The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-09-13
me by tho thing2' inquired Mr..

"He denies ever having heard Of Mr..
Medd, and says the card was given tc
him by mistake. The initials S. M.
mean, according to him, Montague
Smith, which lie gives rs his name;
but, Of course, that's all bunkum,"
| said the officer, with wink.
"What sort of person is that man
SMITH demanded Mr.. Brook.
"Oh, countryfcd sort Of chap.
Seems as ii he came mp to London on
spree. Went to the Derby with rowdy
party from the boarding house, and to
theaters and music halls every night;
got drunk once, and wanted to fight a
policeman. l shouldn't have arrested
him if it hadn't been for that valisc.
Now, sir, are you rcady?"
IF you will kindly wait for me below;
/ should like to speak two words to the
lady" said Mr.. Brook, quietly. You
can call cab ii you please"
The detective glanced rather uneasily
| at the lawyer and disappeared. He had
barely time to call cab. however, ere
Mr.. Brook descended with Mrs. Mcdd,
who looked very pale, and her eyes
were red from weeping.
rs he rongh-looking man--this
Smith, inquired Mr.. Brook, rs the
cab rolled over the stones.
well. not exactly that. Stout and
red-faced. with sandy hair and whiskers.
Wore blue spectacles till lie was
arrested; but doesn't seem to have any
thing the matter with his eyes. Would
the lady like the window DOWN."
"Thank you. 1t is sitting hot in
here, and Mrs. Mctld is naturally
greatly upset said Mr.. Brook. Il
suppose the prisoner has appeared
| before n magistrate, and been renlanded
for inquiries?
"Yes; he wouldn't open his mouth, so
the magistrate had no alternative" said
the officer. "To-morrow he will be
brought up again, and charged with
unlawful possession Of property be-
longing to Mr. Medl-that is, OF
course, if the lady can identify the
| things
No further conversation took place
till they reached the police station.
| Tho Inspectorin charge, Il taeiturn in
diyidual, proceeded without comment
| to the business on hand, and produced
the portmanteau which had been found
at the prisoners lodgings.
"Does this belong to your husband,
ma'am?' he asked. solcmnly.
Certainly not, said Mrs. Medd,
with emphasis.
What! are You sure, ma'am?" in
| terposed the officer who had accom-
panied them.
Quite sure. No. None of those
things belong to my husband. There
is mistake she asseverated rs the
Inspector silently produced two or
three articles.
I'm afraid you've arrested IN in
noccnt man. remarked Mr.. Brook,
rather slyly. 1.-The only shadow Of
evidence against your prisoner is that
card, which he probably came by quite
innocently'
"Oh, of course, that doesen't 60 for
much,' said the Inspector, after ex-
changing meaning glance with his
subordinate. If the lady SAYS these
things don't belong to her husband, we
must believe her. No one else can
identify them if she can't"
"Ihen-.hcn this poor man will be
released" said Mrs. Medl, eagerly.
I'VE can offer no evidence against
him." said the Inspector, shortly. Il
suppose H. will he released to .aorrow'
| Mrs Medd. who seemed strangely
agitated, was about to put further
/ questions, when the lawyer interfered,
and rather hastily led her away.
my dear madam" lie said sharply,
when they were alone in the cab, You
| u,,,ot 1aaya aynry4 h,n,r fn n,a
"But- .but-he is in prison!" ex-
claimed Mrs. Medd. bursting into tears.
Served him right groNled the
lawyer, under his breath. The best
thing you can do, he added, referring
to his watch, is to return home by the
next train, ii you are equal to the
journey. | will bring your husband
back safely tomorrow.
The poor lady who was evidently
oserwrought, made no objection to the
proposal, and the cabman being urged
to use his best speed, reached the
station just in time to enable Mrs. Medl
to catch the train, which was on the
point Of starting Having seen her into
n carriage, and watched the train glide
ont of the station, Mr.. Brook was
standing ON the platform. with n grad
uallv increasing grin on his genial face,
when the detective touched him on the
shoulder.
LADY gone. sir?" he inquired.
"les. Why 10 ask?" demanded the
lawyer.
We'll, sir, putting two and two to-
gether. me and the Inspector can see
which way the wind blows. As the
magistrate is sitting, the Inspector will
apply for the prisoners release Mt the
rising OF the court, and | thought the
lady might be glad to know. Might
have took him back with her. sir, aided
the man, meaninglv.
"Soyou have iathomed this woader-
full mystery" laughed Mr.. Brook.
well. sir, l couldn't have believed u
man could be such fool. said the
officer, looking rather embarrassed.
why couldn't he say who he was? We
should not have detained him an lour. :"
Il suppose he hal reasons for con-
cealing his identity" said Mr.. Brook.
"He knew you had been Watching him,
and was afraid Of awkward dis
closures.
He needn't have been afraid Of that,
sir though lie certainly has hal rare
spree for parson. said the officer.
That can't be helped, and he richly
deserves his fate. chucaled the LAWYER.
1T was by my advice that Mrs. Mead
did not identify the things. As you
appeared to have no suspicion OF the
truth, it did not seem worth while to
let YOU into tie secret. However, rs
you have discovered it, | suppose We
can rely on your discretion.
I'm as c.ose rs wax, sir, said the
detective. rather Indignantly. I'll bet
Il guinea | know nov what VAS III that
black vaiise." le added 1t contained
his clerical toegery and any articles
that would have revealed his identity
He must have changed his clothes III
the train coming from Chichester, and
carried the yalise about with him for