Middletown transcript., 1906-06-16

possible?
One can never tell. ! should
advise you to let me take up the
case for you, and keep a rigid
watch over your daughter the
next time she goes to the theatre.
Yes, yes, you are right. She
is going this evening to the 81
dorado with her brother, and she
will leave Park Lane about eight.
Good. | will follow the young
people in cab and see what hap
pens.
The baronet did not inform
Ianthe of the arrangement, and
that evening she departed in
high glee.
Next morning Mr.. Slade called
at Park Lane, and was ushered
Into Sir Johns study.
Well, well, have you elected
anything? inquired the latter
quickly. as he motioned the visi-
tor to a chair.
Nothing of Importance, but l
will tell you exactly what ! saw.
Go on, go on, said Sir John. l
am impatient to hear.
| Well, / followed the young peo-
| pie into the theatre and sat down
at the end of the row. The in
slant they took their seats | saw
a lady in a box rise slightly and
peer at your daughter very
closely.
What was the woman like?
A severe-looking person with
spectacfes, replied the detective.
Severe looking, spectacles
echoed the baronet. By Joye
that was the exact description
given by the box Office clerk to
my son concerning the person
who purchased the seats for the
Colossus Theatre some weeks
ago.
Throughout the performance,
continued Mr.. Slade in a cool tone
Throughout the performance
the woman in the box kept a rigid
watch upon the young lady, and
once I fancied l saw IL notebook
or something of the kind in her
hand.
Great Scott! This is the most
extraordinary affair | have ever
encountered, cried Sir John, as
he rose and paced the floor with
excitable steps. Did you notice
anything further?
|. Nothing further; but when the
woman in the box left the theatre
after the performance, l took care
to follow her home.
Aha, good, good! cried the bar
onet in a somewhat satisfied tone.
Where does she live?
In Albany Mansions, Chelsea.
At that late hour last night, l
could not, Of course, make any
inquiries concerning her name
or character, but I intend driving
there when | quit this house;and
you may rely on hearing from.me
directly there is anything of i'm
portance to communicate.
Thank you very much.
Mr.. Slade then limited that he
would highly appreciate a small
sum on account, and the baronet
gave him a check on the spot,
promising him further payments
when the mystery was at last re-
vealed.
But it was destined by fate
that Mr.. Slade's efforts in the
Sherlock Holmes direction were
to be taxed no further, for that
evening Ianthe entered the baro-
nets study with a letter in her
hand. The girls face was a study
in expression, and her eyes were
filled with resentment.
Oh, it is shameful, scandalous,
disgraceful! she murmured. Who
could have believed that any
woman would have had the i'm
pudence to behave in This mannef?
The baronet stared.
What has happened?he inquired
quickly.
The very worst thing that could
happen to girl who prides her
self on the originality of her
frocks. My three beautiful the
atre gowns, which | knew were
not to be matched by any woman
in London or elsewhere, are now
common property. Please read
that letter.
The baronet seized the note and
read the following:
"The senderof the theatre seats
6egs to inform Miss Ianthe Dover
Barton that she will no longer be
troubled with such gifts, as the
purpose for which they were for
wArdnd has ooru hooY, l;~,.oxl |