The Van Buren press., 1898-03-19

greatest difficulty" she said. answering
nv look. But have you discovered
anything2
Yes. two things l replied. u want
these things: \ piece of cream note
paper-get it from your cook-a steel
pen, Ink, and a specimen of your hus-
bands signature. Please get these
things yourself, and let no one know.
Now, tell me-who is in this house p
"Myself-you mean usually? Well,
Mr.. Cox. myself. the secretary, three
male aud five female servants
"They all live here?'
Except the secretary
This gentleman. has he been in yo1r
employ longg
Three years
I'VE might get some information from
him, perhaps. However, for the pres
ent. I'll Sc no one. VIII you please get
me those things?s
Mrs. Cox went out, and returned after
a few minutes with what | had asked
for. | smiled as | saw the note paper.
Though II was not the same make it
was very like what had been used for
the check for { 10000.
What are you going to do Mrs.
Cox asked.
II can't do much until eight o'clock,
so am going to try little experiment
| took from her the specimen of her
husbands signature, and examined II.
From my poke; book ! drew piece
of tracing paper, end this | laid upon
Mr. Cox's signature, which | went over
carefully some 30 or 40 times Then
took the sheet of note paper and calmly
forged the millionaire's name, making
queer little curl at the tail of the *
similar to what had noticed in the sig
nature of the e 10000 check, which was
not to be seen in the specimen sigma
ture of Mr. Cox before me.
Mrs. Cox watched me, with an air of
profound mystification, as | put the
sheet of paper, bearing only the name,
&C. Collins-Cox," upon the table, and
covered il up in such a way that no
other part of the paper was visible.
"Now,n l said, will you be good
enough TO summon everyone in this
house, and let them remain in the next
room untilsIz call them %
She went away, and a few minutes
later returned. saying that everyone
was in the room adjoining the one in
which sat.
VERY well, then. | want them to
come in here one at time. Begin with
the secretary"
ASK Mr. Stainer to come here, said
Mrs. Cox.
Mr. Stainer came. He was tall, gen
tlemanly man of 30, wearing gold
trimmed spectacles.
"Of course" | said to Mrs Cox, in an
undertone, but loud enough to be heard,
as he came forward IF it's genuine you
must change it, and do as instructed 1t
will cost you a cool c 10000, but that
can't be helped.
Mr. Stainer,' and | turned to him
quickly, 'tcan you tell me if this is Mr..
Cox's signature?
Eyes. it is"
'Be sure, please. It's highly inn
portant matter. Look at it closely"
He leant over it, and examined il like
a near-sighted man, for some moments.
watched him, noticing his hands
tremble and his lips twitch nervously.
Yes he said, quietly. "I'll swear to
that. But | fancy he was unwell when
he wrote il, for il is very shal<y for Mr..
Cox"
All the others were brought in in
turn, but no one else was able to iden-
tify the signature.
Il want a cab said, smiling.
A cab was called, and | went out, gave
the driver note, with instructions to
take it to the Yard and await an answer.
Then | returned to the room, and drew
Mrs. Cox aside.
Don't breathe word to anyone" /
said; but does 1t not strike you as
strange that the man who best knows
your husbands writing should be the
one to say most emphatically that my
forgery was written by your husband ~
yes" she said, in whisper.
Ten minutes later the cab returned
and landed one of our men. lie was
shown in TO me; and at my request, all
the servants were recalled. When they
were assembled, ! turned to our man
and said:
Chambers, YOU will remain in this
house until nine o'clock tonight. You
will allow no one but Mrs. Cox to leave
while you are here, and you will see
that nothing whatever is passed out of
the house by anyone, and that no com
munication whatever is held by the in
mates with outsiders, not even with
tradespeople. You win make it your
duty, If anybody say any body-at-
tempts to break these rules to inme-
diately arrest them. You understand? %
"Yes."
At this Stainer looked the picture of
confusion, and very pale.
81 shall be here at seven o'clock" |
said, in Il whisper, to Mrs. Cox. Have
an old dress, cloak, and hat of yours
ready for me, and a room at my dis
posal, if you please" Their to Chambers
| said, in the same tone: PAY particu-
lar attention to Mr.. Stainer. lie in
terests me- And then came away.
At about half-past seven the same
evening a woman, tall, agile, and well
but quietly dressed, with rather thick