The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-22


on tho subject of Medhurst.
Charles maintained that Marvillier
ought to have known the man with the
cropped hair was Colonel Clay, and
Nfarvillier maintained that Charles had
seen Colonel Clay half a dozen tines,
ut least, to his own never; and that my
respected ,,a, sbrotl,sr,in- had therefore
II the rogue imposed upon him
The head detective had known Med
hurst fortteh years. he said. as q most
respectable man. and even = rate.pay-
crest OF spies, as well he might be. In
deed. on the familiar set-a-thief-to-
natcl1-n-thief principle. However, the
s Me Of a wsH .o aT to oss H.
services OF so excellent a hand, bnt
lie had done the very best he could
for Sir Charles, he declared. and if
might catch his Colonel Clays for him
self in future.
80 I Will, sey," Charles remarked
to- me as we walked back from the
Office in the Strand by piccadilly. II
detectives. It's my belief they're a
pnck OF thieves themselves. in league
with the rascals they're set to catch,
Zulu diamond hand
Better try the police suggested,
by way Of being helpful: One, must
assume an interest III ones employers
But Charles shook his head.
these fellows. 1 shall trust in future
periencc, scy--and rye learned thing
or two. One OF them is this: It's not
enough to suspect. everybody: you
must have no .preconceptions. Diyest
IL you wish to cope with a rascal Of
this calibrc. Don't jump at conclu-
s,ons. we should disbelieve every
thing. as well as dlstrust everybody.
That's the road to success, and mean
TO pursue IT.
SO. by the way Of pursuing 1t.
Charles retired to Seldom.
worse he grows" he said to me one
morning. "Iie's Just like a tiger that
has tasted blood. Every successful
eager for another. ! fully expect now
before long VIC shall see him down
About three weeks later. sure
ceived communication from the
stamp .9s,I and and Vienna posatKmrark. oa,
ana D saia vanarit ,,;, ,n Aiacr SO long
surely drop the absurd formalities OF
sir Charles and .colone.) | write
TO ask YOU a delicate question. Can
YOU kindly tell me exactly how much
have received from your various gem
crous acts during the last three years?
have mislatd my account book, and,
Income tax return. I ain anxious. as
an honest and conscientious citizen, to
set down my average profits out of
you for the triennfal period
For reasons which you will simply
understand. do not this time give
my private address. in Paris or else
where; but Il you will kindly adver-
tise the total amount above the sigma
ture Peter simple in the agony COL
,mn OF the Times. you Will confer a
great favor upon tho revenue commits
sloners. and also upon your constant
friends and companion,
"CUTHBERT CLAY.
Mark my word. Sey," Charles said
less the man himself will follow. This
Is his cunning way OF trying to make
and far away from Seldom. That means
he's lneditatinS another descent. But
lie told us too much last time. when
lie was Aledhurst. the detective. He
gave us some hints about dtsguiscs
and their unmasking that shall not
forget. This turn shall be even with
him."
On Saturday of that week. in effect
We were walking along the road that
gentlemaniy looking man. in rough
and rather happy o-lucky brown
tweed suit, who had the air of tour
dunn height;ihe wore small leather
wallet suspended round his shoulder.
and he was peering about at the rocks
n suspicious maner. Something in
his gait attracted our attention.
Good morning. he said. looking up
as we passed. and Charles muttered a
somewhat surly, inartculate Good
morning.
We went on without saying more.
how" said as we got out Of earshot
remember it's one OF the colonesl's most
marked peculiarities that, like the
model child he never speaks TIL he's
spoken to--never begins Al acquain-
lance. He always waits till we make
the first advance; lie doesn't so ont
ne ask him to do it."
spon eSmod IN severe sf tome. there You
are, now. doing the very thing i warn
cd you not to do: You're succum'binE
The probability is this man IS Colonel
al seldom. il he isn't Colonel Clay,
What Whas n he srG IS fH ere l. tx a a eS
IN any other way? ] shall inquire
We drogped IN at the Gromnrtg
u she could tell us anything bout the
Gentlemanly stran ger. Mrs. McLachlan
replied that he was from London. she
-1UeltcNe0s q plcdSdIIN ScullcIuaIA ciiou6H'
md he had his wife with him.
"Ha! Young? Pretty" Charles In
luired. with a speaking glance at me.
"Weel. Sir Charles, she'll no be ex-
acty what you'd be calling a bonny
iass,'' Mrs. NcLa clllans replied: but
she's a guild body for a that, an a fine
Draw woman" VI ss
Just what should expect" Charles
mnrmnred yaT'es y ths PTegT ann
as the parsons. wife, and Sas Madame
Picardet, and as sptnting little Mrs.
.iranton, and as Me dhurst's tacconplice;
and n oH he has almost exhausted the
possibilities Of a disguise for n really
Young and pretty woman; SO he's play
nE her of az las. as the grIpeI pro-
tre,nely CLEVER: but--we begin to SEQ
through him" And he chuclled tofhim-
self quietly.
Next day, on the hillside, we. came
upon our stranger again, occupied as
before In peering into tho rocks, and
sounding them With a hammer. Charles
nudged me and whispercd II have y
this ti1ne. He's posing as q eologist."
ltook good look at the man n. J B y
a of Colonel Clay In his various dis