The Press., 1919-06-12
131e Goat Degree Rx AUGUSTUS WHITFIELD
.S~S~
 (Copyright)

l nodVeu ucCp oiSh.
 "Why so melancholy" I inquired.
 My dear Watchem," he answered, l"I had hopes that your afternoon would be at my disposal, but, of course, since you are going to the ball game with Emmons, I cannot look for you to assist me in the mysterious case of O. B. c, Osofat."
 "Who told you I am going to the ball game?" I asked.
 | "Why, Watchem," he answered, "the l truth is self-evident. You are wear 1 ling your somber garments on week day. You can have put them on only for the purpose of lending color to Ithe yarn you told your chief that your grandmother is to be buried this aft ernoon.
 1 "As she has died at least a dozen times to my knowledge, I can deduce but one thing, and that is that the interment will be at the usual place." "Carlock,"I commented, "you are right. But what gets me is that you know I am going with Emmons." | Easiest thing out," replied Car lock. "lImmons came in and tried to borrow dollar from me. Said he was going to the ball game. Ergo, he must be going with you or he | wouldn't have to borrow the money" | "Carlock," I said in amaZement l you're a wonder. But tell me, why | are you swinging in a hammock?" Because I enjoy the suspense,' he 1 tod stir 1nfn fhn | mental faculties, and, besides, ham, mock affords free sway to the imag ination."
 | Have you discovered any clew to the mysterious disappearance of the case of Fat-Reducio which was con- signed to O. B. C.. Osofat, and which was lost while in transit on the Pole to-POle railway?" I asked. Before answering your query" re piled Carlock, "I wish to refresh your memory on the subject. You remem- Der it was while I was engaged on the famous case of the Gold Coupler that o. B. c. Osofat came to me with the astounding information that a case of Fat-Reducio had disappeared in transit on the Pole-to-Pole railway. "Mr. Osofat had ordered the prep aratiOn with the idea of reducing his excessive weight, and, in anticipation of the results which had been guar anteed by the manufacturers, he had donated most of his clothing to the home for obese octOgenarians, and had ordered liberal supply of new ones to fit man weighing a hundred pounds less, or one hundred and sev- enty-six pounds.
 'The preparation had been con- signed to him by the manufacturers at Phantasmania, and was receipted for in good order by the Pole-to-Pole at PatrickgOnia. Somewhere between that point and this city 1t disap- peared completely. The resources of the road have been exhausted, and as last resort my marvellous powers have been enlisted in an effort to solve the mystery.
 MT. Osofat is one of the largest stockholders of the road, and, conse- quently, the directors are especially anxious to please him, as they realize that heavy stockholders are not to be made light of."
 Carlock paused, and, opening his medicine chest, he handed me a pep sin tablet.
 What is this for?" asked.
 ''Take it," he replied. 'It will help you to digest the evidence.""
 I did as he directed, and he con- tinued.
 'When I took hold of the case there was absolutely nothing to work on. After infinite pains I discovered that the baggage car of the train that re- ceived the case at Patrickgonia was in charge of Pud Judson, one of the heavyweight baggage smashers of the road. I looked up his antecedents and found that he had lots of first-class records, which he used on his phonO- graph. He was credited with being as straight as a string. but considerably thicker.
 "I also discovered that after reach ing New York on that trip, Pud had disappeared and was missing for four weeks. When he finally reported for duty he had grown considerably thin her. The cause of his falling off in weight has never been explained"
 "As the case now stands. I re- marked, "what do you make of it?"
 By logical deduction, arrive at the conclusion that Pud Judson is respon- sible for the disappearance of the case of F"tReducio, and I propose to fasten the crime on him."
 Precisely at three-thirty, the indi- cator on the wall announced that Pud Judson had entered the building, and was even then on his way to Carlock's apartments. In a minute or so the elevator stopped, and then there was a knock at the door. Carlock opened 1t, admitting short emaciated man in railroad mans uniform.
 You sent for mel" he asked, ad- dressing the great detective.
 T summoned you," said Carlock. "Be good enough to note the distinc- tion. A professional man never sends for any one"
 Carlock surveyed Judson critically, having taken postgraduate course in surveying at correspondence school. Suddenly lie made ,he Stat ting accusation:
 "Judson, you are short!"
 JudsOn covered.
 "Only a matter of fifty shares or | so," he asserted.
 Il do not refer to your petty market | speculations," said Carlock severely. | T refer to your weight. You have lost about hundred pounds. Had 1 you lost this weight in legitimate manner 1t would not have been neces- sary for me to summon you, but since you have usurped the loss which should have been another's, 1t is my duty to secure from ysu a statement of the facts"