The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-11

Hewitt Immediately Seized the blue Coat.
in the place that was not covered with
dust. Nevertheless Hewitt took no ap-
parent notice of 1t, but stopped 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: ITS
bit doubtful. I'll Just get you to light
the gas in the kitchen a moment Keep
your hand to the burner, and when I
call out shut It off at once-see?"
The girl turned and entered the
kitchen, and Hewitt Immediately seized
the blue coat-for coat 1t was. It had
dull red piping in the seams and was
Of the swallow-tail pattern-a livery
coat, in fact. He held it a moment be-
fore him. examing its pattern and color,
and then rolled 1t up and flung 1t again
into the corner.
Right" he sailed 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
replied.
as it all right?" she continued, jerk
ing her hand toward the cupboard
well, no. it isn't; there's something
wrong there, and I'm glad I came. You
can tell Mr.. Merston, II you like that
l expect his gas bill will be a good
deal less next quarter" And there was
suspicion of chuckle in Hewitt's voice
as he crossed the hall to leave. For a
gas inspector 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 remember. He entered the
nearest postoffice and dispatched tele-
gram to Plummer; then he hailed the
first available cab and hurried toward
the city.
At Lombard street he alighted and
looked in at the door of each bank till
he came to Butler, Clayton, Ladds Ss
Co.'S. This was the bank he wanted.
In the other banks the hall porters wore
mulberry coats, brick-dust coats, brown
coats and what not, but here, behind
the ladders and scaffold poles which
obscured the entrance. he could see a
man in blue coat with dull red pip
ing and brass buttons. He sprang up
the steps, pushed open the inner spring
nd too T.,
closer view of the coat, to the wearers
astonishment. Then he regained the
pavement and walked the whole length
or the bank premises In front, afterward
turning up the paved passage at the
side, deep in thought. The bank had
no windows 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
great board announced that tenders
would be received for the purchase of
the old materials Of which they were
constructed in months time; also that
some part of the site would be let on
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 hook driven into
the left-hand door post about six feet
from the ground 1t was new and not
at all rusted: also. tiny 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 "Windsor &