The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-09-25

the matter, and I won't lose sight OF
it. Report to me If anything fresh
occurs, and rely upon my assistance
if 1t should be needed.
There are certainly some points OF
interest in this case, Watson" he re-
marked, when the landlady had left
us. 1T may, Of course, be trivial
individual eccentricity; or 1t NAY De
very much deeper than appears on the
surface. The first thing that strikes
one is the obvious possibility that the
person now in the rooms may be en-
tirely different from the one who en-
gagged them" .
why should you think SO"
"Well, apart from this cigarette
end, was it not suggestive that the
only time the ledger went out was IN
mediately after his taking the rooms!
He came back-er someone came
back-when all witnesses were out OF
the way. We have nc proof that the
person who came back was the person
who went out. Then, again, the nan
who took the rooms spoke Engllsn
well. This other, however, prints
match when 1t should have been
matches I can imagine that the
word was taken out Of a dictionary.
which would give the noun but not
the plural. The laconic style may De
to conceal the absence OF knowledge
Of English. Yes, Watson, there are
good reasons to suspect that there a
been a substitution Of dodgers"
"But for what possible end?"
"Ah! there lies our problem. There
is one rather obvious line of investi'
CATION" He took down the great
book in which, day by day, he nled
the agony columns Of the various Lon
don Journals. Dear mel" said he.
turning over the pages, what a cho-
rus Of groans, cries and bleatlngs!
What a rag-bag Of singular happen
ings! But surely the most valuable
hunting-ground that ever was given TO
a student Of the unusual! This per
son Is alone, and cannot be ap-
preached by letter without a breach
of that absolute secrecy which Is de-
sired. How is any news or any mes
sage to reach him from without!
Obviously by advertisement through
a newspaper. There seems no other
way, and fortunately we nee con-
Germ ourselves with the n paper
only. Here are the Daily Gazette ex-
tracts of the last fortnight. Lady
with a black boa at Princes Skating
club,-that we may pass. Surely
Jimmy will not break his mothers
heart-that appears to be Irrelevant
IF the lady who tainted in the Brix'
ton bus'-she does not interest me.
Every day my heart longs Bleat,
Watson-unmitigated bleat! All! this
is a little more possible. Listen to
this: BE patient. Will find some
sure means Of communication. Mean
while, this column.-G.' That Is two
days after Mrs. Warren's ledger ar
rived. It sounds plausible, does 1t
not? The mysterious n could un.
derstand English, even If he could not
print 1t. Let US see If we can pick up
the trace again. Yes, here we are
three days later. Am making sue
cessful arrangements. Patience and
prudence. The clouds will pass.-G.'
Nothing for a week after that. Then
comes something much more definite:
The path is clearing. II find chance
signal message remember code agreed
one A, two B, and so on. You will
hear soon.-G.' That was in yester'
days paper, and there is nothing In
today's. It's all very appropriate to
Mrs. Warren's ledger. II we wait q
little, Watson, 1 don't doubt that the
affair will grow more Ineligible"
So it proved; for In the morning |
found my friend standing on the
hearthrug with his back to the fire.
and a smile Of complete satisfaction
upon his face.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)