The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-10-05

The Lost Lease
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Paul Tarrant sat in his study run
ming through the morning papers and
marking with a blue pencil the para
graphs his secretary would cut out, file,
and index at late hour. One OF these
paragraphs ran as follows:
strange Disappearance Of Lawyer.
Mr.. Percy Brinstair, well-known
lawyer, has mysteriously disappeared,
and foul play is suspected. He Intended
leaving New York at midnight Of night
before last to attend court being held
this week at Mansfield. He requested
the housekeeper to have a cab called
for him at II is, saying he should
spend the evening at his office, presum-
ably studying his briefs. He dismissed
his clerks early In the evening. The
cabman came for him at the hour
named, and, after waiting for some
ten minutes, called up the housekeeper,
who proceeded to Mr.. BrinstairS Of
fees, but failed to attract his attention
by knocking, and, on trying the door,
found it fastened. Apprehensive Of
something wrong the housekeeper call
ed a policeman, and the door was
forced. To their surprise they found
nobody within. Everything was in per
feet order in fact, appearances sug-
gested that Mr.. Brinstair had been
writing at his desk, threw down his
1,o1f fy,ic nod n
put on his hat, and departed without
even turning down the gas, which was
burning brightly. Mr.. Brinstair's port
manteau, containing briefs and other
papers, stood open on the floor near his
chair. That gentleman, however, had
not appeared at Mansfield, where he
was expected yesterday, and Inquiries
at his residence were fruitless in OBJ
tanning any clue to his possible where
abouts. His family are in great distress
naturally, and clients who have placed
valuable papers in his hands required
In cases down for trial this week are
much embarrassed. The police are max
Ing Investigations"
Paul Iarrant's survey Of the news
papers was Interrupted by a knock at
the door and the Announcement that
gentleman wished to see him on busi-
ness. The visitors card bore the name
OF Mr.. Harvey Cheeseman, and when
MI. Cheeseman appeared he came with
rush and was plainly in a state of
high excitement, on which Tarrant's
cool manner acted as an irritant
Mr.. Tarrant," he cried, as soon as
he was inside the door; 81 am in great
difficulty, and want your Immediate
help. Money Is no object Put eyery
thing aside for my matter"
Sit down, Mr.. Cheeseman." answer
ed Iarrant. calmly; land tell me AS
plainly as possible what your matter,
Is Then l can decide whether 7 can
help you or no.
"Oh; but you must" demanded tha
visitor, who appeared incapable of fax
Ing anything quietly, and ignored the
cnalr Iarrants secretary placed for
him. NO doubt you have heard of Mr..
Brllstairs disappearance" Tarrant
nodded. well me had in his otfica q
most important document worth MANY
thousands to me, and it is gone. That
document | must have within twenty
Iouf hours. The police are simply try-
Ing to find what has become of. Rrin-
stair; they don't care for nv doom
ment. Now, don't care what has ha-
come of Brinstair, but 1 want tbat
paper"
But" said Tarrant. eff they find
him. perhaps they will find the manor -
They may or may not" retorted Mr.
Cheeseman: probably not. It is want
ed at court this week. A portmantnau
full OF papers to be used at the same
court lies in his Office, but my document
is not among them. Nor is it in the hoy
among other papers of mine. I can't
walt for the dilatory methods of tha
police. l want an independent in
quiry."
"As the matter is SO pressing, then.
tell me in as few words as possible tha
nature of this document"
It's an assignment Of lease of