Evening star., 1895-05-11

whats this" 1 asked, "a cryp,ogram?"
'I'n see.' Hewitt answered But l won't
tell you anything about it till afterward. so
you get your lunch. kerrett, bring the di
reCtory."
This was all I actually saw of this case
myself, and have written the rest in its
proper order from Hewitts information, as
have written some other cases entirely.
To resume at the point where for the
time. l lost sight of the matter. Hewitt
left by the back way, and stopped an empty
cab as it passed. "Abney Park cemetery"
was his directions to the driver In little
more than twenty minutes the cab was
branching off down the Essex road, on its
way to Stoke Newington. and in twenty
minutes more Hewitt stopped it in Church
street, Stoke Newington. He walked
through a street Or two. and then down
another. the houses of which he scanned
carefully IS he passed. Opposite one which
stood by itself he stopped, and. making a
pretense of consulting and arranging his
large pocketbook, he took a good look at
the house. 1t was rather larger, neater and
more pretentious than the others in the
street, and 1t had a natty little coach house
just visible up the side entrance. There
were red blinds hung with heavy lace in
the front windows and behind one of these
blinds Hewitt was able to catch the CLINT
of heavy gas chandelier.
He stepped briskly up to the front steps
and knocked sharply at the door. "Mr.
Merston?" he asked, pocket book in hand.
when neat parlor maid opened the door.
Yes"
"Ah"-Hewitt stepped into the hall and
pulled off his hat-"Its only the meter.
There's been deal of gas running away
somewhere here, and I'm just looking to
see If the meters are right. Where is ?"
The girl hesitated. 'I'll-I'll ask MASTER"
she said.
VERY well. l don't want to take it away.
you know-only to give it a tap or two and
so on
Hewitt followed the girl to the basement.
apparently looking straight before him, but
.1at,, ar . I,
place. The gas meter was in a very large
| lumber cupboard, under the kitchen stairs.
The girl opened the door and lit the candle.
The meter stood on the floor, which was lit
tered with hampers and boxes and odd
sheets of brown paper. But thing that at
once arrested Hewitt's attention was a
garment of some sort of bright blue cloth,
with large brass buttons, which was lying
| in a tumbled heap in a corner, and appear
| ed to be the only thing in the place that
| was not covered with dust. Nevertheless
| Hewitt took no apparent notice of 1t, but
stopped down and solemnly tapped the
lt.meter three times with his pencil, and lis
l,tened 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
| hand to the burner. and when l call out
| shut it off at once-see?"
| The girl turned and entered the kitchen,
| and Hewitt Immediately seized the blue
coat-for coatsit was. 1t had a dull red
| piping in the seams and was of the swal-
| low-tail pattern7a livery coat, in fact. He
| held it a moment before him, examining
| its pattern and color, and then rolled it up
and flung 1t again Into the corner.
right! he cslled-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.
rs it all right" she continued, jerking
| her hand toward the cupboard.
We'll, no, it isn't; there's something
| wrong there, and I'm glad I came. You
| can tell Mr. Merston, if you like that /
| expect his gas bill will be a good deal less
| next quarter" And there was a suspicion
| of chuckle in Hewitts voice 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
| il 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 post office and dispatched a
| telegram to Plummer: then he hailed the
| first available cab and hurried toward the
| city.
At Lombard street he alighted and looked
1 in at the door Of each bank till he came to