Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-15
CHAPTER XXXIII.


enue at Wandsworth with feeling that
he had got on the right track at last. And
yet this discovery, which he had no reason
to doubt, opened up the strangest possbili-
ties before him. He was face to face with
a theory that staggered him so greatly that
he could not speak for moment. And yet
he wondered why the idea had not occurred
to him before.
Il suppose that you have not made any
mistaken he suggested.
The clerk was properly indignant. He
was not there for the purpose of making
mistakes; besides, he had all the particulars
entered in his books.
so that you can see for yourself" he
said. Look here, If you doubt me. The
entries tally absolutely with the figures
you have on that slip of paper. If there
Is anything wrong
There is something very wrong, indeed,
Field admitted, but that has nothing to do
with you. Do you do a large business In
that kind Of stamped paper?'
well. rather, though not so large as we
did You see, those stamped deeds are ex-
clusively used by solicitors; practically every
legal document is stamped paper. But
nowadays, a good many lawyers get their
deeds engrossed on plain paper and send
them to me to be forwarded to Somerset
House for the stamping
II see' Field said, thoughtfuly. "In that
case, you would have less difficulty in rec
ment that was already stamped? 1 wonder
if you recognized the man who bought the
one we are talking about?'
"Oh, yes," came the ready reply. THE
mans name is Acton. He is a law stationer
who does odd jobs for the different firms
here. He is quite broken down and shabby
now, but l should say that at one time he
was gentleman. You will see his business
card hanging in a shop window at the cor
ner of Preston street-a little news-shop On
the right.
II am greatly obliged to you," Field said
Il see the stamp is a two pound ten one
Was it paid for in cash or in the form of
note?
"a note-a e5 Bank of England note. I
recollect getting Acton to indorse it,
Field smiled to himself. Everything
seemed to be going in his favor now. He
rendered five sovereigns across the counter
and asked the favor of the 95 note in ex-
change, which was granted. The note had
blue stamp on 1t to the effect that it had
the National and Counties Bank, and to
that establishment Field wended his way.
There a further piece of information
awaited him. The note had been paid out
come from No. 100 Audley place, with a
cheque drawn in favor of SELF by Mr..
Carl Sartoris. Field could not repress a
chuckle. Everything was going on as
smoothly as he could expect.
And now for Mr.. Acton" he said to
himself. Il wonder if I dare build my
hopes upon the theory that Sir Charles is
but that is out of the question. STILL there
is that doctor fellow, with his marvellous
knowledge of eastern mysteries. Hang me
if 1 don't start from that hypothesis when
I've got this thing through
1t was an easy matter to trace Acton.
Field found him in dingy bed-sitting
room, smoking vile tobacco and eagerly
reading a sporting paper The occupant Of
the room turned color when he caught sight
of his visitor. The recognition was mutual.
but Field did not commit himself beyond a
faint smile.
IL hope there is nothing wrong" the
occupant of the room stammered.
THAT entirely depends upon you,' Field
replied. $50 long as you tell the truth
"Tll tell you nothing else,'' Acton said.
his back to the fire, tall man with pale
face and mournful eyes. Look here. Field,
there is no use playing with the fact that
you and have met before. was in a very
man with no ambition beyond wish to live
honestly and to keep out of sight of my
friends. l write a good hand, as you know.
1 have served my time for forgery. But
is in the least wrong
The speakers words carried conviction
with them.
II am quite prepared to believe it, Mr..
Acton" Field said. "All 1 want is little
information. Tell me. have you done more
than one piece of work lately?'
mo. Only one. And that was just aften
10 o'clock today. A gentleman came to me
and said he was a lawyer who was just set
ting up here"
What sort of man was hep. Field asked.
young and fair, with an easy assurance
and manner. He had taken a house in
Park road-name of Walters. There Is a
kind of annex to the house that at one time
had been used for billiard room, and this
was to be his office. 1 called upon the gen.
tleman there by appointment. I didn't go
int he bItt tl,.t h.
blinds and curtains were up. The gentleman
gave me a G5 note and asked me to go to
the inland revenue office here and get a
f. los stamp on skin of parchment. When
/ got back he dictated a deed to me which
copied down for him."
do You recolect what it was about?"
Field asked.
We'll, sir, don't, except that it was some
kind of assignment. The names l quite for
get. You see, one gets % be rather like a
machine doing that kind of work. The gem
teman paid me seven shilngs for my trou-
BILE and asked me to call upon him again"
And Is that all you have to tell me?"
Field asked.
Everything, Mr. Field" Acton said. IT
hope that you will not think there is any
thing"
tainly," Field fastened to say. II have
only one more question to ask Try and
polish up your memory. Was there any
date inserted in that deed?"
the slightest hesitation. There was no date
inserted in the deed
"'Um. The thing unusual that
you were quite struck by the fact?'
mot at all. Dates are never inserted in
engrossed deeds. They are left blank as
to the day. and the year. You see there is
so much delay in the law. Sometimes the
deeds are not executed for months after
they are signed. If the date was filled in
and delay of two months took place. a
new stamp would have to be purchased,
and that means dead loss. Whereas if the
date is not put in till the deed is signed
that expense is saved
Field nodded his head in the manner of
a man who is getting satisfaction for his
trouble.
"Then the date was no doing of yours"
he said. Il fancy I'll run around and see
the young lawyer friend Of yours After
that 1 may have to ask you to accompany
me to town. There is nothing for you to
do besides Identifying your own handwrit-
ing. Don't go out till come back
Field hurried off to Park road, where at
length he found the house he wanted. The
curtains and blinds were up in the windows,
but no amount of knocking seemed to
arouse anybody inside Not that Field
was disappointed for he had expected some
thing like this. A few inquiries elected the
fact that the house in the hands of
Messrs. Porden & Co, down the street, and
thther the inspector repaired. Nobody had
taken the house he gathered, though few
10 bod nff