The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-11-14

ihoic Wv you N'tul.
I'VE want to find the culprit, my boy,
that's all. There is some great puzzle here
some strange mystery, black as night.
Renshaw, il you will take last chance |
offer it to you now. If you are connected
with this business, speak out, and |
promise you that the law shall not touch
you. Lose this opportunity, and then the
law shall go to wolk, and if it, indeed, can
convict you, then we shall have no mercy
on you. What is your answer"
My answer is as before" he said
slowly. 81 know nothing whatever of the
affair. IT l did I would say 50; as l DON'T l
can't.
We left him alone, and went to Mr..
Vincent s'private room, where we spent
half an hour in earnest consultation.
my opinion" said, sis certaily that
the youth is guilty, and that he has dis.
covered some method of hiding his SPOTS
from the searchers night after night"
But what method could he possibly use?'
asked Mr. Vincent, putting his hand to
his forehead in despair; nothing escapes
the searchers absolutely nothing"
II am not so sure OF that" | returned
slowly, 'searchers are only human after
all, and possibly most simple trick has
deceived them. Is there any means by
which Renshaw could be watched from a
room above?'
"Curiously enough" replied Mr.. Vim
cent, there happens to be skyight in
room Is. Perhaps you noticed it when
you were there? Through that SIX Wight
you would have ample opportunity of see
ing how he employs himself"
Every we'll" said, lit is no use Of my
watching him now, as he will of course, be
on his guard. In weeks time / will
return. Meantime you will, of course,
keep your own counsel, and let no inkling
as to my visit leak out in the place."
He treasured me heartily on this point,
and then we shook hands and parted
A week later, l took up my position
above the skylight, and watched the young
nssayer closely.
| must confess that he did nothing
whatever OF suspicious nature. He pur-
sued his work calmly and methodically,
showing himself to be n very industrious
workman
He had habit Or mannerism which
seemed to me rather strange in so Young
a man. 1t might be natural, or it might
be affected, but every now and then he
would pause in his work, and pass his
long, nervous hands through his bushv,
auburn hair, as though trying to collect
his thoughts. 1t reminded me yery forciblv
OF mannerism Of Henry Irving, and |
thought it possible that Renshaw might be
bit stage struck, and had consciously or
unconsciously adopted the mannerism of
the great actor.
Throughout the day | stood in my I'M
comfortable position, eliciting nothing. At
five o'clock the establishment closed, and
| came down from my perch, and went
straight to Mr.. Vincent's room.
'Mr. Vincent" said 'my search has
been useless so far. am now going round
70 Renshaw's place of residence, and want
you to give me his address and invent some
pretext for keeping him here for, saw
half an hour while pursue my investigat.
ions.n
every well, " he replied, promptly; and
then, ringing a bell, he told the messenger
who answered it to detain Renshaw and
not let him 90 until he had seen him. The
messenger having departed, Mr.. Vincent
wrote the address of the young man on a
slip OF paper.
Jumping into hanson. l drove as
fast as the cab would take me to %, Acacia
Villas, Brixton, where Renshaw lodged.
Arrived there | presented my card, and
having sufficiently overawed the landlady
by the magic name of detective" I was
ushered up into Renshaws room and left
alone. I had, of course, cautioned the
woman against giving him the slightest
hint when he came in Of my visit
Then | examined the room closely. In
one of the drawers l found collection of
tradesmen's bills, which proved clearly
that my "bird" had been going it for some
time past. One of the bills rather aston
shed me, for it was for bottle of aniline
hair-dye.
''What on earth should he want to dye
his hair for?" | pondered-and then it
flashed upon me like lightning stroke
that Renshaw's auburn hair had never
seemed to me quite genuine. But why
should he desire to change it's color?
AS stood thinking, l heard his step on
the stairs. In moment had darted be-
hind screen, which fortunately, happened
to be stading in corner of the room, and
waited for his entry.
He came in hurriedly and sat down on
the bed Then he looked in his water can
and found it empty.
He went to the door and called out:
Mrs. Martin. | wish you would send
up some water at once. You know | al
ways like to have wash directly | get