Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-05
salkny. = can't DO anything IN the matter. :

you msanf CRIED MI. Mortlmer, blazing up
We'll, sir. Miss Chale don't bear you an,
malice, bu. she does happen to recollect you
starting OF on journey with small wallis.
on the evening o; the tia Of July said Mr.
! Gimblett, significantly at might be de
sirable to investigate that little trip You
were supposed TO have gone to Birmingham
On business, Tut"
The ex-detective's remarks were inter
rupted by Mr.. Mortimer suddenly turning
round and making tremendous rattlins
IN the empty CRATE with the poker, appa
rentiy ohlivious Of the fact that there was
no nSe But ere he effected this Transparent,
maneover Mr.. Gimblett had remarked the
guilty glow which had suffusei his brow.
ut wouldn't do, Of course, for Mrs. Nor
timer to suspect" resumed Mr.. Gimblett
quietly, as soon as he could make himself
heard again.
mo. no. Cons. out with it. Let US have
no beating about the bush. What is it you
wantf' inquired Mr. Mortimer, dropping the
poker and fidgeting about the nantel shelf.
3Only letter to the police inspector, that
can deliver" said Mr.. Gimblett, readily.
Nothing more than that"
Mr.. Mortimer hurriedly seated himself at
the nearest table and took up a pen.
what shall sayr he inquired
"Only that you have reason to know that
Martha Chale is innocent Of the robbery,
and request that the police will CEASE to an
noy her, " said Mr.. Gimblett, glibly.
Reason to believe-not know said Mr.
Mortimer, commencing to write
Know" repeated Mr.. Gimblett, emphati
cally.
On it, then, have it your own way,
exclaimed Mr.. Mortimer, rs he rapidly
dashed Off the note ~What shall / say,
though, to the police, il they ask me what !
meant" he added, looking up
~They won't. sir. I'll manage that said
Mr.. Gimblett
@And my wife needn't know anything
about this, supposer he continued.
(which, sirl Oil you mean the note to
the police. No, sir; certainly not said
Mr. Gimblett.
very we'll There you are then,' said
Mr.. Mortimer, finging the sheet Of paper
across the table
ats rather delicate job, sir; may re.
Fuire little oiling," said Mr.. Gimblett
coughing behind his hand.
How muchp demanded Mr. Mortimer
after an uneasy pause.
swell, perhaps-perhaps q tenner.'
MIR. Mortimer's only answer was TO hand
Mr.. Gimblett q bank-note rather tremu
lously, and, with this, the interview ended.
Mr. Gimblett bowed politely AMI took up his
hat, while Mr. Mortimer opened the door tc
him, looking particularly sheepish and crest
fallen.
Mr.. Gimblett chuckled to himself when IL
got outside, and proceeded in the direction
II Scotland yard, having first securely
flowed the 10 pound sterling note Whether
NE "oiling" process extended beyond Mr.,
aimblett himself Is by no means clear. SUI
dee IL to say that Eve minutes chat with .hs
inspector having charge of Mr. Nortimsr's
case, the production Of the letter. md few
nudges and winks exchanged over a friendly
glass. seemed all that was necessary to show
how the land lay. From that day forward
Martha Chale ceased to be a suspected per-
ION even as q matter Of FORM and the mys-
terry Of the robbery was considered to be
solved in q manner not altogether uncom-
mon.
Mr.. Gimblett was gallant enough to pay
Martha Chale a visit at her mothers humble
abode to report what he had done, and re-
ceived the young woman'S thanks, which
were rendered without the least enthusiasm,
rather to his disappointment. The ex-de-
tective evinced an inclination to follow up
the acquaintance thus suspiciously com
menced, and ventured to call second time
when he happened to be passing soon after
ward. But ON the latter occasion Martha's
manner was so abrupt and inhospitable that
he did not care to repeat the experiment,
though he was surprised how very mildly he
resented her treatment Of him.
l IL, r. L. q
over to Paris on business. Missing persons
traced" was one of the announcements upon
his professional prospectus and this branch
afforded him plenty Of employment The
supposed elopement Of publican's wife with
| a sprightly grocers assistant was the cause
Of his visit to the French capital on this &C.
| casion, and in course of his inquiries in
connection with this thrilling case he picked
up q little piece OF Information which re-
called Martha Chale vividly to his recollec-
ton Perhaps il the truth were known her
image suggested itself to his imagination
rather frequently, for there is no denying
that for the first time in hislife Mr.. Gimblett
found the gayeties OF Paris decidedly de-
pressing, and was constantly detecting
fancie1 ressmblances between casual passers-
by and certain young woman who had i'm
pressed him 50 much with her cleverness.
But the trifiny discovery he made in Paris
suggested an uncomfortable suspicion as to
whether Martha Chale's cleverness had not
| been rather too much for him. In other
words, he began to have a disquieting idea
| that the young woman had made q cats
| paw OF him: and, what was worse, he learned
| to doubt whether she was really as innocent
of the disappearance Of Mrs Mortimer'S
| jewels as she had pretended. Upon his re-
turn to England Mr. Gimblstt made some
inquiries which resulted in his payin, Miss
Martha another visit in a frame Of mind
which wavered between furious Indignation
and bitter disappointment His perturba-
ton was increased by strange longing that
he might after all have wronged her, and
this charitable sentiment came uppermost
when he met her face to face.
Miss Cha!e, he said, as soon as he got an
opportunity of speaking to her alone you
remember the story you told me about Mr..
Mortimer
~Yes; do, was her calm reply.
~You declared you had seen in the valise
he took away with him the jewels that were
supposed to be stolen" proceeded Mr.. Gin
| blett.
Il know Ibid; but it wasn't true, returned
Martha, returning Mr. Gimblett's gaze al
most defiantly.
II know it wasn't true retortel the ex-
detective, unable to conceal his resentments
Il have discovered the mystery about Mr..
Mortimer's little trip. have had an inter
view with the lady,
@You seem to have taken good deal of
unnecessary trouble" said Martha, quite
tartly. l could have told you all about his
| goings on"
@Well, you made fool Of ms. any howl"
| exclaimed the inspector, more crestfallen
than angry You might have gone to Mr..
| N yorrself, but neither you nor he would
have known how to manage the police.'
THAT is why came to you, said Martha,
with nod
Eyes; understand that it was very clever
or you miss. May inquire your objectP
demanded Mr.. Gimblett with ironical po-
iteness-
Il was 50 closely watched that couldn't
aid him to escape said Martha, for the first
| line slightly embarrassed.
Him! Whof7 inquired Mr.. Gimblett,
snarply.
~The party that did it was keeping
company with him, and l was fool enough
to-to believe in him. He came into the
house once or twice when | was alone, but
don't know how he managed to take the
things. The loss was discovered before he
| had time 10 got away, and he went into
hiding being new at it, suppose
II should think So freely CALCULATED Mr.
| Gimblett
"He swore he wouldn't stir without me,
| AMI BEGAN to fear he would do something
desperate l was afraid TO so nsar him while
the police were about, 50 came to YOU
Il sds And what became of him" in
Qafired Mr.. Gimblett, his admiration for
| hIarthas striking abilities for his own line