Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-18

with most people, took a sort of lan- guid, amateur interest in questions of psychology, and was impelled thereby to plunge into the pages of the many curious and rather abstruse books which attempt to deal with phenomena of mind, soul and sense. Three things of the real nature of which, am con vinced, no man will ever learn more than we know at present-which is nothing.
 It was while these things were occu- pying part of my attention that I chanced to ask Hewitt whether, in the course of his divers odd and out-of-the- way experiences, he had met with any such weird adventures as were detailed in such profusion in the books of ''au thenticated" spooks, dopplegangers, poltergeists clairvoyance and so forth.
 Well" Hewitt answered, with re- fection, II haven't been such a wallow CT in the uncanny as some of the worthy people who talk at large in those books of yours, and as matter of fact, my little adventures, curious as some of them may seem, have been, on the whole, of the most solid and matter of fact description. One or two things have happened that perhaps your 'psychical' people might be interested in, but they've mo-tly been found to be capable of a disappointingly simple ex- planation. One case of some genuine psychological interest, however, have had, although there's nothing even in that which isn't a matter of well-known scientific possibility" And he proceeded to tell me the story that have set down here, as well as I can, from recollection.
 l think I have already said, in an- other place, that Hewitt's professional start as private investigator dated from his connection with the famous others, in which his then principals, Messrs. Crellan, Hunt & Crellan, chiefly through his exertions, established their extremely high reputation as solicitors. It was ten years or so after this case that Mir. Crellan senior-the head of the firm-retired into private lite, and, by an odd chance, Hewitt's first meet ing with him after that event was oc. casioned by another will difficulty.
 These were the terms of the tele- gram that brought Hewitt again into personal relations with his old prin- cipal:
 "Can you run down at once on matter of private busincss' will be ct Guildford to meet eleven thirty-fve from Waterloo. If later or prevented please wire. CRELLAN."
 The day and the state of Hewitt's en- agreements suited, and there was full half an hour to catch the train. Talk ing, therefore, the small travelling bag that always stood ready packed in case of any sudden excursion that presented the possibility of night from home, he got early to Waterloo, and by half-past twelve was alighting at Guildford sta tion. MT. Crellan, hale, white-haired old gentleman, wearing gold-rimmed spectacles, was waiting with carriage.
 How dye do, MT. Hewitt, how dye dol" the old gentleman exclaimed, as soon as they met, grasping Hewitt's hand and hurrying him toward the car glad. hope l haven't dragged you away from important businessP"
 "No," Hewitt replied, you have chosen most excellent time. Indeed, did think of making small holiday, but your telegram"
 "Yes, yes. Do you know I was al- most ashamed of having sent it after it had gone; because, after all, the mat ter is, probably, really very simple sort of affair that you can't possibly help me in.
 Do you ever remember my speaking of an intimate friend, MT. Holford? No? I J,oy ad frs tion him. He was a most excellent man, old fellow like me, you know, two or three years older, as matter of fact. We were a very excellent pair of old chums till last Monday-the day before yesterday-when my poor old friend died. Now the reason l have requisitioncd you is this: that l can't find poor old Holford's will. l drew 1t up for him years ago, and by 1t was appointed his sole executor. am per fectly sure that he cannot have de- stroyed it because he told me every thing concerning his affairs. More over, there are reasons why know he could not have wished to die intes- tate" at-
 (Which are-?" queried Hewitt as Mir. Crellan paused in his statement.
 (Which are these: Holford was wid- over, with no children of his own. His wife, who has been dead nearly fifteen years now, was a most excellent wom- an, a model wife, and would have beon a model mother if she had been one at all. As it was, she adopted little girl, poor little soul who was left an or plan at two years of age.
 'Now, in his will MT. Holford be- queathed rather more than half of his very large property to this Miss Garth; that is to say, as residuary legatee her interest in the will came to about