Evening star., 1921-07-24
; ISGUISE," Malcolm Sage had
- once remarked. ''is the chief
characteristic of the detec-
tive ~ Acffop actual

case IN point. NO one out a puiiuer, VI
Ian engineer. could disguise the shape
iof a head like mine" AS he spoke he
iAad stroked the top of his head. which
rose above his strongly marked brows
like a down-covered cone.
i In this Malcolm Sage was bitter dis
appointment to William johnson. the
,office junior His conception of the
isleuthhound had been tinctured by the
vivid fiction with which he beguiled his
Ispare time.
In the heart of William johnson there
were three great emotions: His hero
worship of Malcolm Sage. his romantic
devotion to the secretary. Gladys Nor
man. and his wholesome fear OF the ro-
bustior> hufnor of Tins.
In his more imaginative moments he
would create a world in which ne was
Sage, the avowed admirer Of Miss Nor
man. and the austere employer OF Tins
s-chauffeurs never took liberties with
the hair Of their employers. no matter
how knot like 1t might be worn.
With these day dreams the junior at
the Malcolm Sage Bureau would oc-
cupy the time when not actually en-
gagged either In the performance OF his
by no means arduous duties or in read
ling the highly colored detective stories
from which he drew his inspiration.
From behind the glass paneled door
would come the tick-tack Of Miss Nor
mans typewriter, whilst outside droned
the great symphony Of London, grow
ing into a crescendo as the door was
opened. dying away again as 1t fell to
once more, guided by an automatic self
closer.
From these reveries William Johnson
would be aroused either by peremptory
blasts upon the buzzer of the private
telephone or by the entry of client.
One morning, as he was hesitating be-
tween assuming the disguise Of a naval
!fiorid little man with purple jowl and
a white bristling moustache hurtled
through the swing door, followed by
tall spare man, whose clothing indi-
Gated his clerical calling.
Mr. Sage in?" demanded the little
man fiercely.
"Mr. SAge is engaged. sir" said the
Junior. his eyes upon the clergyman.
lin whose appearance there was some
thing that caused William johnson to
like him on the spot.
"Take my card in to him." said the
little, bristly man. Tell him that
Gen. Sir John Hackblock wishes to
see him Immediately" The tone was
suggestive Of the parade-ground
rather than a London office.
At that moment Gladys Norman ap-
peared through the glass-paneled
door. The clergyman Immediately re-
moved his hat, the general merely
turned as IL changing front to receive
a new foe.
/. Mr.. Sage will be engaged for about
a. Quarter Of an hour. l am his secre-
rary," she explained. She also looked
at the generals companion. wondering
what sort of teeth were behind that
gentle. yet firm. mouth Perhaps you
William Johnson returned to his
table and became engrossed. osten-
sfbly in the exploits of an indestruct-
ible trailer Of men: but really in
surreptitious examination Of the two
callers.
He had just succeeded in deducing
from their manner that they were
father and son and from the boots OF
the younger that he was low church
blasts on the telephone buzzer brought
him to his feet and half way across
the Office in what was practically one
movement. with Malcolm Sage there
were two things to be avoided-delay
in answering summons and unneces-
This way, sir" he said: and led
them through the 'glass-paneled door
to Malcolm Sage's private room.
his head Malcolm sage motioned his
visitors to be seated. In that one
movement his steel-colored eyes had
registered mental photograph OF the
two men. That glance embraced all
the details: the dark hair OF tne
younger. graying at the temples. the
dreamy gray eyes, the gentle curves
of a mouth that was. nevertheless,
capable of great sternness, and the
spare, almost lean frame: then the
.seIf-important. overbearing manner
30 ol1 "AiQh Anglican
ascetic, out-of-doors." was Malcolm
Sage's mental classification of the one.
thus unconsciously reversing william
Johnson's verdict The other he dis
missed as a pompous ass.
"You Mr.. Sage?" Sir John regarded
the bald conical head and gold-rimmed
spectacles as IL they had been unpol-
ished buttons on parade:
IT am Sir John Hackblock: this Is
my friend. the Rev. Geoffrey Callice.'
Again a slight inclination of the
head indicated that Malcolm Sage had
heard.
,damnable outrage" exploded the gen
seral. ITS inconceivable that In
"win you kindly be as brief as pos
tsible?" said Malcolm Sage. fondling
the lobe Of his left ear. Il can spare
only few minutes.
Sir John gasped. glared across at
him angrily: then. seeming to take
himself in hand. continued.
you've heard of the. Surrey cattle
,maiming outrages?" he inquired.
Malcolm Sage nodded.
swell. this morning a brood-mare
Of mine was found hacked about in
an unspeakable manner. "Oh. the
damn scoundrels!!' he burst out as he
jumped from his chair and began
pacing up and down the room.
,callice tells me the details" said
Malcolm Sage, evenly. You seem
little over-wrought"
."Overwrought! Dammit. SO would
beasts" In the army he was known
as Dammit Hackblock."
Mr.. Callica looked across to the
general who. nodding acquiescence.
proceeded to blow his nose violently.
as II to bid Malcolm Sage. defiance:
longing to Sir John was found mutt
lated In a terrible manner" Mr.. Cal.
lice paused: there was something in
his voice that caused Malcolm Sage to
from his face, his eyes flashed. and his
mouth was set in a stern, severe line.
r \ \
TN a voice that vibrated with feel
l. ing and suggested great self-re-
straint. Mr.. Callice proceeded to tell
the story Of the latest outrage. How,
when found that morning, the mare
was still alive. of the terrible nature
of her injuries, and that the perpe-
traitor had disappeared, leaving no
trace.
eral broke in. Her eyes have haunted
Thev-