The Democratic advocate., 1898-03-26

HSil WIS DdTcly SuHCleHL u cHdDlt the
woman to see a white cross upon flag
stone in front of No II, and upon this she
put the handbag she carried The mo-
ment she had done so, she started to run
down the street, but she did not run far,
turning sharply into the deep shadow of
projecting wall From here she could see
up and down the street, the mysterious
house and the hand bag, The house was
apparently empty. Not light was there
in any window
She was attentively watching the win
dows Of No. Il for an indication Of life,
when she heard strange grinding sound
that made her start Everything was ex-
actly lis it had been before except that
the bag had gone! Vanished!
Fool she cried, Il might have
guessed it,
Running ont Of hiding she drew police
whistle blew it thrice, and then set about
TO examine the aagstone Yes; the
cement around it was in loose powder.
Some one had shafted the fag; some one
in the cellar below and the bag was gone
and the flag pushed back
There was no area door. so the only way
to gain admittance to the house was by the
front door,
She flung herself against it again and
again. But it resisted all her efforts, and
she stopped to consider At that moment
Il laborer ran up.
'.It' $ all right, he said We We got
him--bag in hand He had laid his plans
for quick escape 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 alb
solutely empty of everything and every
one
:'Ah, then think | can understand
Get HE Il cab and take the chap to the
station in another
Two cabs were procured. In one we
put our prisoner-a well dressed man of
pronounced American type-between two
of my Scotland Yard laborers and sent him
to the local station The second cab |
took myself, and in it | drove to Carlton
House Terrace.
When | arrived at the Coxes [ found
the footman Just paying off another cab.
.:Oh, then Mr. Cox has returned ?"
| said.
YES, sir Just this moment arrived
Where Mr.. Stainer ?
''Your friend has him locked in the pan
try. He arrested him by your instructions
half an hour ago
Running up the steps | pounced right
upon Mr.. and Mrs. Cox locked in each
other arms. He wore an air of mysti-
fication, while she was simply bubbling over
with delight
What does all this mean p asked Mr..
Cox, turning upon me. ''Its mystery
upon mystery! Who is this woman p
This woman, [ replied, is Detec-
tive Sergeant Wiseman, of New Scotland
Yard, who has just discovered one Of the
neatest little plots ever invented. Your
secretary is a genius
II don't understand. he said, looking
ut me as if he fancied was playing joke
at his expense.
'You had Il telegram yesterday?' [
asked
Eyes, which took me to Paris on wild
goose chase. Some one has been making
Il fool of me. The telegram purported to
come from an old friend in Paris, and re-
quested ne to 90 to him there without IL
moments delay or word to any one |
went 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 | came back What does it
mean p
1T means this, | answered 1T
means that your secretary and two men--
one Of whom is now III custody, the other
probably in Paris-plotted to fleece you Of
f10, 600. Your secretary forged your
name on sheet of note paper which was
made out as a check for E10, 600, payable
to your wife. This is d large sum, and
the chances of getting such check honor
ed at short call was remote, unless the per-
son offering it 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 recounted to him our adj
ventures and their result
The kidnapping idea was introduced
in order to frighten 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 cal
culated to further unnerve her
Madam, - [ concluded, turning to
Mrs. Cox, with slight evidence of justi-
fable pride, Il congratulate you upon
coming to Scotland Yard. You have pr O.
vided me with the only really interesting
case have had for years.