Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-12-08

tnat Mrs Farfsn mas gone into business.
Believing these documents to be in the
possession of the young woman, he visit
ed the Bleecker street apartment, and,
finding no other way to obtain them,
murders her and seizes them. He finds,
however, that he has not all, and he
goes to the Sixteenth street house to see
the mother. He demands and is refused
them. He takes them by force, and he
now knows that Mrs. Parish will uner-
ringly attribute the murder of the daugh-
ter to him, and as u matter Of self pres
ervation he kills the mother.
1--WE have the motive for the deed.
The criminal is a tall, slim man, with
brown hair, who dresses in extreme fash
ion, who is dissipated, and who can be
recognized by large hand, with promi-
nent joints and knuckles, and whose
thumb is so isproportionately large and
long as to be almost a deformity. He is a
surgeon or has studied surgery. To find
that man is to find the murderer, and, in
my judgment, is to find the secret Of that
unfinished letter Of your fathers"
The old detective looked into the face
of Dorison for the first time since he had
begun to reason. Upon it was expressed
excitement and admiration. Dorison's
eyes burned brightly, his lips were
parted. high color was in his cheeks and
he breathed heavily. Something Of the
fever Of the chase was upon him.
at is wonderful 1t is wonderfuli' he
breathed out, rather than articulated.
at is profound, subtle reasoning, and
all from such meager and insufficient
facts. 1t is reasoned out to a conclu-
sion."
NO" said the old detective, "it is
only the first theory, and may be utterly
overturned by the first real, substantial
fact hit upon"
81 cannot believe it," protested Dori-
son. Your conclusions are too strong"
But my premises may be weak" per-
sisted Cathcart. Don't lean too heavily
upon theory. The value Of one is only
that it gives you basis from which to
work. The danger Of a theory is that
you cling to it, refusing in its interest
to recognize the plain facts under your
nose. The difference between shrewd
detective and dull one is this: The lat
ter becomes slave to his theory and it
controls him. the former treats it with
suspicion and abandons it whenever facts
justify such abandonment. But even
working on the lines of an erroneous
theory, you are more apt to hit upon the
true facts than when you are working
wild without plan or purpose. There is
always some truth in every theory. The
trouble with this theory OF mine is that
it is too natural and plausible. always
distrust that which seems natural in the
beginning Of dark case"
Dorison was plainly disappointed and
puzzled at the manner in which the old
detective treated his own theory. He
did not speak for some moments, and
then he suddenly ejaculated:
''lf had so little confidence in theory
that had spent SO much pain and labor
in building up, would not work on it. "
Yes" calmly replied the old detect
i've. That is just what an inexperi-
enced man like you would do. But that
is what neither you nor myself will. We
will go to work on it and your work will
begin very soon."
DorisOn looked up interested.
"My plans, continued Cathcart, "have
been materially changed by the events
of today, especially as to your work. II
is my belief that the owner of that glove
is to be found in the places frequented
by young men Of fashion. And it is in
those places want you to look for him. II
That presume / can do without es-
pecial shrewdness:'
II do not intend to give you my rea-
sons for the plans | have formed. Rea.
sons always keep to myself. But, for
reasons Of my own, | want.you to be in
formed upon the ways Of the young men
of the day and the young men them
selves. To do this you must know them,
associate with them, and to a certain
extent be one of them. Hence, | want
to set you on foot as soon as possible aa
young man Of fashion about town.
Your business you are to keep closely to
yourself; never isping it to any one, and
you will not be required to do any work
which will betr&y it. You have been a
man Of fashion once; you can easily re-
sumo the role"
But when all this Is done, what am l
to do:"
Continuously extend the circle of
your acquaintance and become familiar
with fashionable haunts of all kinds,
and obtain invitations, if possible, to
visit peoples homes. In the meantime
watch peoples hands. In short, so that
you may not think you are on fools
errand, | will tell you that want you to
be eyes and ears for me in places where
cannot so myself without arousing sus-
picion."
They parted with this
CHAPTER VII.
crrvrING Irp MAN ON