the shrewdness nor the
experience necessary to detect criminals of the character and ability of
Pattmore. They were perfectly competent to attend to the small thieves
and swindlers of the district, but they were wholly ignorant and
unsuspicious of the means by which daring and skillful villains carry
out their plans and hide the evidences of their crimes.

They knew Mr. Pattmore well, as he had resided in Greenville for seven
years. They stated that he was a scheming politician who could not be
depended upon, and that he was trying to get the Democratic Nomination
for congressman. Probably, he would not succeed, but he was spending
money freely, and he would, therefore, be apt to get some good office.
He was not wealthy, but he kept his hotel well, and did a large
business. Mr. Wells thought that he used all his money as fast as he
made it, either in trying to get votes, or in some other way outside of
his business. His wife had been generally esteemed by a large circle of
acquaintances.

I told Mr. Tomlinson that I should like to see the coroner, and have him
investigate the causes of Mrs. Pattmore's death.

"Oh! that will be easy," he replied, "as I know Van Valkenburgh, the
coroner, very well, and we are on good terms. He is a warm friend of
Pattmore,--in fact, they are boon companions. He spends most of his time
in idling about the Pattmore House, and only yesterday, they went
driving together."

"I am sorry to hear that," said I; "for he will not wish to do anything
to injure his friend. How can I get an inquest called?"

"I don't know," said Mr. Tomlinson.

"Suppose that I should make an affidavit under an assumed name and hand
it to you, could you not serve it on the coroner as a complaint which
required his attention?" I asked.

"No; that would not do, as it would involve me in difficulty," replied
the sheriff; "but if I should hear people talking about the death of
Mrs. Pattmore, and hinting at foul play, it would be my duty to lay the
matter before the coroner. Then he, as a friend of Pattmore, could not
do otherwise than order an inquest."

I determined to act on this suggestion, and I therefore telegraphed to
Mr. Bangs, my General Superintendent, directing him to send two of my
detectives, Mr. Green and Mr. Knox, to meet me at the Clarendon House in
Greenville. They left Chicago by the next train, and when they arrived
in Greenville, I instructed them to go into the office of the hotel and
begin a