The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-14
SOLVING A MYSTERY


qhc servant withdrew and ushered ia
O. tall. dark featured sharp looking man.
who bowed as ho entered
"Bc seated, SIR and Mr. Cotton
ro.utol 90 % chair and threw down bis
paper you are hr. Brent, the detect
irc. / presumo-tho gentleman ] have
sent for
II am that gentleman. sir, and COM
p'.,oly no your service and the sharp
looking man seated himself
I've got some work for YOU 90 do.
nlr Brent" began Mr. Cotton, the
banker. "and. AS you bear an excellent
reuiation for solving mysteries and
hunting down criminals, I've no doubt
ht that You'll De successful in this case.
81 hope Sd. sir, replied Mr. Brent in
Quiet manner
"Wcll now 10 tell YOU what ! want
solved. ' and the banker c0u-hod. drew
Dol, chair nearer 90 the detective. and
BEGAN ln lpw tone oi voice. while Mr.
Brent was all attention
"A ou must know. ,lr Brent that for
the past two weeks large sums of money
have been missing from my safe, which
stands boo my reading room. zap stairs.
the window Of which room leads ont on
81
back CAMDEN Day and night the win
dows of chat room have been securely
boiled and locked. and SD with the door.
save whom J ann in there reading. I'm the
safe that stands there ] have had de-
posted. for the past two weeks q large
amount of money, all gold. sir; and since
the night ] pat DO there 10 has been abb .
stIactcd-nOt altogether. Mr. Brent. but /
~ loo Of D .H.r..
mgcil the mystery. bat failed
Yes, Is All that Sir Brent remarks. /
i'm bis quiet WAY.
wow. who can bo this thief M Col +
ton continued. who can 10 Doe that pun
Joins This money from uy SAFE which
always find relJckod after thc money has
been taken"
Mr Brent is silent. IBIS sharp eyes are
bent on the floor Doe is in deep thought
"Nloarc the occupants of your house,
sir tao detective 40 length asks
Two ODD and trusted servants, whose
honesty Dies beyond the shadow Of
dollt. and ,dchard. my som.
"Ah-rts. D. what Ar. Brent says.
"IIaec You visitors often,
$40. slr. replies the old banker chat d
j.. mean, very seldom since my wife
died
Mr Brent coughed behind his hand
end then said.
Could you call up your two servants,
sir.'
Certainly" and the banker put his
hand on the ben cord
Nr Brent stopped him quickly.
Excuse me. Mr. Cotton he said, "hut
call them zap ou some excuse Don't let
them know our business. SIR
Dr. Cotton nodded his head and pulled
The bel cord
The summons was answered by the ,
Ola man who bad shown lIr. Brent in.
ANY letters, John. today the banker
asked, while the detective eyed the man
cl1.ely.
no. sir. None as yet
Every well, John. BY the bye, send
your wife m, won't YOU when you 60
down stairs
Ile oid servant bowed his head and
withdrew, while lir Brent quietly said,
looking 40 the banker
That mans honest
His wife. an ola, gray haired woman,
nov mado her appearance
Mrs. Thompson. You'll have mutton
today for dinner, won't You..
re pectiuly answered 1.Is Thompson,
and moment after she left the room,
in her own mind why that [
gentleman with her master stared at /
ler 60. 4
That's an honest woman" was Air. {
BIent6 conclusion. Z
40 That instant young man, perhaps L
tye-and-twcnty, entered the room IN his N
shppered feet and passed across therOom c
t. shelf Qi books, some Oi which he e
took down. and then vent out Of the
room and up the staircase
Dir Brent had eyed him koenly.
who is that young gentleman he
asked after he had gone a
That ismy SON, Richard-quite a stu ..
lious boy, Sin. Z
Dir. Brent arose from the chair Il
'oushed and picked up bis hat remark
ng. "
u shall call here early in the evening, Il
Nh. Cotton. and stay an night"
lou have some hope of solving this
MYSTERY, then. inquired 3lr Cotton.
"Neu, yes. guess can clear 10 up a
iule-at least III try. Can't DO any CT
more. ehF
So Mr. Brent. the detective, took his b.
departure promising 20 come again in u
he evening.
Ten o'clock 40 night G.
The detective had arrived al the So
anEers residence an hour before, and to
9th were together IA the formers bed as
lamber as we draw up the curtains on ha
.ils. the second scene of our little drama. nj
There was night LAMP in the room, uI
ut u was turned low, and at the side Of st,
be table where DC stood were seated M. fu
oitcn aud tho detective dbl
The room OF the banker was situated M
b the rear OF the house and opened into ISL
be reading room, where the safe stood, ID
rom which the bankers gold had ~ nc
iysieriously disappeared lately ca
Amt you going 10 bed, Mr. Cotton" lo
be- detective asked
II don't think ! shall II ] amt ia Tin
)ur way ] don't mind sitting up, too. en-
)meihing tells me that We shall make q pr
scOyeIy tonight" In
The front door below opened now. and wi
mans footstep was heard ascending ~.
De- staircase and walking across thu cor
dor. then opening "a door, entered the ~ ~
.om and closed the door. ~"
That's yOur son coming iu." Mr. Brent ~