The Washington herald., 1920-06-23

and completeness of the dame of
q candle that Is blown out All
the agencies of inquisition - the
hounds of the trail. the sleuths OF
the city's lsbyrinths. the closet
detectives of theory and induc- /
tion-will be invoked to the
search. Most often the mans
face will be seen no more. Some
times he will reappear in Sheooy-
gan or in the wilds OF Terre
Haute. calling himself one OF the
synonyms of Smith" and with
out memory of events up TO
certain time, including his gro
GERS bill. Sometimes IL Will be
found. after dragging the rivers,
and polling the restaurants to see
n he may be waiting for a we'll
done sirloin, that he has moved
next door.
This snuffing out of a human
being like the erasure of a chalk
man from a blackboard is one of
the most impressive themes in
dramaturgy.
The case of Mary Snyder, in
point, should not be without in
terest.
A man of middle age, of the
name of Meeks, came from the
West to New York to find his
sister, Mrs. Mary Snyder, widow
aged So, who had been living for
year in a tenement house in
crowded neighborhood.
At her address he was told that
Mary Snyder had moved away
longer than a month before. No
one could tell him her new ad-
dress.
on coming out Mr.. Meeks ad-
dressed a policema'. who was
standing on the corner, and ex-
planned his dilemma.
MY sister is very poor" he
said. land I am anxious to find
her. / have recently made quite
lot of money in a lead mine,
and want her to share my pros
perity. There is no use in ad-
vertising her, because she cannot
read"
The policeman pulled his NOUS
tache and looked so thoughtful
and mighty that Meeks could ar
most feel the joyful tears of his
sister Mary dropping upon his
bright blue tie.
you go down in the Canal
street neighborhood," said the
policeman, "and get job drivin
the biggest dray you can ind.
There's old women always gettin'
knocked over by drays down
there. You might see 'er among
'em. II you don't want to do that
you better go round to head
quarters and get 'em to put ny
cop onto the dame"
At police headquarters Meeks
received ready assistance. A gem
eral alarm was sent out, and
copies OF a photograph of Mary
Snyder that her brother had were
distributed among the stations.
In Mulberry street the chief as
signed Detective Mullins to the
case.
This IL not a very difficult case
TO unrayel. Shave off your whis-
kers, fill your pockets with good
cigars, and meet me in the cafe
of the Waldorf at o'clock this
afternoon"
Meeks obeyed. He found Null
lins there. They had a bottle of
wine, while the detective asked
Questions concerning the missing
woman.
Now" said Mullins, New York
is a big city. but we've got the
detective business systematized.
There are two ways We can go
about finding your sister. We
will try one OF 'em first. You say
she's 52?"
"A little past" said Meeks.
The detective conducted the
westerner to a branch advertts-
ing ONCE of one of the largest
daiIies, There he wrote the fol-
lowing "ad'' and submitted 1t to
Meeks:
Wanted, at once-one hundred
attractive chorus girls for a new
musical comedy. Apply all day at
No. 80. Broadway"
Meeks was indignant.
My sister" said he, 'is poor
hard-working, elderly woman.
do not see what aid an advertise
ment of this kind would be to-
ward finding her"
"AIl right" said the detective
"I guess you don't know New
York. But IL you've got a Crouch
against this scheme we'll try the
other one. It's a sure thing. But
it'll cost you more"
Never mind the expense" said
Meeks; well try it"
The sleuth Ted him back to th'
waldorf. Engage a couple o.
bedrooms and a parlor." he ad
vised, and let's go up"
This was done, and the two
were shown to a superb suite OF
the fourth floor. Meeks lookee
puzzled. The detective sank int
a velvet armchair, and pulled ou
his cigar case.
81 forgot to suggest, old man.
he said. that you should havI
taken the rooms by the month
They wouldn't have stuck you 81
much for 'em.
'aBy the month" exclaimed
Neeks. What do you mesn?"
"Oh, it'll take time to work tn
rame this way. 1 told you !
would cost you more. We1l hav
To wait till spring. Theren be
new city directory out then. Yer.
likely your sisters name and ao
dress will be in IL"
Meeks rid himself of the cit,
detective at once. On the mex
day-some one advised him {
consult Shamrock Jolnes. New
York's famous private detective
who demanded fabulous fees, bu
performed miracles in the way o
solving mysteries and crimes.
After waiting for two hours Il
the anteroom of the great detec
tiye's apartment, Meeks wa
shown into his presence. Jolne
sat in a purple dressing-gown a
An inlaid ivory chess table, with
magazine before him. trying {
solve the mystery of They" Tn
famous sleuth's thin. intellectua
face, piercing eyes. and rate pc
word are too well known to nee