The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-11-01

The Lost Lease


~~~%SO@OOO
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 a late hour. One of these
paragraphs ran as follows;
Strange Disappearance Of a Lawyer.
Mr.. Percy Brinstalr, a well-known
lawyer, has mysteriously disappeared,
and foul play is suspected He intended
leaving New York al midnight Of night
before last to attend court being held
this week at Mansfield. He requested
the ho~usekeeper to have a cab called
for him at IL 10, saying he should
spend the evening at his office, presum-
ably studying his briefs. lie 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.. Brinstalr's Of
fees but failed to attract his attention
ty knocking, and, on trying the door,
found 1t fastened. Apprehensive of
something wrong the h~ousekeeper 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.. Brlnstair had been
writing at his desk, threw down his
pen on a half-inlshed memorandum,
put on his bat, and departed without
ever turning down the gas, which was
burning brightly. Mr.. Brlnstair'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 frultless 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 Tarrant's survey of the news
papers was Interrupted by a knock at
the door and the that a
gentleman wished to see him on busi-
ness. The visitors card bore the name
of Mr.. Harvey Cheeseman, and when
Mr.. Cheeseman appeared he came with
a rush and was plainly In a state Of
high excitement, on which T~arrant's
cool manner acted as an lrrltant.
"Mr. Tarrant," he cried, as soon as
he was inside the door; II am in great
difficulty, and want your immediate
help. Money is no object. Put every
thing aside for my matter"
sit down, Mr.. Cheese4nan," answer
ed Tarrant, calmly and tell me as
plainly as possible what your matter
Is Then | can decide whether I can
help you or no."
"0h but you must" demanded the
visitor, who appeared Incapable of TAX
Ing anything quietly, and ignored the
chair Tarrant's secretary placed for
him. y doubt you have heard OF Mr..
Brlnstair's disappearance" Tarrant
nodded. well me had in his Office a
most important document worth many
thousands to me, and 1t is gone. That
document l must have within twenty
four hours. The police are simply try
ing to find what has become Of Brin-
stair; they don't care for my docu-
ment. Now, l don't care what has be-
come of Brlnstair, but l want that
paper"
But" said T%arrant, "f they find
him, perhaps they will find the paper"
"They may or may not" retorted Mr..
Cheeseman; probably not. 1t is want
ed at cour this week. A portmanteau
fun Of papers TO be used at the same
lies in his Office, but my document
is not among them. Nor is It In the box
among other papers OF mine. l can't
walt for the dilatory methods OF the
police. l want an independent In
quiry."
"As the matter is so pressing, then.
tell me in as few words as possible the
nature Of this document"
Its an assignment OF a lease Of