The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-27

The agent looked at IDS cerIlucate anu
began to say that it would take little
time.
| stopped him.
knew enough Of these agencies to know
that the longer a job takes the greater the
profit, because the expenses and fees are run
up, SO | replied that | would give lump
sum, to be agreed upon, directly the infOr-
nation was in my possession,
Eventually Mr.. Dash agreed that for the
sum Of 925 pounds he would get me full
particulars in couple If days.
He asked me my name and address |
told him that for private reasons, preferred
not to give them, but that would call per
sonally and hand him the cps in return for
his written report.
Very good" he said, and leaving the GER
ti1cate with him took my departure
AS | went out OF the room he touched a
bell On the table.
| had to pass through the outer office. AS
] did SO one Of the clerks rose. thought be
was going to answer his employers bell but
be put on his hat and went down the stairs
in front of me.
/ at once jumped to the conclusion that
the touching OF the bell was signal to the
outer Office that l was to be followed | had
declined to give my name, and the private
inquiry agent was anxious to kno ~ it.
Once outside in the street l crossed the
road and pretended to look in a shop win
dow.
WANTED to see if the clerk was watching
me. gave furtive glance to the left and
to the right-he was nowhere to be seen.
Then | looked across the road and saw
him calling to paper boy for a Globe.
He bought the paper and went back up
stairs
had been over suspicious l was not to
be followed, SO | went straight back to my
hotel.
Cora was very glad to See me. 1t was the
first time since We arrived in Loudon that l
had left her for so long time.
Now that had put matters in train l
felt little relieved in my mind, so deter
mined TO forget the mystery IS much as
possible and walk for the denouemeut.
Cora found me quite my own self that
afternoon. and the next day, in order TO dis
tract my mind. devoted 70 her and round
OF sightseeing.
On the morning after that, at u O'Clock,
went to the office Of Messrs. Dash & Co. and
bad to wait for some time as Mr.. Dash was
engaged
Wien l was shown into him my first
question was
Have you got the informationf
YES" was the reply, aud unlocking a
drawer in his writing table he took out big
envelope and handed it to me.
"You had better read it here" he said
: You may have some questions to ask me
On it."
opened the envelope and road the follow.
ing statement:
On the 2Sth Of May, 1SS-. the body Of a
well dressed gentleman aged about 30, was
found floating in the Thames near the TeuI- |
pie Stairs, by the River police. 1t was |
taken 10 the police station and examined by |
mn. lFeNWRr r
found on the body, and no papers. In the |
pocket were two sovereigns, and |
IN the trousers pocket some loose silver.
There were no initials on the clothes. A |
iull description of the body and the cloth |
ng were given in the daily
papers, and the police issued
he usual notices. Several people came to
ee tue body, but failed to identity it until
dr. Garstin, O merchant in the city, called
me day and said that the description an
wering that of clerk lately in his employ,
ie would like to see the body. He said it
vas very like clerk formerly in his service
named William Hengist Smith, but he had
] OF seen him for twelve months, and could
rot swear to the remains.
This statement appeared in the papers.
and the following day a lady called and
tated that she was the wife of William
dengst Smith, but was separated from him.
lie had Inherited small sum at his moth
RS death, which she believed he had spent
u dissipation. He had often threatened to
commit suicide. Confronted with the body
he at once identified it rs that of her hus-
,and, and claimed it.
At the coroner's inquest she gave evidence
o this effect and swore positively that it
vas her husband.
Mr.. Garstin also gave evidence that he
vas struck by the similarity and thought
here was no doubt it was his late clerk.
The medical evidence went to show that
here were no marks of violence, aud event
tally verdict of Found drowned was
The widow claimed the body, and it was
buried a. Highgate.
There were other details in the report
Out they were not important. | had read
sufficient TO understand how 1t was | came
TO be buried with my father and mother.
For the first time 4 ray of light dawned
upon me. But l could not understand why
nv wlfe-my legal wife. who had resumed
her maiden name at our separation-had
suddenly re-assumed the status of amarried
woman in order to identify drowned man
~ her husband.
As soon as l had read the report folded
Il up and put it in my pocket. l then
handed Mr.. Dash five and twenty pounds in
bank notes.
he gave me a receipt for the money. 1
took il and glanced at 1t mechanically and
then uttered az exclamation of astonish-
nsnt.
The receipt ran as follows;
Received Of M. William Smith the sum
# E25 for particulars of the death aud
the Inquest held on William Hengist
Smith.
How did you know my nameN I ex-
claimed, angrlly, the hot blood rushing to
my face.
Ire agent shrugged his shoulders.
I'VE found it OUT he said, quietly
" Ee can never work well in the dark, you
know"
Then, noting my confusion, he smiled aud
said:
There is no necessity for you to be
alarmed. l always like to know the name
Of my clients. Once we start an inquiry
we often come upon information which may
some day be Of great value to them. If we
didn't know who they were we couldn't
communicate with them"
/ accepted his explanation. 1t wouldn't
have done for me to appear alarmed or geri-
ously angry. That would perhaps have
aroused the agents suspicious.
j was about to leave, when the agent
called me back.
"You are sure this is all the information
you wants" he said.
quite sure, thank you"
81 suppose the subsequent career of the
widow Of Mr.. William Hengist Smith is Of
no interest to you"
hesitated.
"Well, I-er-I should like 10 know what
had become Of her"
81 can tell you. but not II course, for the
E25. Thinking you might like the inquiry
r.Na.fn f.sINf q