Middletown transcript., 1908-09-05

Tarrant, pleaded Cheeseman,
fairly jumping with nervous ex-
citement. nothing can exagger
ate the Importance Of that lease
to me at this moment.
! Well, well, Mr.. Cheeseman;
we '. i'll take cab down TO the
Temple and look at the situation.
We can talk further as we go,
but let me add that, unless you
can. calm yourself, you will
increase my difficulties consid-
erahly, to which Mr.. Cheese.
man replied that now that Tar
rant had taken the affair in hand
he felt easier.
On their way Tarrant put a
few pertinent questions. Where,
he asked, did you last see this
document, Mr.. Cheeseman?
At Brinstair's office. We lock-
ed it up again in the box reserved
for my papers.
When was that =?
On Friday last.
And this is Wednesday. And
you haven't seen it since then?
No. l was going on Satur-
day. and arranged to meet
Brinstair at Sheffield yesterday /?
Could Brinstair have put it in
the wrong box by mistake?
Impossible? He had the box
brought in, stood it on the table
beside his desk,opened itand took
out the lease. When we had fin.
ished with it, he put it back. /
distinctly remember seeing him
relock the box.
And did he put the box back
in its place?
That I don't remember-I'm
not sure don't think he did,
though, while I stayed.
Where did you go then?
To my Office in Cannon street,
where had an appointment, and
then home.
What did that appointment
have reference to?
Not to this matter in any way.
Then that wouldn't help US
any?
No; it was merely to close up
a purchase of some shares and
debentures. 1t was too late to
deposit the certificates in safer
place, so put them ir my own
safe till / came back from the
North.
Who has an interest in ab-
stracting or destroying this as
signment of the lease?
Nobody but the people who
have brought the action for tres
pass.
Well, Mr.. Cheeseman, here we
are at the Temple. We shall
socn know if Mr.. Brinstair has
been heard of.
An amount of hustle unusual
in the quiet precincts of the
Temple was apparent as they
approached the stairway leading
to Mr.. Brinstair's offices.
A police inspector was leaving
the room as they drew near. Are
you on this job? he asked Mr..
Tarrant.
A side issue only, replied Tar
rant. Have you any clew to the
mystery?
Nothing conclusive. Mr.. Rrin-
stairs hat, identified by his card
inside the lining has been found
in the river. That may mean
something or nothing clew or
a ruse?
Exactly. We can 60 in?
Certainly. Come in. There
is no one here but a constable
and Mr.. Brinstair's confidential
clerk. Nothing has been dis
turbed. 1t is evident that Mr..
Brinstair was induced TO leave
his Office by somebody or for
some purpose during the evening,
and never came back as he in
tended when he left.
Well, | am not interested pro-
fessionally IN his disappearance,
otherwise than as it might bear
on a missing document belonging
to this gentleman, Mr.. Cheese
man. ] only want the box in
which the papers were kept, and
the portmanteau examined. Tar
rant turned to the confidential
clerk and added: Perhaps you
will oblige me by going through
them while | am here.
1t is no good, interposed Mr..
Cheeseman, irritably, doing that
again. We have gone through
the lot.
Do you really want me to find
this paper for your asked Tar
rant, with just q shade-pf annoy
.. lse 41.,,