Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-11-02
A FAIR EORGER.

handing the paper across to the cashier
THAT cheQue?" repeated Megson,
CHANGING at it. Drawn by John Hewitt
for f450! Why, J cashed it myself this
morning. It's all regular, isn't it?'
Just look at it again." was the reply,
especially at the final Il of the sigma
ture."
Megson adjusted his spectacles in some
trepidation, and held up the cheque 10
the gaslight.
Il didn't notice that" he exclaimed
anxiously. sit looks like a pencil mark,
certainly, as if the name mad been first
written in pencil and then linked over
Good gracious | hope it's I'll right. We
were very busy at the time, Mr.. Warner,
and that thick fog coming on sudden
ly--"
ut may be all right. as you say; but
| think we'd better satisfy ourselves on
the point at once"
A MESSENGER was dispatched without
delay to the residence of Mr.. Hewitt; the
signature at the foot of the order was
pronounced forgery. Further investiga-
tion showed that blank leaf had been
puroined from the cheque book Mr.. Hew-
lit kept in his writing desk in the library
"a book he had not had occasion to use
for over month, all the requisite dis
bursements during that time having been
made through his office cheque book.
Although searching inquiries were in
stituted nothing could be discovered as
to when, or by whom the blank form had
been distracted. No person known to
Mr.. Hewitt answered in any particular
to the description Megson gave of the
individual to whom the money had been
paid. Es
1t was then that Scotland Yard was
.aS.fk, TOD xx-tt on
step the details of the case came to my
Hamilton" said Supt. Beaver call
ing me into his room, las you don't
start for New York ON that extradition
business till tomorrow, wish you'd just
Let's see, here's the cashiers sketch of
the woman: Dressed in dark clothes.
short and stout, snow-white hair, red
nose, diamond and sapphire cluster fin
ger ring He guessed her age. at 50,
and she led him to understand that the
cheque-indorsed Mary Wooler'-wasS in
payment of some house property she bad
engaged Mr.. Hewitt to sell. Pretty
clear that" with a laugh, land you
can't miss the red nose"
As rubicund nasal organ is by no
means the exclusive property of Mrs.
Wooler | thought Supt. Beaver very
sanguine If he expected me to trace her
by that feature alone. AS it CHANGED.
however, | was more fortunate than l
had hoped.
After long days rushing hither and
hitherto railway stations, banks, res
taurants and cab ranks-i lit upon q
Jehu who had driven a woman, tally
ing with the description of Mrs. Wooler,
from the Strand to Euston station. He
had reason to remember her, he said,
for didn't l hev TO lead my 'oss most
o the way. the fog We're that thick,
an didn't she offer me a bloomin' 2
shillin'r'
From the booking clerk at Euston /
learned that the indignant cabby's fare
had taken first-class ticket to Liver
pool.
Elated with my success, returned to
Scotland Yard and reported progress
"A tirst,class days work" said Supt:
Beaver Liverpool, you say? Beyond
doubt the old lady meant to quit the
country straight away. Let me see,
there's no boat leaves for America to-
day-the next ones the Lombardia
which sails tomorrow. That's the yes
sci you're going by, l Think"
l assented.
well, if Mrs. Wooler is leaving Eng
land at ala mere surmisc, of course
she'll go by that In telegraph to the
Liverpool police to be N the lookout In
case she eludes them. you might keep
your eyes open during the voyage"
Nothing had been seen of Mrs. Wooler
when | arrived in Liverpool, ana a care
full scrutiny Of every passenger on board
the liner convinced me that she was not
among them. As l did not intend to let
the disappointment interfere with my en-
Joyment of the voyage, | lost no time in
making friends among my fellow passen-
gers.
Joshua X. Long and his wife occupied
the cabin adjoining mine: Joshua. a thin,
lanky man of 30; his wife. a sprightiy
little body, perhaps ten years younger.
On the other side of me was Mr. Hitch
IN tat, pompouS merchant, and beyond
his was the cabin allotted to an elderly
SpnSter Miss Engelby. The next cabin
to Joshua 5 was that of Mrs. BesIake
and her daughter Anne; the mother be
'ng a tall, fragilelooking lady while the
daughter, slim and graceful, possessed as
pretty n face as it has ever been my
lot TO look upon.
How wildly can recall the delightful
tete-a-tete Miss BeSlake and | had to-
sether. If she had been aware that
was only n police officer probably she
would have been more reserved. hut that
fact | had though well to keep to nv
self: the captain of the Lombardia alone
knew the nature of my errand to New
York.
| was standing near the rail. revolving
| this topic in my mind and making feeble
resolutions 10 deny myself Miss Besiake's
company IN future. when one Of the sail
orS FASTENED toward me.
The cap'n would like IN sre ven Sir. -
the man said. ''in his cabin"
Wondering what could have occasione-i
the summons, l went below. Joshua X.