The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-11

ment, apparently looking straight before
him, but in reality taking in every detail
OF the place. The gas meter was in very
large lumber cupboard, under the kitchen
STAIRS. The girl opened the door and III
the candle. The meter stood on the hoor,
which was Uttered with hampers and
boxes and odd sheets OF brown paper.
But thing that at once arrested Hewitts
attention was garment OF some sort of
bright blue cloth, with large'brass buttons,
which was lying in q tumbled heap in
corner, and appeared TO be the only thing
in the place that was not covered with
dust. Nevertheless Hewitt took no APP
parent notice Of 1t, but stoopsd down and
solemnly tapped the meter three times
with his pencil, and listened with great
gravity, placing his ear on the top. Then
he shook his head and tapped again. At
length he said: "It's a bit doubtful. I'll
just get you to light the gas in the kitchen
moment. Keep your hands to the
burner, and when l call out shut 1t on at
once-see?"
The girl turned and entered the kitchen
and Hewitt Immediately seized the blue
coat-for coat it was. II had dull red
piping in the seams and was of the swal-
low-tail pattern-a livery coat, in fact.
He held it a moment before him, examin-
ing its pattern and color, and then rolled
1t up and flung it again into the corner.
"Rightl" he called to the servant.
"Shut off!"
The girl emerged from the kitchen as
he left the cupboard. "Well, she asked,
'are you satisfied now?"
"Quite satisfied, thank you," Hewitt re-
piled.
as it all right?" she continued, jerking
her hand toward the cupboard.
well, no, IL isn't there's something
wrong there, and Pm glad i came. You
can tell Mr.. Merston, il you like, that
expect his gas bill will bo good deal less
next garter" And there was suspicion
of chucKle in Hewitt's voice as be
crossed the hall to leave. For gas in
spector is pleased when he finds at length
what he has been searching for.
Things had fallen out better than
Hewitt had dared to expect. He saw the
key OF the whole mystery in that blue
. coat; for 1t was the uniform coat of the
hall porters at one OF the banks that he
had visited in the morning, though which
one he could not for the moment remem-
Der. He entered the nearest postofiice
and dispatched telegram TO Plummer;
then he hailed the first available cab and
INC
At Lombard street he allghted and
looked in at the door of each bark till he
came to Butler, Clayton, Ladds & Co.'s.
This was the bank he wanted. In the
other banks the hall porters wore null
berry coats, brick-du coats, brown
coats and what not, but here, behind the
ladders and scaffold poles which obscured
the entrance, he could SEQ a man in a
blue coat with dull red piping and brass
buttons. He sprang up the steps,
pushed open the inner spring door
and finally satisfied himself by
closer view Of the coat, to the wearer's
astonishment. Then ne regained the
pavement and walled the whole length of
the bank premises in front, afterward
turning up the paved passage at the side,
deep in thought. The bank had no win
dows or doors on the side next the court,
and the two adjoining houses were old
and supported In places by wooden shores.
Both were empty, and a grea. board an
nounced that tenders would be received
for the purchase of the old materials of
which they were constructed in a months
| time; also that some part OF the site
| would be let on a long building lease.
Hewitt looked up at the grimy fronts
of the old buildings. The windows were
crusted thick with dirt, all except the
bottom window Of the house nearer the
bank, which was fairly clean and seemed
to have been quite lately washed. The
door, too, of this house was cleaner than
that OF the other, though the paint was
worn. Hewitt reached and fingered a
hook driven into the left hand doorpost
about six feet from the ground. 1t was
new and not at oil rusted; also, Iastiny
splinter had been displaced when the hook
was driven in, and clean wood showed at
the spot.
Having observed these things, Hewitt
stepped back and read at the bottom OF
the big board the name"W insor Il Weekes,