The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-09-30
A MYSTERY IN WHITE.

'It's not more than year ago, said
the veteran detective when asked for n
story, "that had the straugest expe-
rience of my career That's saying
something, for, while I'm not one OF
these men in novels who can put on
half dozen DISCUSSES in an evening
or look at a little heap OF cigar ashes
and identify the man who smoked the
cigar, I've seen n great deal that's way
out of the common.
"A gentleman named Denzil called
at my office one afternoon to employ
my professional services. knew him
by reputation as a stern, grasping,
money-making man who loved moth
ing but his possessions and his beauti-
full daughter. On her he had lavished
wealth, but had saddened her life by
preventing her marriage to q manly
young chap who was fitting match
for her in appearance, attainments
and disposition. He was fast making
n record in the world os business, but
it was q rich old bachelor who had
passed the years of romance and en-
joyment that Denzil had elected to
have as son-in-law. Even under the
threat OF disinheritance the girl would
not yield to this mercenary arrange
ment, the result being strained state
OF neutrality which left both aspirants
for her hand without any apparent
hope of getting it.
"My caller went direct to business.
I'm constant and heavy loser be-
cause of the theft of money and Jewels
from my own house., he told me.
Things that are OF the most value
constantly and mysteriously disappear.
Now don't start off with the usual
questions about the servants. have
taken pains to test their honesty for
years and they are above suspicion.
1 am completely in the dark, without
any theories to embarrass you or any
explanations to help. You have the
whole job without ray of light
thrown upon it, and if you find the
thief there will be no haggling over
the fee. 1t will be worth much to
me to get this worry off my mind.
Burglars that make no noise or marks
and leave ones house shut up as tight
as drum tend to shatter a mans
nerves.
+ II went at once into the country
and neighborhood where Denzil lived,
pretending to look for bit of land
where could build within easy reach
of the city. put up at q little road
side tavern much frequented in the
evening by farm hands. was soon
interested in their gossip about a
ghost which they declared had been
seen at different times and by different
people. Their awed tones and scared
faces fitted the subject, and there
seemed to be some substantial founda-
ton for the uncanny story. One husky
young fellow who did not look as
though he would be easily frightened
told OF his encounter;
al war gittin' home kinder late of
a Sunday night, an just as I kim to
the woods ayond ole Denzil's I mighty
near had cerlission with tn ghos'.
1t warn't no white COW er gray hoss
or sheep er nothin' else as war flesh
an blood. 1t whizzed by me iist like
it war fyin' low an orful swif' on q
broomstiok. A feller's got ter believe
his own eyes, hain't he T? / war never
soberer in my life an never so skeered.
I bet my footprints war twenty feet
apart tn res of the way home, fur 1
had idee that thar pesky thing war q
sailin' long jist ahind my coat tails. ;
II heard like experiences from sew
eral others, and in some way connect
ed the ghost with the Denzil rob-
berieA For two nights ] stood dreary
watch in the woods referred to with.
ont making any discovery. The third