The news & observer., 1905-12-17

heard a heavy football i'm the passage
and tap at the door.
This is the girls stepfather, Mr.
James Windibank," said Holmes. HE
has written to me to say that he
would be here at six. Come in!'
THE man who entered was a
sturdy, middle-sized fellow. some thir-
ty years of age, clean shaven. and
sallow-skinned. With a bland. insinuar-
ing manner, and a pair of wonder
fully sharp and penetrating gray
eyes He shot a questioning glance
at each of u.s. placed his shiny top
hat upon the side-board. and with a
slight bow sidled down into the near
est chair.
"Good-evening, Mr.. James Windi-
bank" said Holmes. Il think that
this typewriter letter is from you,
in which you made an appointment
with me for six o'clock ?"
Yes, sir. ] am afraid that / am
a little late, but ! am not quite my
own master. you know. i am sorry
that Miss Sutherland has troubled you
about this little matter, for I think
it is far better not to wash linen OF
the sort i'm public. It was quite against
my wishes that she came, but she is
a very excitable, lmpulsive girl as you
may have noticed. and she is not
easily controlled when she had made
up her mind on point OF course,
| did not mind you SO much, as you
are not connected with the officiar
police, but it is not pleasant to have
family misfortune like this noised
abroad. Besides, K is a useless ex-
pense, for how could you possibly find
this Hosmer Angel"
ION the contrary" said Holmes;
u have every reason to believe that
| will succc ell In discovering Mr.. Hos
mer Angel"
AR. Windlbank gave a violent start,
ana dropped his gloves. II am de-
lighted to hear it, he said.
1T is a curious thing" remarked
Holmes. that a typewriter has really
quite as much individuality as a mans
handwriting. Unless they are quite
new. no two OF them write exactly
alike Some letters get more worn
than others. and some wear only on
one side. Now, you remark in this
note of yours, Mr.. Windibank that
in every case there is some little
slurring over Of the e., and a Slight
defect In he tail of the~'r There are
fourteen other characteristics, but
those are the more obvious"
1--WE do all our correspondence with
this machine at the office, and no
doubt it is a little worn" our visitor
answered, glancing keenly at Holmes
with his bright little eyes
"And now / win show you what is
really n very interesting study, Mr..
Wiadbank," Holmes continued. Il
think Cf writing another little mono
sraph some of these days on the type
writer and its relation to crime. IT is
a subject to which / have devoted
some little attention. [ have here
four letters which purDOrt TO come
from thf Wiosilg man. They are all
type VIZ. II. In each case, not only
are the 'e's' slurred and the RS tail
less but you will observe. if you care
to use my magnifying lensc, that the
fourteen other characteristics to which
| have alluded are there as we'll
Mr.. Windibank sprang out of his
chair, and picked UP his hat. Il can
not waste time over this sort Of fam
tastic talk, MIR. Holiness he said, III
you can catch the man. catch him. and
let me know when you have done it,
Certainly" said Holmes. stepping
over and turning the key in the door
Il let you know then that | have
caught HIM"
what! where shouted Mr.. Wind
ibank, turning white to his lips, and
glancing about him like rat in a
trap. >,
said Holmes suavely. There is no pos
sibie getting out of it. Mr.. Windi-
bank 1t quite too transparent, and
it was q very bad compliment when
you said that it was impossible for
me to solve SO simple a question
That's right! Sit down and let us talk
it over
Our visitor collapsed in a chair,
with a ghastly face. and a glitter of
moisture on his brow. Tits not
aptiOna ble - he Stammered.
Il am yer much afraid that it Is not.
But between ourselves, Windibank, II
was as cruel and selfish and heartless
a trick in a petty way as ever came
before me. Now, let me just run over
the course of events, and you will
contradict me if | go wrong.
The man sat huddled up in his
chair. with his head sunk upon his
breast, like one who is utterly crushed.
Holmes stuck his feet up on the corner
of the mantle-piece, and, leaning back
with his hands in his pockets. began
talking rather to himself, as it SEEM
ed, than to US.
'The man married a woman very
much older than himself for her
money" said he, "and he enjoyed the
use of the money of the daughter as
long as she lived with them. 1t was
a considerable sum, for people IN thelr
position, and the loss of it would have
made a serious difference. 1t was
worth an effort to preserve II. Inc
daughter was of a good. amiable dls-
position. but affectionate and warm
hearted in her ways, so that it was
evident that with her fair personal
advantages, and her little income. sne
would not be allowed to remain single
long. Now her marriage would mean
of course, the loss of a hundred year.
so what does her stepfather DO 10
prevent it? He takes the obvious
course of keeping her at home. and
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