margin between sale and dellvery. Every now and then ancther astronomer comes to me and says Professor, 1 have discovered another new star and Intend to file on it. Found it last night about a mile and a half south of zenith, running loose. Haven't heard of anybody who has lost a star of the fifth magnitude, about thirteen hands high, with Itght mane and tafl, have you? Now how du I know that he has diecovered a brand new star? How can I discover whether he is playing an old threadbare star on me for a new one? We are told that there has been no per- ceptible growth or-decay In the star ness since man began to roam through space, In his mind figures on the ‘barn' door with showing the celestial time table. accidents have occurred in heavens since I began to observe thelr habits. Not a star has axed, not a star has waned to my knowl- edge. Not a planet has season-cracked or shown any of the Injurious effects of our rigorous climate. Not a star has ripened void be on Is busi- around make red chalk, aud No serjous the starry and study I \ AND 1 LIKE THIS ROAI\\D\fj Y RIDES SMOOTM | | AN sieeP| [E | WAS - 30 (THAT ENGINEER (15 CERTAINLY HITTING 17 yp' ) NEVER SAW xt\TRmN PITCH -, ) | [LUCKY To GET THIS LOWER! HUH' WHEO' BUT (WE ARE GOING SOME' wow! (TS 19) l6aING \ [T00 FAsT) = T GRACIOUS' | FELL ME' I'M WORSF THAN A CHILD" ")) \ e OUT OF MY BERTH'| | HOPE WO ONE SEFY COPYRIGHT. 1910. BY THE MEW YORK EVENING prematurely or fallen off varnish on the very close and critical the trees. The oldest stars I find on examination to be In splendid condition. They will no doubt wear as long as we need them, and wink on long after we have ceased to wink back In 1866 there appeared suddenly in the northern crown a star of about the third magnitide and worth at least $25 It was generally conceded by astronomers that in this was a brand new star that had never been used, but upon consuiting Argelander's star catalogue and price list it was found that this was not a new star at all, but an old faded star of the ninth magnitude, with the front breadths turned wrong side out, and trimmed with moonlight along the seams. After a few days of phenomenal brightness it gently ceased to draw a sa ary as a star of the third magnitude, o )' 1 SAW PAT MAN | EATIN A ) RABBIT | \m THUY '1 |DINNAH | |D1S EVENN [CONSE - (QUENTLY) SORAM (WEW YORK KERALD 00) A Rights Resirved walked home with an Uncle Tom's Cabin company. It is such things as this that makes the lite of an astronomer one of constant and discouraging toil. I have long contem- plated, as I say, the advisabllity of retiring trom this field of science and allowing others to light the morthern lights, skim the milky way and do other celestial chores (Copyright, 1810, by Bobbs-Merrill Co.) - XXIV——Continued. CHAPTER You don't?” ‘No,” with conviction. She wheeled on me with quick suspleion. ‘Aro you a detective?’ she demanded. No. “You told him to say the law."” “I am a lawyer. Some of them misrep- resent the law, but I—" She broke in impatiently. “A sheriff's officer?" “No. Look here, Jennie; T am all that I shoult be. You'll have to belleve that. And I'm in a bad position through no fault of my own. I want you to answer ome questions. If you will help me, I it do what I can for you. Do you live near here?” Her chirl quivered. It was the first sign of weakness she had show “My home is in Pittsburg," she sald, #qnd 1 haven't enough money (o get there. ey hadn't paid any wages for two months. They didn't pay anybody.’ “Very well,” I returned. “I'll send you back to Pittsburg, Pullman included, ft you will tell me some things I want to know." She agreed eagerly. Outside the window Hotchkiss was bending over, examining foot prints in the drive “Now,” 1 began, “there has been a Miss West staying here?” “Yes. “Mr. Sulllvan was attentive to her? “Yes. She was the granddaughter of a wealthy man in Pittsburg. My aunt has been in his family for twenty vears, Mrs. Curtls wanted her brother to marry Miss West. “Do you think he did marry her?’ I could not keep the excitement out of my voice. “*No. abruptly “Do you know anything of the famlly? Are they—wers they New Yorkers?" “They came from somewhere In the south. I have heard Mrs. Curtis ay her mother was a Cuban. I don't know much about them, but Mr. Sullivan had a wicked temper, though he didn't look it. Folks say big, light-haired people are easy going, but I don't belleve it, si “How Jong was Miss West here?" wo weeks. hesitated about further Critical as my position was, I could not pry deeper into Allson West's affairs. 1t had got into the hands of adventurers, Sullivan and his sister appeared to have been, she was safely away from them agalo. But something of the situation In the car Ontario was forming itselt in my mind: the incident at the farm house lacked only motive to be complets. Wa Sullivan, after All, a rascal or a criminal? Was the murderer Sullivan or Mrs. Con- way? The lady or the tiger again. Jennie was speaking. “I hope Miss West was not hurt?' she asked. “We llked her, all of us. She was not like Mrs. Curtis.” wanted to say that she was not like bodge Ingthe world. Instead—"She es- '“ Some bruises,” I sald. you represented There were reasons’—she stopped questioning. She glanced at my arm. the train “Yes." She waited for more questions, but none coming, sho went to the door. Then she closed it softly and came back. “Mrs. Curtis Is dead? You are sure of L7 she asked. “She was killed instantly, T belic body was not recovered. But I have rea- sons for belleving that Mr. Sullivan is living.” “I knew it she said. “I—I think h wes here the night before last. That ls vhy 1 went to the tower room. I believe he would kill me if he could.”” As nearly as her round and comely face could ex- press it, Jennle's expression was tragic at that moment. 1 made & quick resolution, and acted on it at once. “You are not entirely frank with me, Jennle, 1 protested. “And I am going to tell you more than I have, We were talk- ing at cross purposes. 3 “l was on the wrecked train. in the samo car with Mrs. Curtls, Miss West and Mr. Sulltvan During the night there was a orime committed in that car and M Sullivan disappeared. But he left behind him a chain of circumstantial evidence that involved me completely, so that I may, at any time, be arrested.’ Apparently he did not comprehend for a moment. Then, as if the meaning of my words had just dawned on her, she looked up and gasped: “You mean—Mr. crime himself? “I think he did."” What was it?" “It was murder,” I sald deliberately. Her hands clenched involuntarily, she shrank back. “A woman?’ scarcely form her words. “No, & man; a Mr. Simon of Pittsburg." Her effort to retain her self-control was pltiftul. Then she broke down and cried, her head on the back of a tall chalr, “It was my fault,”” she sald wretchedly, my fault. 1 should not have sent them the word."” After & few minutes she secmed to hesitate over finally determined to say it You will understand better, sir, when I say that I was raised in the Harrington family, Mr. Harrington was Mr. Sullivan's wife's father “You were on ‘The Sullivan committed tho and She could Harrington, She and Brew qulet. something, CHAPTER XXV, AT THE STATION, So it had been the tiger, not the lady' Well, I had held to that theory all through. Jernie suddenly became a valuable person; if necessary she could prove the connec- tion between Sullivan and the murdercd man, and show a motive for the crime. I was triumphant when Hotehkiss came in. When the girl had produced a photograph of Mrs. Sullivan, and I had recognized the bronse-haired girl of the traln, we were both well satistied—which goes to prove the ephemeral nature of most human con- tentments. Jennie either had nothing more to say, or feared she had sald too much. She was evidently uneasy before Hotchkiss. I told her that Mrs. Sullivan was recovering in & Baltimore hospital, but she already knew it, from some source, and merely nodded. She made a few preparations for leaving, while Hotehkiss and I compared notes, and then, with the cat in her arms, ehe climbed into the trap from the town. 1 sat with her, and on the way down she told 'me a little, not much. “If you see Mrs. Sullivan,” she advised, “and she is conscious, she probably thinks that both her husband and her father were Killed In the wreck. She will be in a bad way, sir.” You mean that she—still cares about her husband?” The cat craweled over on to my knee, and rubbed its head against my hand in- vitingly. Jennie stared at the undulating line of the mountain crests, a colossal surf against a blue ocean of sky. ‘“Yes, she cares,” she sald softly. ““Women are made like that, They say they are cats, but Peter there on your lap wouldn't come back and lick your hand if you kicked him. If—it you have to tell her the truth, be as gentle as you can, sir. She has been good to me—that's why I have played the spy here all summel. It's a thank- less thing, spying on people.” It is that" I agreed soberly. Hotchiglss and I arrived in Washington late that evening, and, rather than arouse the household, 1 went to the club. I was at the office early the next morning and admitted myself. McKnight rarely ap- peared beforo halt after ten, and our mod- est office force some time after 9. I looked over my previous d mall and waited, with such patience as I possessed, for McKnight. In the interval I called up Mrs. Kigpton and announced that I would dine at home that night. What my house- hold subsists on during my numerous ab- sences I have never discovered. Tea, prob- ably,, and crackers. Diligent search when I have made a midnight arrival, never re- veals anything more substantial. Possi- bly I imagine it, but the announcement that I am about to make a journey al- ways seems to creat a general atmospliero of depression throughout the house, as though Euphemia and Eliza, and Thomas, the stableman, were already subsisting, in imagination, on Mrs. Klopton's meager tare. S0 I called her up and announced my arrival. There was something unusual in her tone, as though her throat was tense with indignation. Always shrill, her eld- erly voice rasped my ear palnfully through the recelver. “I have chauged the butcher, Mr. Law- rence,”” she announced portentously. *The last roast was a pound short, and his mut- ton chops—any self-respecting sheep woull refuse to acknowledge them.” As 1 sald before, I can always tell from the voice in which Mrs. Klopton conveys the most indifferent matters, If somweag of real significance has occurred. Also, through long habit, I have learned how quickest to bring her to the point, “You are pessimistic this morning,” I returned. “What's the mutter, Mrs. Klop- ton? You haven't used that tone since Euplemia baked a ple for the iceman. What is it now? Somebody polson the Gog? She cleared her throat. “The house has been broken into, Mr. Lawrence,” she sald. “I have lived in the best families, and mever have I stood by and seen what I saw yesterday—every bureau drawer opened, and my-—my mos: sacred belongings—" choked. “Did sharply “Police!” she sniffed. “Police! It wae the police that did ft—two detectives with a search warrant. I—IL woulln't dare tell you over the telephone what one of them said when he found the whisky and ro candy for my cough.” “Did they take anything?" every nerve on edge, “They took the cough medicine,” she re- turned Indignantly, “and they sald—" “Contound the cough medicine!” I was frantic. “Did they take anything else? Were they In my dressing room?" “Yes. 1 threatened to sue them, and I told them what you would do when vou came back, But they wouldn't listen. They took away that black sealskin bag you brought home from Pittsburg with vou!" I knew then that my hours of freedom were numbered. To have found Sullivan And then, in support of my case against him, to have produced the bag. minus the bit of chain, had been my intention. But the police had the bag, and, beyond know- ing something of Sullivan's history, I was practically no nearer his discovery than before. Hotchkiss hoped he had his man in the house off Washington Circle, but on the very night he had seen him Jennle claimed that Sullivan had tried to enter the Laurels. Then—suppose wo found Sul- livan and proved the satchel and Its con- tents were his? Since the police had the bit of chaln it might mean involving Alison in the story. I sat down and buried my face in my hands. There was no escape. 1 figured it out despondingly. Against me was the evidence of the sur- vivors of the Ontarlo that I had been ac- cused of the murder at the time. There had been blood stains on my pillow and a hidden dagger. Into the bavgain, in my possession had been found a travellng bag containing the dead man's pocketbook. In my own favor was McKnight's theory against Mrs. Conway. She had motive for wishing to secure the notes, she belioved I was In lower ten, and she had collapsud at the discovery of the crime in the morn- ng. Against both of these theorics, 1 accuse & purely chimerical person named Sullivan, Who was not seen by any of the eurvivors —save one, Alison, whom I could not bring into the e I could find u motive for his murdering ‘his father-in-law, whom he hated, but again—I would have to drag in the girl. And not one of the theories explained the telegram and the broken necklace. Outside the office force was arriving. They were comfortably ignorant of my presence, and over the transom floated raps of dialogue and the stenographer's gurgling laugh. MoKnight had a relative, who was reading law with him, in the intervals between calling up the young women of his acquaintance. He came iu singing, and the office boy joined in with the uncertainty of volce of 15 1 smiled grimly. I was too busy with my own troubles to find any joy in opening the door and startling them into silence. 1 even heard, without resentment, Rlobs of the uncertaln volce inquire when ‘“Blake" would be back. 1 hoped MeKnight would arrive before the arrest occurred. There were many things to arrange. But when at last, im- patient of his delay, I telepboned, I found he had been gone for more than an hour. Clearly he was not coming directly to the office, and with such resignation as I could muster I paced the floor and waited I felt more alone-than I have ever felt in my life. “Born an orphan,” as Richey said, I had made my own way, carved out myself such success as had been mine. I had built up my house of life on the props of law and order, and now some unknown hand had withdrawn the supports, and I stood among ruins. I suppose it is the maternal in a woman that makes & man turn to her when every- thing else falls. The eternal boy in him goes to have his wounded pride bandaged his tattered self-respect repaired. If he loves the woman, he wants her to kiss the hurt. The you notity the police?’ I asked I demanded, longing to see Alison, always with me, was stronger than I was that morn- ing. It might be that I would not see her again. 1 had nothing to say to her save one thing, and that, urder the cloud that hung over me, 1 4ld not dare to ray. But 1 wanted to eee her, to touch her hand— as only a lonely man can crave it, I wanted the comfort of her, the peace that ley In her presence. And so, with every step outside the door a threat, I telephoned to her. She was gone! The disappointment was great, tor my need was great. In a fury of revolt against the scheme of things, [ hea that she had started home to Rich- mond—but that she might still he caught at the station. To sce her had by that obsession. I picked up my hat, threw open the door, and, oblivious of the shock to the office force of my presence, 1 dashed out to the elevator. As I went down in on» cage 1 caught a glimpse of Johnson and two other men going up in the next. 1 hardly gave them a thought. There wis no hansom in sight, and I jumped on a passing car. Let what might, ar- rest, prison, disgrace, I was golng to see Alison. I saw her. I flung into the station, saw that it was empty—empty, for she was not there. Then I hurried back to the gates. She was there, a familiar figure in blue, the very gown in which I always thought of her, the one she had worn when, heaven help me-I had kissed her at the Carter farm. And she was not alone. Bending over her, talking earnestly, with all his boyish heart in his face, was Richey They did not see me, and I was glad of it. After all, it had been McKnight's gamo first. I turned on my heel and made my way blindly out of the station, Before I lost them I turned once and looked toward them, standing apart from the crowd, ab- sorbed in each other. They ware the only two people on earth that I cared about, and 1 left them there together. Then I went back miserably to the office and awalted arrest. time become an come CHAPTER XXVL ON TO RICHMOND. Strangely enough, 1 was not disturbed that day. McKnight did not appear at all. I eat at my desk and transacted rowtine business all afternoon, working with fever- ish energy. Like a man on the verge of a critical iliness or a hazardous journey, I cleared up my correspondence, pald bills untll I had the writer's cramp from sign- ing checks, read over my will, and paid up my life Insurance, made to the benefit of an elderly sister of my mother's I no longer dreaded arrest. After that morning in the station, I felt that any- thing would be a rellef from the tension. I went home with perfect openness, court- ing the warrant that I knew was waiting, but I was not molested. The delay puszzied me. The early part of the evening was uneventful. I read until late, with oc- casional lapses, when my book lay at my elbow, and I smoked and thought. Mrs. Klopton closed the house with ostentatious caution, about 11, and hung around waiting to enlarge on the outrageousness of the police search. I did not encourage her. “One would think,” she concluded pom- pously, one foot in the hall, “that you were something you oughtn't to be, Mr. Law- rence. They acted as though you had com- mitted & crime. “I'm not sure that I didn't, Mrs. ton,” I sald wearily the general verdict way." She stared at me In speechless indigna- tion. Then she flounced out. Bhe came back once to say that the paper predicted cooler weather, and that she had put a blanket on my bed, but, to her disappoint- ment, I refused to reopen the subject. At 11:% McKnight and Hotchkiss came in. Richey has a habit of stopping his car in front of the house and honking unyll some one comes out. He has & code of signals with the horn, which I never re- member. Two long and & short blast mean, I believe, “Send out & box of cigarettes,” and six short blasts, which sound like a& police call, mean “'Can you lend me some money?' Tonlght I knew something was up, for he got out gnd rang the door bell ltke & Christian. They came into the library, and Hotch- Kkiss wiped his collar until it gleamed. Me Knight was aggressively cheerful “Not pinched yet!” he exclaimed. do you think of that for luck were a fortunate devil, Lawrence." “Yes,” 1 assented, with some bitterness, “I hardly know how te contain myselt for Joy sometimes. 1 suppos you know''=to Klop- “Somebody did, and scems to point my “What You always HotchKiss—"that the police were here while we were at Cresson, and they found the bag that I brought from the wreck?" “Things are coming to a head,” he said thoughtfully, “‘unless a little plan that I have in mind—" he hesitated “I hope 8o; I am pretty nearly desper- ate,” I sald doggedly. “I've got a mental toothache, and the sooner it's pulled the better.” “Tut, tut,” sald McKnight, “think of the disgrace to the firm It its senjor member goes up for life, or—" he twisted his hand- kerchlef into a noose, and went through an elaborate pantomime. “Although fail isn't so bad, anyhow,” he finished, “there are fellows that get (he hablt and keep going back and going back." He looked at his watch, and I fancied his cheerfulness was strained. Hotchklss was nervously fumbling In my book. “DId you ever read ‘The Purloined Let- ter, Mr. Blakeley?' he fnquired. “Probably, years ago,” I said “Poe He was choked at my is a masterplece,’ he said, with enth. jasm. “1 re-read it today." And what happened?” Then I inspected the rooms in the house off Washington Clrcle. 1—I made some dis- coverles, Mr. Blakeley. For one thing, our man there is left-handed.” He looked around for our approval. ‘‘There was a small cushion on the dresser, and the scarf pins in it had been stuck in with the left hand." ‘Somebody may have twisted the cush- fon,” I objected, but he looked hurt, and I desisted. “There is only one discrepancy,” he ad- mitted, “but it troubles me. According to Mrs. Carter, at the farm houss, our man wore gaudy pyjamas, while I found hers only the most severely plain night shirts.”” “Any buttons off?’ McKnight inquired, looking again at his watch. “The buttons were there” the amateur detective answered gravely, “‘but the but- tonhole next the top one was torn through.” McKnight winked at me furtively. “I am convinced of one thing,” Hotch- kiss went on, clearing hi¢ throat, “the papers are not in that room. Either he carries them with him, or he has sold them.” A sound on the strest made both visitors listen sharply. Whatever it was it passed on, however. I was growing curious and the restraint was telling on McKnight. He has no talent for secrecy. In the in- terval we dlscussed the strange occurrence at Cresson, which lost nothing by Hoteh- kiss' dry narraton. “And s0," he concluded, “the woman in the Baltimore hospital is the wife of Henry Sullivan and the daughter of the man he murdered. No wonder he collapsed when he heard of the wreck. “Joy, probably,” McKnight put in, “Is that clock right, Lawrence? Never mind, it doesn't matter. By tho way, Mrs. Con- way dropped in the office yesterday, while you were away.” “What!" 1 sprang from my chair. Sure thing. Sald she had heard great things of us, and wanted us to handle her case agalnst the railrond." ‘I would like to know what she is driving at,” I reflected. “ls she trylng to reach me through you?" Richey's flippancy deeper feeling. inditference. “It ay is often & cloak for He dropped it now. “Yes," he sald, “she's after the notes, of course. And I'll tell you I felit like a poltroon— whatever that may be—when I turned her down. She stood by the door with her tace white, and told me contemptuously that I could save you from a murder charge and wouldn't do it. She made me foel like a cur. I was just as gullty as if I could have obliged her. She hinted that thers were reasons and she laid my attitude to beastly motives.” “Nonsense,” I sald, as easily as I could. Hotchkiss had gone to the window. ‘“‘She was excited. There are no ‘reasons,’ what- ever she means.” Richey put his hand on my shoulder. “We've been together too long to let any ‘reasons’ or ‘unreasons’ come between us, old man," he sald, not very steadily Hotchkiss, who had been sllent, here came forward in his most Impressive man- ner. He put his hands under his coat tally and coughed “Mr. Blakeley," he began. “by Mr. Me- -] Knight's advice we have arranged a littls interview herc tonight. If all has gone as 1 planned, Mr. Henry Pinckney Sullivan is by this time under arrest. Within a very few minutes—-he will be here.” “I wanted to talk to him before he was locked up," Richey explained. “He's elover cnough to be worth knowing, and, besides, I'm not so cock-sure of his gullt as our friend the Patch on the Neat of Guvern- ment. No murderer worthy of the name needs six different motives for the same crime, beginning with robbery, and ending with an unpleasant father-in-law."” We were all silent for a while. Me- Knight stationed himself at a window, and Hotchkiss paced the floor expectantly. “It's a great day for modern detective methods,’ he chirruped. “‘While the police have been guarding houses and standing with their mouths open walting for clues to fall in and choke them, we have pieced together, bit by bit, a fabric—" The door bell rang, followed immediately by sounds of footsteps in the hall. Me- Knight threw the door open, and Hotch- kiss, raised on his toes, flung out his arm in a gesture of superb eloguence. “Behold—your man!" he declaimed. Through the open doorway came a tall, blond fellow, clad In light gray, wearing tan shoes, and followed closely by an of- ticer. “I brought him here as you suggestad, Mr, McKnight,”" sald the constable. But McKnlght was doubled over tha library table in silent convulsions of mirth, and I was almost as bad. Little Hotchkiss stood up, his important attitude finally changing to one of chagrin, while the blond man ceased to look angry, and became sheeplsh, It was Stuart, our confidential clerk for the last half dozen years. McKnight sat up and wiped his eyes. “Stuart,” he said sternly, “‘there ara two very serious things we have learned about ou, First, you jab your scarf pin into your cushion with your left hand, which is most reprehensible; second, you wear—er— night shirts, instead of pyjamas. Worsa than that, perhaps, we find that one of them has a buttonhole torn cut at the neck.” Stuart was bewildered, MeKnight to me, fallen Hotchkiss. “I haven't any idea what it's all about,” he said. “I was arrested as I reached my boarding house tonight, after the theater, and brought directly here. 1 tdld the offi- cer it was a mistake.” Poor Hotchkiss tried bravely to justify the fiasco. 5 You can not deny,” he contended, “‘that Mr. Andrew Bronson followed you to your rooms last Monday evening.’ Stuart looked at us and flushed. “No, I don't deny it,” he sald, “but thers was nothing criminal about it, on my part, at least. Mr. Bronson has been trying to induce me to secure the forged notes for him. But I did not even know where they were.'" And you were mot the Washington Fller?' persisted But McKnight interfered “There is no use trying Lo put the other man's identity on Stuart, Mr. Hotehkiss, he protested. “He has been our confiden- tial clerk for six years, and has not been away from the office a day for a year. 1 am afrald that the beautiful fabric we have pleced out of all these scraps 15 going to be a crazy quilt.”” His tone was facotious, but I could detect the undercurrent of real aisappointment I paid the constable for his troubls, and he departed. Stuart, still indignant, left to g0 back to Washington Cirele. He shook hands with MecKnight and myself mag- nanimously, but he hurled & look of utter hatred at Hotchkiss, sunk crestfallen in L chalr. lie looked from and then at the crest- wreckea Hotehkiss, 1 can see,” sald McKnight “we're exactly tar alorg as we were the day we met at the Carter place. We're not & steap nearer to finding our man," “We have one thing that may ba ot value,” I suggested. “He I8 the husband of & bronze-haired woman at Van Kirk's hos- pital, and it Is just possible we may trace him through her. I hope we are not going to lote your valuable co-operatl Mr. Hotchkiss?' 1 asked (To Be Continued.)