The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-30

Az tue emu oI II one or two Things seemed
clear enough. As before, it was clear the
burglars were adopts in their business; as
before, it was clear, too, that they knew
well the interior of the house; and, as be-
lore, there was not trace or mark to
show who they were or where they came
from.
When they gave over the investigation
for the day they walked back to the vii
lage both deeply depressed, and one reflect
ing deeply. The latter was Sergeant Col
lie After he reached his lodgings he sat
quietly for some time, rejecting still
Then he rose, put on his overcoat, and
walked down to the village farriers The
blacksmith was still at the forge, though
it was now evening. Sergeant Collie, who
knew him slightly, bade him good-day.
Had a busy day?' the sergeant then
asked the blacksmith.
pretty well-pretty well, answered
Vulcan. ''This weather, you see, makes
the roads plaguey heavy, and there $ lot
of shoes dropped.
Il thought so, answered Collie Il
myself found one. He took the shoe
ont of his pocket.
SAY, ay, said the blacksmith, look
ing at the shoe; ''fore off, | shonld say.
| had three of them today
ANY of them about the size of that ?
IAN of EN-. | should say, answered
the blacksmith.
egXVbosa ,rara tbay -
'.Let me see. Yes. Farmer Oake' 5
mare, the carriers pony, and-and |
should say the third was DIR. Felrs geld
ing-yes, it was.
"What sort of man is the carrier p
asked Collie
sold Fardell? One of the best old
souls living, said the blacksmith. ''He's $
lived in the village since it was started, [
think-remembeFs when there wasn't a
big house within three miles, except the
old manor house, which was pulled down
by st. John Smith three years ago He's
getting past work, I'm afeard. y
The detective sat in silence for min
ute or two. Then he said, II don t feel
at all well tonight. y
II thought you was looking bit glum,
said the blacksmith
''T'll 90 home, think, and get to bed y
The detective went home and went to
bed Before he was long there he di-
reeted his landlady to send for Dr. Fell
and ask him to come as quickly as posi-
BILE, as the case was urgent In spite of
this intimation, Dr. Fell was not particu-
larly quick in coming, and by the time he
arrived the detective seemed very i'll, in
deed. He made the doctor feel his pulse,
examine his tongue and try the state of
his lungs and heart Then the doctor
left, saying it was merely gastric attack,
and promising to send him some medicine
When the doctor was gone Collie sat
up in his bed and reflected
Il have seen him before, he said to
himself ''Was it a witness in stab
bing case, or what? Let me see, now
He's altered, of course; but l feel sure [
knew him. He paused and thought
again Then he suddenly jumped out of
bel. ''I'll swear it. It's Jack Howes,
the forger, or I'm an ass =
Half an hour later the doctor, his coach
man and footman were in custody on
charges Of breaking into and stealing from
the housea of Messrs st. John Smith, st.
james Jones, and St George Robinson,
and half the plunder of those burglaries
had been found by the police safely slowed
away in the doctor house and stables.
At the assizes DR.. Fell and his associ-
ates were tried and convicted of the three
burglaries. The story Of Fell was then
made public, His real name was John
Howse. He had beer medical student
in London hospital, from which he had
been expelled for dishonesty. One of his
ehums had succeeded, however, in getting
diploma This man, who was as dis
reputable as Howse himself, was called
Fell. Shortly after his expulsion, Howse
was convicted of forgery and sent to penal
servitude. While he was serving his SEN
tence Fell died, or, at any rate, disap-
peared. On his discharge, Howse became
aware of this fact, and calmly appropri-
ating his missing friends diploma and name
started practice at Bourgeoisville as doc
tor His former training as medical
student enabled him to carry out the i'm
posture with complete success. Unfortu-
nately his old criminal associates found him
out, and, willingly or unwillingly, on his
part, made him their chief in carrying out
regular scheme of burglaries His pro-
fessional position diverted suspicion from
him and them, while his brougham was
used to remove the plunder, and his resi-
dence to store it till it could be safely dis
posed of.
''You see now, said Collie to Tnspec-
tor Doodle, the horseshoe proved lucky
after all -