The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-09-11

ming through the morning papers anu
marking with blue pencil the para
graphs his secretary would cut out,
file and index at, later hour. One OF
these paragraphs ran as follows:
Strange Disappearance of a Barns
ter.-Mr. Percy Brinstair, well
known barrister Of the Inner Temple,
has mysteriously disappeared, and 1oul
play is suspected. He intended leaV-
ing st. Pancras at midnight OF nlgnt
before last to attend the Assizes, be-
ing held this week at Shetnelo. ne
requested the hoIsekeeper to have CAB
called for him at 1L15, saying ne
should spend the evening at his ONCE,
presumably studying his briefs. he
dismissed his clerks early in the even
ing. The cabman came for him at the
hour named, and, after waiting Tor
some ten minutes, called up the mousse
keeper, who preceded to Mr.. Bfln-
stairs offices, but failed to attract ms
attention by knocking, and, on Trying
the door, found it fastened. Appre-
hensive of something wrong, the
housekeeper called a policeman, and
the door was forced. To their surprise,
they found nobody within. Everything
was in perfect order; in fact, appear
ances suggested that Mr.. Brinstalr had
been writing at his desk, threw down
his pen on a half finished memoran-
dunn, put on his hat, and departed
without even turning down the gas,
which was burning brightly. Mr.. Brln-
stairs portmantcau, containing briefs
and other papers, stood open on the
floor near his chair. That gentleman,
however, had not appeared at Shelf
field, where he, was expected yesterday
and Inquiries at his residence were
fruitless in obtaining any clew to his
possible whereabouts. His family are
in great distress naturally, and clients
who have placed valuable papers in his
hands required in causes down for trial
this week are much embarrassed. The
police are making investigations.
Paul Tarrant's survey of the news
papers was interrupted by knock at
the door and the announcement that
a gentleman wished to see, him on bus
mess. The visitors card bore the
/ name of Harvey Cheeseman, and when
Mr.. Cheeseman appeared he came with
a rush and was plainly in a state of
high excitement, on which Tarrants
cool manner acted as an irritant.
Mr.. Tarrant,' he cried, as soon as
he was inside the door, Il am in great
difficulty, and want your immediate
help. Money is no object. Put every
thing aside for my matter"
''Sit down, Mr.. Cheeseman," answer
ed Tarrant, calmly, and tell me as
plainly as possible what your mat
ter is. Then can decide whether
can help you or no."
"Oh, but you must demanded the
visitor, who appeared incapable of TAX
ing anything quietly and ignored the
chair Tarrant's secretary placed for
him. mo doubt you have heard of Mr.
Brinstair's disappearance" Tarrar+
nodded. well, he had in his Office g
most important document, worth many
thousand pounds to me, and it is gone
That document must have within
twenty-four hours. The police are
simply trying to find what has become
Of Brinstair; they don't care for my
document. Now, don't care what has
become of Brinstair, but want that
paper"
But" said Tarrant, eff they find
him, perhaps they will find the paper"
"They may or may not, retorted Mr.
Cheeseman; probably not. 1t is want
ed at the Assizes this week. A port
manteau full Of papers to be used at
the same Assizes lies IN his Office, but
my document is not among them. Nor
is it in the box among other papers of
mine. can't wait for the dilatory
methods of the police. want an in
dependent inquiry.
"As the matter IS SO pressing, then
tell me in as few words as possible the
nature of this document"
st is an assignment of a lease Of
the Terrivale Coal Mines. An action
OF treSpdsS Lds pOCA DIOu5AL' against
me. and the plaintiffs in that suit have
also applied for an injunction to pre-
vent my working the mines till the
trespass case is tried. Unless / can
product this assignment they will get
their injunction, and my loss will be
enormous if am stopped"
"But surely you can compel them
to pay any loss you may suffer if you
win eventually"
ooh, they are men Of straw, not
worth a penny l tell you. Mr.. Tar
rant" pleaded Cheeseman, fairly jump