Middletown transcript., 1908-09-05

~ ~ SNNh Ihih o. 40 E@n9 -
spector. There was no good
ground to suspect foul play or
suicide, and I.imagined that a
man who had overworked and
oversmoked himself might col
lapse like that. You knew he
had not turned up in London.
What more likely than that he
should follow out fixed purpose
and make his way to the STATEN
and book for Sheffield, though
quite unconscious Of what he was
doing?
/ see; but how did his hat get
into the river, wonder?
He had smoked his last cigar,
and wanted another. He went
to buy one, meaning to come di-
rectly back, butit was a hot night
and he turned down to the EN-
bankment, thinking it might be
cooler. There is a poor wretch
down there, who, for a bob, will
tell you how he lost his hat while
leaning over the parapet. 1t 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 we'll as hat.
But this doesn't find Mr..
Cheeseman's paper, sir, does it?
No; we1l let Mr.. Cheeseman
, find that himself. Do you want
to go with me?
If you please; I am curious.
They took a cab to Cannon
street, and found Tarrant's excit-
able client pacing to and fro in a
state of distress. He welcomed
Taarant with effusion. Have you
any good news for me? he cried.
The detective smiled that bland
and nou-committsl smile of his.
l 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, l do assure
you.
Well, it is very queer that you
have missed the connection, Mr..
Cheeseman.
But that is ridiculous, Mr.. Tar
rant. I tell you
Tarrant stopped his protesta-
tions with a gesture. Suppose l
prove a connection to your salts
faction, what would you give?
A thousand pounds.
A thousand pounds.
The detective turned to the in.
spector, saying, Now, see what
overconfdence will bring a man
to and then to his client, he added,
1t won t cost you so much as that,
Mr.. Cheeseman. Have you those
debentures and share certificates
here?
Yes, still in my safe.
Look IL en- over, please, care
fully.
Mr.. Cheeseman opened his
safe, took out packet, secured
by a rubber bard, ran them over
slowly, and when he reached the
last, stood staring at it, 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 at 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 ap
pointment (for which you were
already late), a question arose
which made another glance at the
paper advisable. 1t was taken
from its place, examined no doubt
hastily, while your mind was in
tent on the subject of the coming
appointment. 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.
It's marvellous, murnured Mr..
Cheeseman, grasping his recov.
cred treasure.
No, said Tarrant. [ don't
solve marvels, only very ordi-
nary mysteries. Your little lapse
of memory was not so serious at
Brtnstair's, but there is a certain
analogy.
Still, remarked the inspector,
as he walked away with Tarrant;
I don't quite see how you jumped
to the conclusion that Mr.. Cheese
man had himself brought the do
cument away from the Temple.