Evening star., 1895-05-11


He Saw the Face of the Woman Who
Had Followed Him.
dye do? 1 came across and took his bills,
and dealt with them in the usual way. He
had a new umbrella lying on the counter
rather a handsome umbrelia-and l made
remark about the handle. He took 1t up
to show me, and told me it was present
he had just received from friend. 1t was
a gorse root handle with two silver bands,
cne with his monogram, c. w. l.. l said
It was very nice handle, and asked him
whether it was fine in his district on Sun
day. He said he had been up the river,
and it was very fine there. And l think
that was ALL"
Thank you. Now about this umbrella.
Did he carry it rolled? Can you describe it
in detail?"
well. I've told you about the handle,
and the rest was much as usual. l think;
it wasn't rolled-just Tapping loosely you
know. 1t was rather an odd-Shaped handle,
though. I'll try and sketch it, if you like.
as well as 1 can remember" He did so.
and Hewitt saw in the result rough indica-
tions of gnarled crook. with one silver
band near the end, and another with the
NOR ogram. few inches down the handle:
Hewitt put the sketch in his pocket and
Isde the cashier good day.
At the next bank the story was the same
as at the first-there was nothing remem-
bered but the usual routine. Hewitt and
the clerk turned down a narrow paved
court ana turned INTO LOmDdru street
the next visit. The bank-that of Butler.
Clayton, Ladds & Co-waS just at the
correr. at the end of the court. and the
imposing stone entrance porch was being
made longer and more imposing still, the
way being almost blocked by ladders and
SC affold pcies. Here there was only the
usual tale, and so on through the whole
walk. The cashiers knew Laker only by
sight, and that not always very distinctly.
The calls of walk clerks were such mat
ters of routine that little note was taken
of the persons of the clerks themselves,
who were called by the names of their
firms If they were called by any names
at ALL Laker had behaved much as usual,
| so far as the cashiers could remember, and
when finally the Eastern Consolidated was
left behind. nothing more had been learn
ed than the chat about Lakers new UNI
brella.
Hewitt had taken leave of Mr.. Meals
clerk, and was stepping into hanson,
when he noticed a veiled woman. in wild
ow's weeds. hailing another little way
behind. He recognized the figure again,
and said to the driver: Drive first to
Palmer's tourist office. but keep your eye
on that cab behind. and tell me presently
if it is following US"
The cabman drove off, and. after passing
one or two turnings, opened the lid above
Hewitt's head and said: THAT there other
keb is a-follerin us, sir, an keeping about
even distance all along.
"AlI right-that's what wanted to know.
Palmer'S now.
to Laker remembered him very well. and
described him. He also remembered the
wallet, and thought he remembered the
umbrella-was practically sure of it, in
fact, upon reflection. He had no record Of
the name given, but remembered 1t dis
| tinctly to be Laker. AS matter of fact,
names were never asked in such trans
action, but in this case Laker appeared 20
be ignorant of the usual procedure, as
we'll as in 2 great hurry, and asked for the
| ticket and gave his name all in one breath,
probably assuming that the name would
be required.
| Hewitt got back to his cab, and started
| for Charing Cross. The cabman once more
lifted the lid and informed him that the
again following. having waited while Hew-
| itt visited Palmer S. At Charing Cross
| Hewitt disc harged his cab and walked
straight to the lost property office. The
man in charge knew him very well, for his
business had carried him there frequently
| before
| II fancy an umbrella was lost in the
station yesterday" Hewitt said. TT was
| a new umbrella. silk. with gnarled gorse-
root handle and two silver bands some
| thing like this sketch. There was a mono
gram on the lower band-C. w. L. were the
! letters. Has it been brought here?"
There Was two or three yesterday the
| man said Lets see." He took the sketch
and retired to the corner of his room. oh,
yes-here it is, think. Isn't this it? Do
| you claim it?"
well, not exactly that. but I think I'll
| take a lock at it if you'll let me. By the
way, I see it's rolled up. Was it found
| like that?"
| mo; the chap rolled it up that found
| it-porter he was. It's fad of his, rolling
up umbrellas close and neat, and he's
rather proud of it. He often looks as
though he'd like to take mans umbrella
| away and roll it up for him when it's a
! bit clumsy done. Rum fad, eh?'
| "Yes-everybody has his little fad,
though. Where was this found-close by
| here?"
Yes, just there. almost opposite this
window, in the little corner"
| about o'clock
| "Ah, about that time, more or less
| Hewitt took the umbrella up, unfastened
! the band and shook the silk out loose.
| Then he opened it, and he did so a small
scrap of paper fell from inside it. Hewitt
pounced on it like lightning Then, after
| examining the umbrella thoroughly, inside