The leader., 1898-03-02

way TO gain admittance 20 the house
was by the front door. She flung her.
self against 1t, again and again. But
IL resisted all her efforts, and she
stopped to consider. At that moment
laborer ran up.
Its all right" he said. "We've got
him-bag in hand. He had laid his
plans for quick escape well at the back.
but ran into my arms as we entered.
The house is quite empty"
"Oh, are you sure?" asked, for, Of
course, the agile female was myself.
Perfectly certain. The house is abb
solutely empty of everything and every
one"
"Ah, then / think I can understand.
Get me a cab, and take the chap to the
station in another. Charge him-but
how can you? Stopl Charge him with
being found upon Enclosed premises
with burglarious intent. That'll do for
the time. Ha! hal"
Two cabs were procured. In one we
put our prisoner well-dressed man of
a pronounced American type-between
two of my Scotland Yard laborers, and
sent him to the local station. The sec
ond cab took myself, and in 1t drove
! to Carlton House Terrace.
When | arrived at the Cox's found
the footman just paying off another
cab.
ooh, then, Mr.. Cox has returned?"
said
"Yes, sir. just this moment arrived"
"Where's Mr.. Stainer?"
"Your friend has him locked in the
pantry. lie arrested him by your in
structions half an hour ago"
Running up the steps, l pounced
right upon Mr.. and Mrs. Cox locked in
each others arms. lie wore an air of
mystification, while she was simply
bubbling over with delight.
"What does all this mean?" asked Mr..
Cox, turning upon me. Its mystery
upon mystery! Who is this woman? ?"
This woman" replied, sis Detective
Sergeant Wiseman, of New Scotland
Yard, who has just discovered one of the
neatest little plots ever invented. Your
secretary's a genius"
II don't understand" he said, look
ing at me as if he fancied l was play
ing joke at his expense.
"You had a telegram yesterday?' l
asked.
Eyes, which took me to Paris on a
wild-goose chase. Some one has been
making fool of me. The telegram pur-
ported to come from an old friend in
Paris, and requested me to go to him
there without a moments delay or a
word to anyone. Invent. His name was
not known at the hotel. cabled to New
York, and had an answer to say my
friend was there and well, so l came
back. What does it mean?"
at means this" l answered. at
means that your secretary and two
men-one of whom is now in custody,
the other probably in Paris-plotted to
fleece you of C 10000. Your secretary
forged your name on a sheet of note pa
per which was made out as a check for
6 10000 payable to your wife. This is
a large sum, and the chances of getting
such a check honored at short call were
remote, unless the person offering ii
could satisfy the bankers it was all
right. How to do this set the plotters
wondering, until they hit upon the
grand scheme of getting your wife to
change the check" And / then re
counted to him our adventures and theil
result.
''The kidnapping idea was introduced
in order to brighten your wife, and the
finger, which was that of some one else
adorned with one of your rings, which
your secretary found in your bedroom
was calculated to further unnerve her
Madam" 1 concluded, turning te
Mrs. Cox, with a slight evidence of jus
tifiable pride, II congratulate you upor
coming to Scotland Yard. You have
provided me with the only really inter
esting case have had for years. Tit
Bits.