The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-10-26

book for Mansfield, though quite un-
conscious of what he was doingT'
Il see; but how did his hat get into
the river, l wonder?"
HE had smoked his last cigar, and
wanted another. He went to buy one,
meaning to come directly back, but 1t
was hot night, and he turned down
to the water front, thinking it might
be cooler. There Is a poor wretch
down there, who, for a quarter, will
tell you how he lost his hat while lean
ing over the rail. 1t was then, In my
Judgment, that his memory left him.
When the mind Is just on the balance,
a very little thing will topple it over
as well as hat"
"But this doesn't find Mr.. Cheese
mans paper, sir; does it?'
"No; we'll let Mr.. Cheeseman find
that himself. Do you want to go with
| mel"
''If you please; am curious"
They took cab to Cannon street,
and found Tarrant's excitable client
pacing up and fro in a state Of dis
tress. He welcomed Tarrant with
effusion. "Have you any good news
| for met" he cried
The detective smiled that bland and
non-committal smile Of his.
81 think" he cried, you told me
that your appointment after you left
Brinstair last Friday had nothing to
do with the Terrivale coal mine lease"
| Nothing whatever, do assure
you"
| well; 1t Is very queer that you
have missed the connection, Mr..
| Cheeseman."
"But that is ridiculous, Mr.. Tar
rant. tell you"
| Tarrant stopped his protestations
with a gesture Suppose / prove
connection to your satisfaction; what
would you give?"
| IA thousand dollars"
| The detective turned to the inspec-
tor, saying, Nov, see what over-con-
| fidence will bring man to-" and
then, to his client, he added, "It won't
cost you so much as that, Mr.. Cheese
man. Have you those debentures and
share certificates here"
| YES; still in my safe"
Look them over, please, carefully"
| Mr.. Cheeseman opened his safe, took
out a packet, secured by rubber
band, ran them over slowly, and, when
he reached the last, stood staring at
1t In dumb amazement
| "You have found the document, Mr..
| Cheeseman% asked Tarrant, quietly.
"Yet you would have sworn that you
left 1t locked In your private box at
| Brinstair's office. You had forgotten
that, after 1t had been restored to the
box and just as you were leaving, In
| great hurry to keep your appoint
ment (for which you were already
late), question arose which made an
other glance at the paper advisable.
1t was taken from its place, examined
no doubt hastily, while your mind was
intent on the subject of the coming APP
pointment You, perhaps, looked at
your watch while you held the paper
In your hand and rushed away, after
your manner, quite unconscious that
you took the lease with YOU"
"Its marvelous!" murmured Mr..
Cheeseman, grasping his recovered
treasure.
mo-" said Tarrant; II don't solve
marvels, only very ordinary mysteries.
Your little lapse Of memory was not
20 serious as Brinstair's, but there Ia
certain analogy"
"Still," remarked the inspector. as
he walked away with Tarrant; 81
don't quite see how you jumped to the
conclusion that Mr.. Cheeseman had
himself brought the document away
from his Offices"
"By the very simple process an
swered Tarrant, 'of eliminating every
other way of accounting for its dis
appearance. It was not among hi'
other papers at Brinstair's office, mol
in the satchel Brinstair had packed
to take away with him. The finding
Of Brinstair at Mansfield proved tina
he had neither run away nor been tn,
! victim of foul play, and there was no
a scintilla of evidence of an attempt b
steal the paper. Then Mr.. Cheesemal
must have taken 1t himself, and tn
state Of his nerves L. quite sufflcien
to account for his complete Ignorance
OF having done so."-Pennsylvani,