Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-10-23
A DETECTIVES RUSE.

Cholmondely Ia very old friend of
mine. To the world he poses successful
ly IA u social star He runs a fat In
Mayfai which would knock the stuffing
out of an earl. His country house ia sit
uated In one Of the best parts Of Hert-
fordshire Any day you would pick his
yacht out of tho swaggerost batch at
Cowes. and his horses and wine are no.
yond all reproach.
But he hasn't friend saving myself
who knows where his money comes
from.
As IA matter of fact, Cholmondely il
sort of society Sherlock Holmes.
There are good many affairs of in
ternational Importance which require
the most subtle investigation and d.
| plomacy Of q high order.
And then there are many society cases
affecting people of high standing which
require the most delicate handling.
Such matters are placed entirely In the
hands Of men OF Cholmondely's stamp
He makes quite $50. 600 year
/ was more agreeably surprised than
otherwise when one day last week the
following wire arrived from him:
''Oan you zee me before 1872 Important
matter Urgent.
| There was nothing Of the blase man
of the world air which Cholmondely
affects in society AZ he greeted me this
morning. Instead he got to business at
once.
His first action was to cross the room
to little box which was fitted against
the wall. had seen II scores Of times
before. 1t was what he called his peep
| ing machne-an arrangement of pipes
and mirrors--by means Of which he is
able 10 see from the study what is going
on in his drawing room and dining
room.
Sec hnything?"
Eyes. There's man there. "
Recognize him?'
started back In surprise. The visitor
was none other than IA prominent mem
Der Of the government
Cholmondely said nothing, but sim
ply turned small lever and told mo to
look again This timo / saw into tho
dining room.
Seated atthe table was gentlemRnly
man Of about 40. He was studying
notebook
"1hink he looks the desperate Grim
inal 81 lirtion2'
Couldn't shy boo to goose. re-
Piled
"Well anyway, he's our man, and
we've got to catch him.
''But, my dear chap, he's here. You
GOULD sprinkle salt on his tail.
''Stcady, my friend. stendy. This liz
not common or garden case. It's
matter involving the theft Of IL govern
meDt secret.
"Onr client IL Lord ---, whom you
saw in the drawing room just now.
About O'Clock last night he loft tho
foreign office with dispatches of the
most important description. We're they
in tho hands of the government to whom
they are addressed nothing could avert
great European war. Ho had orders
to cross to the continent with them tho
first thing in the morning.
ITO cut u long story short, they were
stolen on his way home and half an
hour later ho received urgent instruc-
tions TO return them ut once, az In vieW
of fresh complications they must not 30
delivered Mt any cost.
NOW, the case hadn't been In my
hands for more than an hour before l
discovered who were the guilty gentle
men in the affair. I had been there be-
fore, 30 to speak. As matter Of fact, /
know within an ace where those dis
patches are now, but there are ono or
two difficulties IN the path. In the first
place. it Is impossible by the nature Of
the case to arrest Inc men.
Now these gentlemen offer the usual
alternatives. Either VIC must pay them
huge ransom for the papers -you see
now why they stole them--or they will
skip across the channel and deliver
them. in which case there will be the
dickens TO pay
The man you saw In the dining
room il one Of the two gentlemen con-
ccrncd Ia the theft Knowing he is safe
from arrest, he has called to negotiate
with me on the question Of compensa-
ton. It's blackmail In plain English.
''Of course my clients are willing TO
pay anything to get the papers back,
but that isn't ChoImondeIy' way Of
working. We've got 20 get those papers
without paying for them, and IL you're
the man take you for We can manage
It,
THE other mans ut u well known
south coast port waiting to skip across
tho channel il negotiations fail think
it IL more than likely ne has got the
papers Now, you have got to go down
there and keep him in view while 1
dilly daily with the business manager
OF the show and keep him waiting here
for day or two till hit on q good
scheme.
IF he has got the papers and there's
chance. get 'em at any cost, old man.
II won't cost you more than go TO
knock him down If necessary. But for
heavens sake don't make scene. Wire
me every hour, but don't take any risk
Of making mess Of it, {"
/ found him In the billiard room.
From my friends descriI ton / reoog-
nized him ut once. A tall, aristocratio
fellow, who gave me the idea Of clever