The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-27

pag. Inc CAP eventually stopped III
Oxford street.
The woman sprang out, paid the
driver, and hurried eastward. Pres
emily she encountered four or five cabs
plying for hire at the curb. With a
quick glance around her, she sprang
into one of these, gave the driver an
address through the roof trap, and the
cab rolled off at quick rate.
The cab ratified eastward-past New
gate, the Exchange, through Fenchurch
street, and finally pulled up few yards
from small beershop in Whitechapel.
The woman alighted, paid the cabman
and crossed to the other side of the
road, where four laborers were stand
ing talking together. She went up, and
held an animated conversation with
them for a few minutes. Then the
four men moved off in different direc-
tons, leaving the woman standing alone
in the shadow OF doorway. Here she
remained until q neighboring clock
struck eight, and she issued from her
hiding place, and turned down by
street.
The street in which she now found
herself was narrow, dark and deserted.
The light was barely sufficient to ena-
BILE the woman TO see white cross upon
fagstone 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 a projecting wall.
From here she could see up and down
the street, the mysterious house, and
the hand bag. The house was appar-
emily empty. Not light was there in
any window.
She was attentively watching the
windows OF No. II, for an indication
of life, when she heard a strange grind
ing sound that made her start. No one
was to be seen. Everything was ex-
actly as it had been before, except that
the bag had gone! Vanished
"Fool" she cried, 81 might have
guessed it'll"
Running out of hiding, she drew a
police whistle and blew it thrice, and
then set about to examine the flagstone.
Yes; the cement around it 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, 80 the only
Way to gain admittance to 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
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 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 alb
solutely empty of everything and ev-
eryone."
"Ah, then I think l can understand.
Get me cab, and take the chap to the
station in another. Charge him-but
how can you? Stopl Charge him
with being found upon inclosed prem
ises with burglarious intent. That'll
do for the time. Hal hal"
Two cabs were procured. In one we
put our prisoner-a well-dressed man
of a pronounced American type-be-
tween two of my Scotland Yard labor.
ers, and sent him to the local station
The second cab took myself, and in it
l drove to Carlton House Terrace.
When l arrived at the Cox's l found
the footman just paying off another
cab.
ooh, then, Mr.. Cox has returned?" l
said.
Eyes, sir. Just this moment ar
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, l bounced
right upon Mr.. and Mrs. Cox locked in
each others arms. He wore an air of
mystiication, while she was simply
bubbling over with delight.
"What does all this mean?" asked
Mr.. Cox, turning upon me. "It's mys.
terry upon mysteryl Who is this
woman"
"This woman" replied, sis Detec-
tive Sergeant Wiseman, of New Scot
land Yard, who has just discovered one
of the neatest little plots ever invented.
Your secretary's genius"
~ don't understand" he said, look
ing at me as if he fancied l was playing
a joke at his expense.
"You had telegram yesterday" 1
asked.
"Yes, which took me to Paris on d
wild-goose chase. Some one has been
making fool Of me. The telegram
purported to come from an old friend
in Paris, and requested me to 90 to
him there without moments delay or
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, 80 came
back. What does it mean?"
sit 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 10000. Your secretary