The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-10-05
book for Mansfield, though quite un-

book for Mansfield, though quite un
conscious Of what he was doing?
II see; but how did his hat get Into
4 the river, wonder?"
"He had smoked his last cigar, anC
wanted another. He went to buy one
meaning to. come directly back, but II
was q hot night, and he turned dowr
| to the water front, thinking 1t might
be cooler. There Is a poor wretch
down there, who, for quarter. vii
tell you how he lost his hat while lean
ing over the rail. It was then, In my
Judgment, that his memory left him
When the mind is just on the balance
very little thing will topple it over
as well as a hat"
"But this doesn't find Mr.. Cheese
mans paper, sir; does it?"
'sNo; we'll let Mr.. Cheeseman nnd
that himself. Do you want to 60 witt
me?"
'If you please; am curious"
They took a cab to Cannon street
and found Tarrant's excitable clien1
pacing up and fro in state of dis
tress. He welcomed Tarrant will
efrusion "Have you any good new!
for me?" 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 lef
Brinstair last Friday had nothing t.
do with the Terrivale coal mine lease.
Nothing whatever, l do assure
YOU"
well; 1t Is very queer that yor
have missed the connection, Mr.
Cheeseman."
"But that is ridiculous, Mr.. Tar
rant. l tell you"
| Tarrant stopped his protestation.
with a gesture Suppose I prove {
connection to your satisfaction; wha
would you give?"
"A thousand dollars"
The detective turned to the inspec
tor, saying, NOW, see what over-con
fidence will bring a man to-" ant
then, to his client, he added, 1T won'1
cost you so much as that, Mr.. Cheese
man. Have you those debentures anc
share certificates hsre?"
YES; still in my safe"
Look them over, please, carefully
| Mr.. Cheeseman opened his safe, tool
out a packet, secured by a rubber
band, ran them over slowly, and, wher
he reached the last, stood staring al
| 1t in dumb amazement.
| You have found the document, Mr.
Cheeseman?" asked Tarrant, quietly
"Yet you would have sworn that you
left it locked In your private box al
Brinstair's Office. You had forgotten
| that, after it 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 it's place, examined
no doubt hastily, while your mind was
intent on the subject of the coming ap
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 marvellous" murmured Mr.
Cheeseman, grasping his recovered
| treasure.
NO" said Tarrant; Il don't solve
marvels, only very ordinary mysteries
Your little lapse Of memory was not
50 serious as Brinstair's, but there is
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 it's dis
| appearance. It was not among his
other papers at Brinstairs Office, mol
in the satchel Brinstair had packed
to take away with him. The finding
of Brinstair at Mansfield proved that
he had neither run away nor been the
victim of foul play, and there was not
a scintilla Of evidence Of an attempt to
steal the paper. Then Mr.. Cheeseman
must have taken it himself, and the
state Of his nerves Is quite sufficient
to account for his complete ignorance
I Of having done so."-Pennsylvania
Grit.