Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-26

church street, and finally pulled up q
few yards from a small beer shop i'll
Whitechapel. The woman ali9hted,
paid the cabman, and crossed to the
other side of the road, where four Ia
borers were standing talking together.
She went up and held an animated
conversation with them for few min
utes. Then the four men moved off
in different directions, leaving the
woman standing alone in the shadow
of doorway. Here she remained uh-
til neighboring clock struck 8, when
she issued from her hiding place and
turned down a by street.
The street in which she now found
herself was narrow, dark and de-
serted. The light was barely suffi-
cient to enable the woman to see a
white cross upon hagstone in front
of No. II, and upon this she put the
handbag she carried. The moment
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
handbag. The house was apparently
empty. Not a light was there in any
window.
She was attentively watching the
windows of No. II for an indication OF
life, when she heard strange grind
ing sound that made her start. No
one was to be seen. Everything was
exactly as it had been before, except
that the bag had gone! Vanished
"Fool!" she cried, 81 might have
guessed it!'
Running out of hiding she drew a
a police whistle and blew 1t thrice, and
then set about to examine the flag
stone. Yes; the cement around il was
in loose powder. Some one had shift
ed the flag; some one in the cellar be-
low 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 a laborer ran up.
"It's all right" he said. "We've
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"
ooh, are you sure?" 1 asked, for, Of
course. the agile female was myself.
Perfectly certain. The house is
absolutely empty of everything and
every one"
"Ah, then think I can understand.
Get me 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 sta
ton. The second cab I took myself,
and in it I drove to Carlton House
Terrace.
When: arrived at the Coxes I: found
the footman just paying off another
cab.
"Oh, then Mr.. Cox has returned?"
T said.
eyes, sir. just this moment az
rived"
"Where's Mr.. Stainer?"
"Your friend has him locked in the
pantry, He arrested him by your in
structions half an hour ago."
Running up the steps I pounced
right upon Mr.. and Mrs. Cox locked
in sch others arms. He wore an air
of mystitication, while she was simply
bubbling over with delight.
"What does all this mean?" asked
Mr.. Cox, turning upon me. cts
mystery upon mystery! Who is this
woman?"
'This woman" I replied, sis De-
tective Sergeant Wiseman, of New
Scotland Yard, who has just discov-
cred one of the neatest little plots ever
invented. Your secretary is = ge-
MUS"
"I don't understand, he said, look
ing at me as if he fancied I was play.
ing q joke at his expense.
"You had telegram yesterday?" I
asked.
eyes, which took me to Paris on
wild goose chase. Some one has been
making a fool of me. The telegram
purported to come from an old friend
in Paris, and requested me to 60 to
him there without moments delay or
a word to any one. I went. His name
was not known at the hotel. I cabled
to New York and had an answer to say
my friend was there and we'll, so I
came back. What does it mean?"
"It means this" I answered. "It
means that your secretary and two
men-one of whom is now in custody,
the other probably in Paris-plotted
to fleece you of 100000. Your secre-
tary forged your name on sheet Of
note paper which was made out as
check for 100000, payable to your
wife. This is a large sum, and the
chances of getting such a check
honored at short call was remote, un-
less the person Offering it could satisfy
the bankers it was all right. How to
do this set the plotters wondering, un-
til they hit upon the grand scheme of
getting your wife to change the
check"
And I then recounted to him our ad-
ventures and their result.
"The kidnapping idea was intro
duced 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 calculated to further un-
nerve her.
MADAM" I concluded, turning to
Mrs. Cox, with a slight evidence Of
justitiable pride. 81 congratulated
you upon coming to Scotland Yard.
You have provided me with the only
really interesting case I have had for
years. ."-Tit-B Bits.
A New Wrinkle For Foundrymen.