Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-10

nene joints and knuckleS, and whose thumb is so disproportionately large and long as to be almost deformity. He is 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.
 "It is wonderful! It is wonderfulr' he breathed out, rather than articulated. "It is profound, subtle reasoning, and all from such meager and insufficient facts. It 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"
 "I 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 theory is that you cling to it, refusing in it's interest to recognize the plain facts under your nose. The difference between a shrewd detective and dull one is thisx 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. I 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:
 of 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. It 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. "
 "That presume can do without es- pecial shrewdness"
 "I do not intend to give you my req 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 as a 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 betray it. You have been a man of fashion once; you can easily re- sume the role"
 "But when all this is done, what am I to do?''
 Continuously extend the circle oi your acquaintance and become familiar with fashionable haunts of all kinds, and obtain invitations, if possible, tc visit peoples homes. In the meantime watch peoples hands. In short, so that you may not think you are on fool's errand, will tell you that want you tc be eyes and ears for me in places where cannot go myself without arousing sus picion."
 They parted with this.