Middletown transcript., 1908-09-05

SIVe, tlOuShi SnOuiQ Sdy.
Very; he always comes in and
goes out like a Whirtwind when
he calls here.
You we're not present, | sup
pose when he saw Mr.. Brinstair
on Friday?
No. sir; they were in Mr.. Brin-
stairs private room.
Did you speak to him when he
came out?
Only to say Good afternoon
to him. He passed through with
his usual rush, murmuring some.
thing about being late for an ap-
pointment.
Do you remember handling
Cheeseman's box that day?
Yes. | took it into the private
room, and afterwards replaced
it.
Was that after Mr.. Cheeseman
had gone?
After he had gone out; yes, sir.
How old is Mr.. Brinstair?
About sixty-five, I think, sir.
In good health?
Fairly good. Work has been
pressing rather heavily on him
of late. He had an unusually
large number of briefs for this
circuit. ..-
Accustomed to work late here?
Often.
A temperance man?
Strictly.
Smoke?
Rather excessively, I should
say-ten or a dozen cigars day.
Where does he keep his cigars
here?
In box in the drawer of his
desk.
Oolige me by bringing the box
here.
The clerk went into the inner
room, and presently returned
with a cigar box in his hand.
This, he said is the only one !
find and.it is empty. Tarrant
glanced at it, thanked him, and
added thai he had no further use
for it.
Well, Inspector, said Tarrant,
a few moments later; that docu-
ment is not here. / didn't sup
pose it was. but the time hasn't
been wasted. Have you tele-
graphed TO the Sheffield police
yet?
No, answered the Inspector,
surprised. Why?
Well, I should, if I were you.
Ask if a man answered Brin-
stairs description has turn, d up,
wandering in the streets of that
town. will come back IN about
an hour to see if you have an an
swer.
They left the Offices together,
the inspector to act on Tarrant's
hint and the latter visited tile
nearest cigar shops. Finally, at
one of them, he learned that
gentleman who, from the shop
keepers account, bore some re-
sem blance to the missing man,
came in a few evenings before at
about ten O'Clock and bought a
dozen cigars of special brand
not often called for.
Asked if he had any converse.
ton with this customer, the shop
keeper replied: Well, now, I most
forget. I remember he remarked
it was hot night, and-oh, yes;
he said he wondered if it would
be cooler down on the embank-
ment. He lit one of the cigars
and went out, and | haven't seen
him since.
Tarrant wandered down to the
embankment, also lit cigar and
leaned on the parapet, with his
eyes on the traffic on the river.
He changed his locality three or
four times, always apparently,
selecting spot near seat where
one or more of the homeless fire.
quenters of these outdoor lodg.
Ings we're sitting. Presently an
idea or a recollection struggled
into the mind of one of the tat
tered and unshaven ones, and he
frightened up bit, and called
put to Tarrant, Yer'll lose yer
1t, guv-nor, il you amt keerful
What makes you think 50?
asked Tarrant, turning to him.
Well a gent like you comes
down ERE t'other night and
stands a. a-smokin' at The river, an
talking to hisself like, an e
nearly went owver after it.
e might a. guv me that at
instead O. slim it darn to Woop-
pin.
I'm obliged to you for the in
+s1p F,.sarl H.