The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-23
Shylock Homes: His Posthunous
Memoirs.
BY John Kendrick Bangs.

rewarded by an immediate response In
the form Of muffled yowl.
1T must be LIE Cog, the Key-hole De-
tective, again. muttered to myself, and
Immediately opened the door. Much to my
surprise discovered, leaning against the
wall opposite no less person, seemingly,
than the Man of the Iron Mask He was
hopping his eye through the steel visor
that he wore, and using language, which,
While it certainly was apt, deem it well
not to reproduce.
rs there anything can do for you?"
asked, recognizing him at once, in spite
of his disguise, by the grave accent upon
his profanity-for it was indeed my enemy
LIE Coz, up to some new trick to get me
into trouble.
II was looking for Mr.. Shylock Homes
apartment" he said.
Il am Mr.. Shylock Homes" I replied,
why did you not send up a card?"
Il wished my visit to you kept secret"
| he explained. II am very anxious to solve
the mystery of my identity, and powerful
persons here are equally anxious that
should not, and if they knew was con-
sulting you, there'd be trouble for both Of
u.s."
'Ah-I see,' said I. "Come in. Do you
mean to say that you, too, are in the dark
as to who you really are?" I added, as he
came in and seated himself.
| Exactly" said he. ''That knowledge
was always withheld from me-
| Take off your mask and be comfort !
able I put in, as l eyed him abstract
edy.
'I can't he sighed. Its locked on and
[ don't know the combination
| Poor chap!'I said, synpa thetically 'T
had supposed that when you got here all
your earthly troubles would be over. Tell
me, Monsieur Blank shall call YOU
Blank until we get down to the real facts
lis there anybody hereabout that really
knows who you are?''
"Yes,'' he replied .ssMazarin knows. and
Louis Fourteenth knows. but they won't
tell, and thy'd raise the deuce if they
thought the secret was likely to be un-
veiled.'
We'll I'll tell you what I'll do" said I.
III take your case, because it interests
me, but you have got to put yourself UNI
reservedly in my hands,
'I'll do that, with pleasure said he.
Good. I'll find out who you are in less
than ten days. First thing, want dis
guise," said I.
GAS what?'
Iron Mask
What for?" he cried.
Because want it, said l. sTt is nee
essary. If YOU are not willing to get It
for me, I shall have to give up your
case"
l buI HOW Cali L. ne ASKED. You cant
find a mask like this every day. M. Le
Cog, the distinguished detective, has tho
only other one I know Of in existence"
Get me his. them rejoined, CURLY. ..or
employ him to ferret out the mystery for
YOU
II will try" he replied. and then he rose
up to depart, but I was not yet ready to
have him go. AS yet, while was quite
confident of the real identity of the person
hidden behind that face of steel, was
unwilling to stake my reputation on it,
and it was only too evident that il It
were LIE Coq it was nothing SO much az
my humiliation that he was seeking.
Don't be in hurry, Monsieur Blank"
said /. "Sit down few minutes and let's
have a smoke. I'd like to ask you some
thing as to your ancestry
I'm perfectly willing to sit down and
smoke, Mr.. Homes" he replied, ''but real
~, can't tell you any more about myself
than you already know"
j ''Oh very WE'LL said. ttas you wish
And then a scheme Of confirmation Of my
suspicious dashed across my mind.
| I handed him one of my prismatic ciga-
rettes! This was little invention Of
my own to aid me in the Identification Of
| criminals. For ten days after smoking
one Of them the finger tips are SO stained