The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06

| scoundrel.''
who was he. then, and what was his
| object in deserving Miss Sutherland
The question was hardly out OF my
mouth and Holmes had not yet opened
| his lips to reply when we heard heaVy
| football in the passage and a tap at the
door.
This is the girls stepfather, Mr.: James
| Windibank," said Holmes He has
written to me 10 say that he would be here
| at g. Come in J"
| The man who entered was a sturdy,
| middle sized fellow, some 30 years OF age,
| clean shaven and sallow skinned. with a
| bland. insinuating manner and pair OIL
wonderfully sharp and penetrating gray
| eyes. He shot a questioning glance at
each of US, placed his shiny top hat upon
| the sideboard and with slight DOW,
| sidled down into the nearest chair.
Good evening. Mr.. James Windibank.
| said Holmes. II think that this type
written letter is from you in which you
made an appointment with me Tor o
| o'clock?''
Eyes, sir I am afraid that am little
late, but am not quite my own master,
| you know | am sorry that Miss Suther-
| land has troubled you about this little
| matter. for think it is far better not to
| wash linen of the sort in public. 1t was
quite against nv wishes that she came,
| but she is very excftable, impuisIve girl,
| as you may have noted. and she is not
easily controlled when she has made up
| her mind on point. OF course / did not
mind You so much as you are not con-
| nected with the official police, but it is not
| pleasant to have family misfortune like
| this noised abroad. Besides it is useless
| expense. for how could you possibly find
| this Hosmer Angel?"
"On the contrary" said Holmes quietly,
II have every reason to believe that viii
dIQrnVarsnU H0SmeT
Angel"
Mr. Windibank gave violent start and
dropped his gloves. ~ am delighted to
hear it," he said.
at is a curious thing" remarked
Holmes, "that typewriter has really quite
as much individuality as mans hand
writing. Unless they are quite new. no
two Of them write exactly alike. Some let
| tiers get more worn than others, and some
| wear only on one side. Now, You remark
| in this note of yours, Mr.. Windibank, that
| in every case there is some little slurring
over of the e. and slight defect in
| the tail of the r. There are fourteen
other Characteristics, but those are the
most obvious"
1--WE do all our correspondence with this
| machine at the Office, and no doubt it is
| little worn" our visitor answered. glanc-
ing keenly at Holmes with his bright lit
| tie eyes
1
| very interesting study, Mr.. Windibank,"
| Holmes continued. 81 think of writing
| another little monograph some of these
days on the typewriter and its relation to
crime. 1t is subject to which | have de-
| voted some little attention. l have here
| four letters which purport to come from
| the missing man. They are all type
written. In each case not only are the
| 'e's' slurred and the RS tailless. but you
! Will observe, If you care to use my mag
nifying lens, that the fourteen other char
acteristics to which / have alluded are
| there as we'll"
Mr.. Windibank sprang out of his chair
| and picked mp his hat. II cannot waste
time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr.
| Holmes" he said. ''If you can catch the
man: catch him, and let me know when
! you have done it,"
Certainly, said Holmes, stepping over
| and turning the KEY in the door. II let
| you know, then, that have caught him!"
What where?" shouted Mr.. Windi-
| bank, turning white to his lips and gianc-
ing about him like a rat in a trap.
"Oh, 1T won't do-really it won't" said
Holmes, suavely There is no possible
getting out of it, Mr.. Windibank 1t is
quite too transparent, and it was a very
bad compliment when you said that it was
impossible for me to solve so simple
question. That's right! Sit down and let
us talk it over"
Our visitor collapsed into chair, with
CHASTITY face and glitter of moisture on
his brow. Tits not actionable," he
stammered.
81 am very much afraid that it is not.
But between ourselves, Windibank, it was
as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick
In petty way as ever came before me.
Now, let me just run over the course of
events, and you will contradict me if am
wrong"
The man sat huddled up in his chair,
with his head sunk upon his breast like
one who Is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck
his feet up on the corner of the mantel-
piece, and. leaning back with his hands
In his pockets. began talking, rather to
himself, as it seemed, than to us.
THE man married a woman very much
older than himselffor her money" said he,
land he enjoyed the use of he money of
the daughter as long as she lived with
them. It was considerable sum for peo-
pie in their position. and the loss of it
would have made a serious difference. 1t
was worth an effort to preserve it. The
daughter was of a good, amiabe disposi-
ton, but affectionate and warm hearted in
her ways, so that it was evident that with
her fair personal advantages and her little
income. she would not be allowed
to remain single long. Now her
marriage would mean, of course. the loss
of hundred a year, so what does her step
father do TO prevent it? He takes the OBJ
vious course of keeping her at home and
forbidding her to seek the company of peo-
pie of her own age. But soon he found
that that would not answer forever. She
! became FESTIVE, insisted upon her rights
| and finally announced her positive inten-
| ton of going to a certain ball. What does
| her clever stepfather do then? He con-
| ceives an idea more creditable to his head
| than to his heart. With the connivance
| and assistance of his wife he disguised
| himself covered those keen ewes with
| tinted glasses, masked the face with
| mustache and pair of bushy whiskers.
| sunk that clear voice into an insinuating
whisper, and doubly secure on account of
| the girls short sight, he appears as Mr..
| Hosmer Angel, and keeps off other lovers
| by making love himself"
at was only joke at first" groaned our
| visitor. 1--WE never thought that she
| would have been so carried away"
Very likely not However that NAV
| be, the young lady was very decidedly car
| ried away, and having quite made up her
| mind that her stepfather was in France
! instant entered her mind She was fat
tered by the gentleman's attentions, and
the effect was increased by the loudly ex-
| pressed admiration of her mother. Then
| Mr.. Angel began to call, for 1t was OBVIOUS
that the matter should be pushed as far as
! il would GO if a real effect were to be pro-
| duced. There were meetings and an en-
gagement, which would finally secure the
| girls affections from turning toward any
| one else. But the deception could not be
| kept up forever. These pretended Jour
| neys to France were rather cumbrous The
| thing to do was clearly TO bring the nusi-