The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-05-05

TX IN sanctum in the Flat
"a ~ iron building.
91sAv1mxSga II am entirely at
NZ1E211ASS. your service, Mrs.-er
Benson" said the great investiga-
tor, always courtly and considerate
toward the uneasy sex How may
serve you?" For our student Of men,
women and manners realized that to
put caller at his or her ease was
the surest way to ensure a complete
and unembarrassed unburdening of
the mind--in other and more colo.
quail words, to find out what allied
them"
"We-I-am in great trouble" said
Mrs. Benson, all a-futter with the ex-
perience, unusual with one of New
York's elect, of consulting a com
mon detective" Indeed, the fact that
she-Mrs. Harvey Benson-had been
forced to thus demean herself, was
enough to account for her agitation.
Just think Of me as your doctor or
your dentist" said Valentine. Il am
Or | hope to be-merely your adviser
Tor l assume that you need or want
my advice. And may add that what
ever you say to me, Mrs. Benson,
goes no further" These observations
the great detective used simply to set
The dear old lady at her ease.
Well, Mr.. Valentine" said the
dear old lady aforesaid, somewhat
treasured by his words, Il can assure
you that 1t took me some time to
make up my mind to consult you.
And-er-I thought 1t would be more
difficult"
Our profession" said Valentine.
sententiously, lis to help people in
distress-especially those who feel
that they cannot use the ordinary
channels. Am / right in supposing
that you, my dear lady, are in that
position?"
Mrs. Benson beamed on Finney
Valentine at these words, and fairly
Struggled down." to use familiar
phrase, as though he were one of the
family, like tame pussy cat.
Let me tell you all about it," she
said, "since you are so kind. feel
that can talk to you like-oh, like
my own son or my dear husband, now
dead and gone"
Finney Valentine bowed-what man
would not?-at this almost childlike
evidence of confidence. Meantime
Mrs. Harvey Benson gathered her
self together for her narrative. She
was going to try to be logical--a very
rare accomplishment for her sex and
age.
Two years ago, Mr.. Valentine"
she began, my dear son Martin left
home to seek his fortune in the
west. The good Lord knows there
was no need-his father had left
plenty-but Martin was possessed
with the idea that he must prove him
self able to stand on his own feet
that was the way he put 1t.
we'll, he left me, and for two
or three months he wrote me regu-
larly-now from the coast, then
from Montana, then from Alaska, and
finally from place somewhere In
Minnesota. After that-well, there
was nothing after that! Martin seems
10 have disappeared! You may guess
bow / worried--he was all had
left! Here a tiny square Of cambria
came into reQuisition. Valentine
waited patiently.
"W.e-l-l,"-the peculiarly drawled In.
terjection was characteristic, 1t
seemed-"aft the last one from War.
lmoo, In Minnesota, Martins letters
stopped. That was nearly two years
ago. ~
"One day last March I had been
driven downtown doing some shop
ping. After leaving Beeman's had
taken my place in the coupe-telling
parkes-he's our coachman, you
know-'home,' when this same Parkes
he's been with US for years-came
to the door Of the coupe, saying:
"Here he is, Mrs. Benson-I've
caught him, begging your pardon!
And without word OF apology or OF
permission on my part he opened the
door and half pushed man into the
coupe! Get In, Mr.. Martin, SIR he
said, slammed the door, jumped on the
box, and drove OF uptown.
"At first glimpse. Mr.. Valentine. /
thought the man was my dear boy,
Martin. II 1t wasn't my son himself
It was his perfect double-height,
build, features, hair, eyes, coloring-
only he looked as II he had been very
III or suffering. But he didn't seem to
know me, although he was pleased
and good-mannered. He smiled in the
very way / knew he ought to smile,
but--well, / was fustered that ! could
only sit and gasp. Sure enough, 1t
was my own boy, Martin, and yet
"W.e.Ll, Mr.. Valentine, we got home
and all the servants seemed to recog
n,ze him as their young master. He
had been away, you will remember,
more than two years, wandering all
over creation; he was browner, broad
er. bigger, somehow. and yet the I'm.
age OF my boy. What could ! do but
take him to my heart? Still, he sort
of held me at arms length, with a Gu
rious look in his eyes. half doubling,