Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-18
A DETECTIVE STORY.
By
Copyrighted 1889 by S. S. Mcclure.
leather note book which he carried and
handed it to the doctor, whotook it me-
chanically and read:

| 1IlNdLG I4IlultliiS Ag6uL.
f'Well Mr.. Padger, = he said, omit
/ ting to ask by what means he had effect
! ed his unexpected appearance. 'The
! best thing you can do is TO go for the po-
lice
''Send for them, l think you mean
sir, - said Mr.. Padger. "Not go, not
go. There are several little things /
must look at here before we have a crowd
tramping in and out.
As MIR. Padger, from the platform in
front, requested some one TO fetch the po-
lice and stretcher the excitement out
side increased q hundredfold, but there
was an expression of determination on his
eyes which effectually prevented anyone
from attempting TO satisfy his curiosity
By forcIble entrance, and he was only
followed by a murmur of dissatisfaction
rs he disappeared once more in the in
terror.
The silence was unbroken for some
time, save by the banded questions and
EXPLANATIONS from outside, drowning the
whisper of the waves. The doctor was
reverently wrapping the body OF the un-
fortunate woman IN towels, while Mr..
Padger was busily occupied with a piece
of paper, and something that INTEREST," ed
HIM upon the floor.
- beg your pardon, sir, " he re-
marked at length. GA wound like that
would probably bleed a good deal, would
it not?''
Probably, p" replied the doctor, who
was now merely awaiting the arrival of
the police.
~ thought So Thank you.
And Mr.. Padger plunged once more
into his note book.
Presently q decided increase was per-
ceptible in the volume and tone of the
hubbub outside, and a moment after
wards heavy knock fell upon the door,
and the tramp of feet sounded upon the
steps without.
''Who is THEREOF said Mr.. Padger, as
the doctor awoke with a startled look
from a reveTie in which he had been alb
sorbed for some time.
'Police, was the gruff answer.
HCome in.
The men entered letting in an almost
painful glare Of light which fell upon the
mob of pale upturned faces on the beach.
The body was placed upon the stretcher,
the poor woman s clothes were gathered
into a bundle, and the mournful process
sion set out, followed by the crowd of
eager wonderers.
address to the superintendent went his
way, and two men alone remained be-
hind-a policeman who was setting
seals upon the doors of the machine, and
Mr.. Padger.
81 say my man. said the latter to
fisherman who strolled up TO look at the
scene of such a thrilling event, after the
departure of the officer, sis the tide COM
inc in or going Out?''
What IS the time?'' said the man,
after leisurely look at the sea.
''Ten minutes to two, replied Mr..
PadgeT consulting his watch.
1.-The tide begins to make at n quarter
past -
''Then it will be low water about ten
minutes past, eh?''
Between five and that, - said the
man, loafing of as his curiosity was sat-
flied
The water had ebbed away from the
wheels, leaving a dry path all round the
machine, and Mr.. Padger walked round
and round it, regarding it from every
point Of view as if it were a work of art,
and making an occasional entry i'll his
To an ignorant bystander
his proceedings would have appeared
meaningless, not to say idiotIc, but he
knew very well what he was about, and
was carefully taking bearings so as to be
able to exactly locate the position of the
machine at any future time.
When he had concluded this operation
to his complete satisfaction he once more
looked at his watch.
''Ten minutes past two, he muttered
to himself, with a glance of disapproval
at the undulating margin OF the sea.
He returned to the machine, and sit
ting on the back steps deliberately took
Oft his boots and socks and rolled his
up above his knees.
1t is not unusual at some of the cheaper
seaside resorts to see men and even wO-
men of mature age padding like infants
and with as much simple enjoyment, but
MIR. Padger did not look like the one to-.
indulge in such a frivolous amusement.
1t was, however, obviously his inten-
ton
FSlowIy he waded out into the clear
green water. If it was madness, there
was evidently method in it, for he
wandered backwards and forwards in
parallel lines of increasing length, ad-
vancing further and further out, like q
dog quartering q field for game, with a
strange eXpectant expression on his face.
he WAS Nearly III the lllllJ OF his IGu8Ss
the rIpples already Tapped above his knee
when he suddenly stopped, and began
cropping on the firm white sands with the
toes OF his right foot After moment
he cast a quick glance round, and bal
ancing himself on his left leg while
slowly raising the other to the surface,
hastily clutched something which. he held
firmly gripped between the toes and the
sole, and after Il quick glance at it thrust
it all dripping into his pocket.
81 thought as much, - he said, as he
Waded back to the beach. :.
That afternoon, after he had finished
his dinner, he carefully locked the door
of his sitting room, and taking from his
pocket the object he had been at so much
pains TO obtain, laid ton the table be-
fore him. *
It was 4 sharp-bointed Spanish knife,
such IS aresold as souvenirs IN the south
of France, with strong curved blade
about five inches long, and a mother-of-
pearl handle.
pretty toy, ''said Mr.. Padger grimly,
rs he examined the point. Looks like
q woman -
Number one, - he added after a long
pause, during which ne was buried in
profound meditation, and returning the
fa bfs ba want ont m