The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-04
A BORN DETECTIVE.

Forelock Tones put away his mouth
harp and lighted cheroot as entered
the second floor front hall bedroom whioh
we occupied.
ssAnother mysteryP'' asked, for had
become accustomed to the lightning
changes in his moods.
Precisely, and if I am not mistaken
and never amt is going to be an inter.
esting one before we reach the end.''
Forelock Tones pulled away at his
cheroot for several seconds while he stud
led the movements of fly crawling acros.
the ceiling l leaned against the folding
bed and waited for him to proceed.
There was a caller to see me this
morning during my absence. This much
1 learned from the servant. Here I have
index to the character of the man and
a pretty clear history of his trouble.''
As Tones spoke he picked up an UNI,
brella.
ga few minor links in the chain of evi
dence are missing, but the man will no
doubt be able to supply those when he re
turns at 6:45 O'Clock, and with your as.
sistanee 1 expect to be able to clear up the
whole matter in a couple of hours. You
see, the fellow was somewhat nervous and
embarrassed. That, added to a natural
carelessness and Observation-Disclosures, caused
him to bring his umbrella up stairs instead
of leaving it in the rack below. His nerv.
BUSINESS increased as he reached my doo1
and he put it down in the hall OF course
he forgot it when he went away. picked
it up, and as a result of my examination
of the article expect to be able to sur.
prise him when he returns
''But what can yeu find out about 9
man by looking at his umbrella?'' asked.
"EverythingP' replied Tones with EN-.
phasis. "He bought it, which is some.
thing in his favor. I know that because
there is no name inside. When a man bor.
rows an umbrella, he always takes a good
one, which is sure to have the former own.
er's name stamped on the lining or handle.
My caller purchased this at a bargain sale
for 81. 90, marked down from SO. 40. That
I learn from the fragment of the tag
which I found caught in one of the ribs.
1t is an expensive ono for him, as he is
q clerk in a dry goods store at $11 week,
with the promise of an increase next year,
but he is something of a fep, with fancy
for costly articles. That he is a clerk in
a dry goods store is clear to a novice like
yourself. See, the folds are carefully ad-
justed and smoothed down on the outside,
and the loop is buttoned. The owner is
accustomed to folding cloth, smoothing
down tho creases and securing the cords
that hold the bolts of goods in shape.
1.-The man is young, about %, L should
say. He is slender and ought to weigh
about 143 pounds. With my glass 1 have
whore he held the umbrella and by care
full measurement have ascertained that he
wears No 634 glove. With hand of
that size he ought to measure about 5 feet
SO in his stockings. He is in love with
q woman who works in a candy store and
paints her face. Last night he met her by
appointment. He kissed her once on the
lips and once on the cheek. Then they
were interrupted, and he left in a hurry
The woman is a blond and has encouraged
his advances.
t'The man is in trouble on account OF
this woman, and that is why he came to
consult me. The nature of his trouble is
not exactly clear, but my impression is
that the young man has a rival who is
jealous"
"Great heavens, Tomes!' I exclaimed.
"You do not mean to tell me you have
learned all this about a man you never
saw, simply by looking at his UMBRELLA"
Precisely. 1t is very simple to one
who observes. To a person Of low order
of intelligence this would be 81. so UNI
brolla, slightly shopworn and used short
time; nothing more. But when we come to
examine it with care we find certain, we'll
defined marks on the cloth, traces of two
distinct foreign substances adhering to the
handle, which, combined with my infalli-
bic theories lead directly to certain facts,
and then you have all the really essential
points in a drama of real life, which, let
us hope, will not end in tragedy
'WonderfuIP' I exclaimed. "But tell
me how you ascertained the owner of this
umbrella kissed woman who works in
candy store and paints her face, and then
left her in a hurry"
'That was the least puzzling feature
Of the case. Take my glass and look at the
handle. You will see outlined there in two
colors the imprint of mans lips. After
parting with the woman this fellow was
nervous and excited, and unable to borrow
cigarette he bit the handle of his UNI
brella. The lighter color is paint. 1t is a
very light shade of red. used only by blond
women. The darker color, you will OBJ
servo, is made by a slightly adhesive sub
stance. That is candy, caramels, / make
it out. The presence of these two sub
stances proves beyond the possibility of a
mistake that he had kissed the woman
first on the cheek. She did not resent
that; then he kissed Der lips, which left
traces of paint and caraInels on his mouth.
II know that they were interrupted
and that the young man departed in
hurry because the imprint of his lips on
the handle was made within a few mo-
ments of the time of the kissing. But
further evidence of his haste and excite
ment is found here where he crumpled
one of the folds in the cover by clinohing
his hand over it. -
Tones arose, walked over to the win
dow and looked out. 1 stood watching
him in silent admiration, when suddenly a
smile of satisfaction broke over his face.
''Here comes my man, half an hour
earlier than I expected him. His case
must be serious
went to the window, and looking out
saw a slender young man walking rapidly
across the street and glancing anxiously
up at our room. In a few moments there
was sharp ring of the hall bell, followed
by steps on the stairs and knock at the
door of our room.
'fCome IMP called Tones putting the
telItale umbrella under the table.
Tho vnuno man artarnd with q husinass-