The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-08-19


over the railing. Boots hoisted upon chairs
and hanisters from thencsf0rth became my
study. In bar-rooms and hotel porches, or
wherever men did cOngregate, | studied
every shape and size Of pedal covering, but
without avail. That particular boot with
two missing nails in the heel, must have
kept pretty close to the ground. At any
rate | never got sight Of it. kept the
blotter, and my own counsel, and cautioned
Joe to do the same
"Don't breathe it to anybody" said |,
mot even to DR.. Wynkoop;" and Joe
promised ne wouldn't.
DR.. Wynkoop boarded at our hotel,
where he had the room next to mine, and
although he appeared to be Pecksnitlian
sort of parsonage, Joe set great store by
him. He appeared to be a species Of
preacher, and came out strong on the doc
trine of grace. | thought | detected the
odor Of gin beneath the grace, but Joe's
faith was immovable.
One of Pinkerton's detectives was EN-
ployed to work up the case, but without
result, beyond presenting bill of $3.50.
Shortly after this, l had occasion to go
down to Boston, and there l did very
funny thing. l consulted clairvoyant.
Lucky numbers, speedy marriages. lost
property restored-th thus ran the glib adver-
tisement of Nine. Celeste. Neither in the
Louisiana Lottery nor in the lottery of love
did | wish to take a chance just then But
the restoration of our stolen bank -bills was
q thing to be desired. Why not invest
dollar in Nine. Celeste Here face alone
might he worth the price of admission. It
was, for she was young, pretty, and-a
fraud. These were se'f-evdeut facts. Still,
| did not try to discorcert or confuse her
in any way, and when she went into her
trance and her Ups began to mOye-pretty
red lips they were, like two lines of poetry
Il listened intentIy so as not to miss a
81 liable. "Not far but near, among fami-
liar faces net in the depths, but close to
the surface these were the words Of my
pretty oracle, to whom | paid my dollar,
we'll content.
"Not far, but near" kept repeating to
myself on the way back to Grassboro and
then remembered how Nine. Celeste
actually hlushed when her little purse
snapped over the bank note which handed
her. That night dreamed good deal Of
the pretty madame and her message from
the spirit.world. Not far, but near" kept
running through my head and when left
my room in the morning, stopped in front
of DR.. Wynkoop's Goor. Before the door
stood pair of boots, neatly BACKED. From
this latter circumstance, | opined he was
going on journey. Moved by some i'm
pulse, took up the boots and turned them
over. What could it be possible? Two
of the nails in the heel of the right boot
were missing. l took the plotting paper
from my breast-pocket, where l always
carried it, and compared the impression
thereon with the boot-heel They were
identical Then laid the boot down, and
thought over the matter. Naturally, my
first impulse was to have this DR.. Wynkoop,
or whoever he might be, put into custody.
Still, l could not but realize that my blot.
ting-pad, after all, was a rather slender
piece Of evidence. Better have the room
searched before his suspicious were aroused.
What we wanted most was the money. l
| n ctair nd Iol n iuo
to the landlord, who readily agreed to my
coniectures. He too, had his suspicious, in
spite of his lodger's promptly paid board
bill
Wynkoop was going over to East Grass
horo to attend Sunday School convention,
from which he would probably return in
the evening. In the meantime his room
could be searched. Soon after breakfast,
our suspected exhorter, with his smooth,
santmonious visage, departed. His features
like his shirt-front, seemed always done up
in proper, pious fashion. He took no bag
gage with him, evidently expecting to re-
turn early, so we had need to be expedi
tious.
A skeleton key made quick work of his
door, but beyond an empty valise, pair of
trousers or two and few books, the room
was empty save of the ordinary scant hotel
furniture. Not trace rs the money, or
an thing suspicious, could be found either
in the bureau drawers or under the carpet,
nor yet behind the plaster, which was
sounded for any "breaks."
"Not far, but near" kept running
through my mind, along with the dreamy
expression in the young clairvoyant's eyes
when she uttered the words. sat down
in the ne-bottomed chair beside the
bureau, and, in an absent-minded fashion,
ran long pin into cushion that stood
before the glass The cushion, by the way,
was quite an elaborate structure of rose
wood and raw silk, evidently the work Of
some of the DOCTORS female admirers.
Something seemed to retard the progress of
the pin, and then an idea struck me. TAX