The Raymer enterprise., 1911-06-15


present fancied spending several
hours OF 4 cool autumn night out Of
doors, instead OF snugly between
warm blankets.
Matters were at an apparent dead.
lock, when an interruption came
from an unexpected source. Major
Scarlet rose and begged leave to
say few words. What he said was
right to the point and solved the dif.
fculty In this wise:
Gentlemen" said the major. cigar
between thumb and foreAnger. while
not a resident among you. am ia
miliar with your troubles and have
listened attentively to all that has
been said here tonight. Permit me
to remark that In my humble judg-
ment you've got pretty large con-
tract on your hands. There's nys.
terry here. gentlemen-a series Of hap
penings that cannot be explained by
attributing them to the usual run OF
petty criminals. You've got TO dig
deeper. gentlemen. Our friend Cor
rie has doubtless done his best, but
I'll go SO far as to say that the Job
Is too big for him even II he had 20
men under his command. instead OF
two. What you want is an expert
criminologist-no mere policeman or
detective-but an expert investigator.
In short, I advise you TO send for my
old friend. Fnney Valentine"
SO that was how the ex.inspector
came to handle and solve the AMMAN
dale mystery-for solve II he did, as
you shall hear.
Valentine took up his abode as the
ostensible house.guest OF the Birges.
He drove and rode. walked and play
ed golf. went to church and to card
parties for two or three weeks. Just
as Major Scarlet had done before
him, only with this difference: The
chief managed to meet pretty nearly
every inhabitant Of Annandale. young
or old Naturally his identity was
kept secret. some even OF those who
had voted to employ him did not rec.
ognize his identity under the pseu.
donym OF MIR. Atterbury;" yet
strangely enough those three weeks
turned out to be one OF the periodic
zones Of quiet Nothing out Of 'Ne
way occurred to mar the idyllic quiet
OF Annandale. and for the first time
In months villagers and commuters
slept peacefully In their beds
Valentine himself was as usual In.
scrutable. Half or two-thirds OF each
night. wet or dry. cloudy or moon.
lit. he spent atoot. literally "on the
prowl" But, beyond the mere ces-
sation OF hostilities. the mystery re-
mained unriddled
1t was through DR.. Osbon that Val
entine obtained many personal de-
tails about the people OF Annandale.
especially those natives dwelling In
what was locally known as the
| South End" near the railroad track,
where were carried on such useful in
dustries as blacksmthing. cobbling.
whitewashing and laundrying. But all
OF the people pursuing these humble
callings were above suspicion-indeed
some OF them had been among the
earliest victims.
Doctor Osbon was man past the
prime OF life. with wide practice
for miles around-able, keen, and uni.
versally liked. Indeed, Fnney Val.
entine was somewhat surprised TO
meet man OF his medical caliber In
SO rural neighborhood. and one day
gave speech to his thought, ending by
saying:
One would think doctor. you'd find
city practice more to your liking
There can't be many cases here to in.
terest you"
Not many. perhaps, assented the
medico. "and yet 1t isn't all family
trade. I've had some very interest
ing surgical operations arising from
accidents with reaping machinery and
gunshot wounds. to say nothing OF
broken legs and arms. But my prize
patient lives over yonder-she's one
Of the most puzzling | ever heard Of
Maid. wife or widow" queried Val
entine.
The latter. It's no breach OF pro
fessional etiquette TO mention hel
symptoms. everybody knows all abou
poor Mary Friller."
'lncurable disease. I suppose!"
That's more than can tell you
She's woman past so, wellpre
served, but bedridden for the last II
years-fve years before my time. tt
all appearances she's well and hearty
appetite normal. and all that, bu
swears she can't move from the wal.
down. Claims she's paralyzed. an,
the usual tests confirm that. Blu
sometimes I've thought It was cas-,
Of hysteria-nerves. you know. A
one time really thought Mrs. Frille
was shamming-thath hers was Just
case Of malingering. But DON
know-lately I've given over puzzlinl
about her. drop In once or twice
month, and always nnd her tn
same"
Gould an imposture like that b
successfully carried out?" inquire,
Ffnney Valentine.
Lord bless you. yes" answered Di