The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-15
EVENING STORY


BY r. RAY BAKER.
This is a detective story, but it isn't
the regular kind. on second thought,
perhaps, it had better re termed a
story about a detective.
The detective was Willard Holmes.
Maybe the surname had something to
do with his choosing that profession;
perhaps not, anyhow, he maintained a,
private office where people came for
their mysteries to be solved He had
caught bank robbers, laid" ghosts in
haunted houses and rescued kidnapped
heiresses, and he had DISCUSSES, so you
see he was a regular detective.
Holmes was seated in his office.
smoking his pipe. when a fat little
man with haif-moon face that ought
10 nave carried jolly expression, but
instead was furrowed with wrinkles of
worry, was ushered in. His name was
Jerome Wittfeemb and he had some-
thing like n million dollars in cur
rency, real estate and canned sarriines.
Miss Geraldine Witticomb had dis
appeared only last night and no trace
of her had been found. She had left
her home after an alteration with
her parents early in the evening, with
the announcement that she was going
to spend few hours with Hattie
~AeNohNNAAs Il NAihiii. WIN llNtu seven
blocks distant. No. the family chauf-
feur had not accompanied her; she
had driven her own rupabout. She
had failed to -feturn home that night
and still was absent at noon the next
day. Her father and mother were
worried by this time, SO an investiga-
ton was started and it was learned
that Miss Haskell had seen nothing of
Miss Witticomb. Mr.. Witticomb was
convinced kIdnaper had got in their
fine work, for the newspapers of late
had been carrying soMe sensational
stories concerning their operations
No, the police had not been notified,
because it was not desira BILE that the
Witticombs be dragged thru the COM
mon public prints.
Willard drew violently on his pipe
and blew several generous clouds of
smoke toward the ceiling.
What was the quarrel about ?" he
inquired, abruptly.
Mr.. Wittieomb shrugged his shout
ders.
1T was inconsequential," he de-
INJURED, looking out of the window
How do you know the quarrel is
not Important" demanded Willard.
shooting a piercing glance at the fat
little man. Better let me be the
judge of that
Another shrug of the shoulders,
and:
Well. TO tell the truth, 1 forget just
what trivial thing it was about"
Willard scowled over this and sat
silent in thought for a moment. Press
emily, excusing himself he went into
an adjoining room and returned with
an overcoat and cap, both of which
he donned.
Where you going?" inquired the
client, somewhat anNiously.
ITO your home" replied the detec-
tive, Ito look for clews."
Willard seemed to CLEAN little salts
faction from his visit. There was not
even a good photograph of Miss With
comb to be seen. Only camera pic
lures in which she was squirting at
the sun in a way that virtually oblit-
Grated her countenance, were avail
able. The interview with the maid
was the only incident productive of
any result whatever. Questioned close
ly as to her activities, she reported
that the only thing wrong she, had
noticed that morning was a theatrical
magazine lying onhthe floor in a man
ner that indicated it had been hurled
there, because it was some distance
from any table.
Find any clew?" inquired MI Wit
ticomb as willard prepared to leave
The latter smiled enismati cally and
did some shoulder Struggling on his
| own account. Il think 1 can find your
daughter for you,' he said, and went
away.
The next day Mr.. Holmes opened a
new office. It was on the street or in
building in the theater district and
in the elevator directory it was re-
| ferred to as "Talbott's Dramatic
Agency" This new enterprise came
out with prominently placed adver-
! tisement in all the morning papers,
reading:
..Can plaoa Young Iadv In cor,fop
| new Broadway production. Must be
exactly feet inches in height, with
black eyes. light brown hair, olive
| complexion. Person with no stage
experience desired. None others need
apply. Call at noon sharp"