The Van Buren press., 1898-03-19
'iah. rber sbe Issued from Ter hiding

Mace, and turDeu GOWN d " -stie
The street in which she now found
herself was narrow, dark, and deserted.
The light was barely sufficient TO enable
the woman to see a white cross upon
aagstone in front of No. II, and upon
this she put the hand bag 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, ana
the hand bag. The house was apparent
w empty. Not a light was there in any
window.
She was attentively watching the
windows Of 10. II, for an indication OF
life, when she heard strange grind
ing sound that made her start. No one
was 10 be seen. Everything was exact
" as Il had been before, except that the
bag had gone Vanished!
"Foolls she cried, Il might have
guessed IL
Running ont of hiding. she drew POI
lice whistle and blew it thrice, and then
set about 10 examine the tlagstone.
Yes; the cement around il was in loose
powder. Some one had shifted the flag;
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 admittanee 10 the house
was by the front door. She flung her
self against it, again and again. But
it resisted all her efforts, and she
stopped to consider At that moment i
laborer ran up.
Its all right" he said. We've got
him-bag in hand. lie 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 ab-
solutely empty of everything and every
one"
"Ah, then | think | can understand
Get me cab, and take the chap to the
station in another. Charge him-but
how can you? Stop! Charge him with
being found upon inclosed premises
with burglarious intent. That'll do for
the time. Ha, hal"
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 Sec
ond cab l took myself, and in it | drove
to Carlton House Terrace.
When | arrived at the CoX's | found
the footman just paying off another
cab.
ooh, then, Mr. Cox has returnedP'
said.
ayes, sir Just this moment arrived
"Where's Mr.. Stainer?n
"Your friend has him locked in the
pantry. He arrested him by your In
struetions half an hour ago"
Running up the steps, | bounced
right upon Mr.. and Mrs. Cox locked in
each others arms. He wore an air of
mystifcation, 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 81
"Fhis woman" replied, lis Detective
Sergeant Wiseman, of New Scotland
Yard, who has just discovered one of the
neatest little plots ever invented. Your
seeretarY's a genius"
81 don't understand he said, look
ing at me as if he faneied ] was play
ing joke at his expense.
you had telegram yesterdays |
asked.
''Hes, which took me to Paris on n
wildgoose 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 moments delay or a
word to anyone. ] 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?"
at means this" ] 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 check for
10000, payable to your wife. This is
a large sum, and the chances of getting
such 4 check honored at short call were
remote, unless the person 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 re-
counted to him our adventures and their
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" | concluded turning to
Mrs, Cox, with a slight evidence of JUS
tifiable pride, 81 congratulate you upon
coming TO Scotland Yard. You have
provided me with the only really inter
esting case | have had for years. Tit
Bits.
Resigned.
old ftipara ,n1,p.,l ,,,.a.....t 1. -.