The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-16

tastic talk, Mr.. Holiness" he said. IF
you can catch the man, catch him,
and let me know when you have done
it."
Certainly" said Holmes, stepping
over and turning the key in the door,
Il let you know, then, that / have
caught him!"
What where7" shouted Mr.. windi-
bank, turning white to his lips, and
glancing about him like a rat in
trap.
"Oh, it won't do-really it won't"
said Holmes, suavely There is no
possible getting out of it, Mr. Windi-
bank. 1t is quite too transparent, and
it was a very bad compliment when
you said that it was impossible for me
to solve so simple question. That's
right! Sit down. and let US talk it
over
Our visitor collapsed into a chair.
with CHASTITY face, and glitter of
moisture on his brow Tits not
actionable," he stammered
Il am very much afraid that it is
not. But between ourselves, Windi-
bank, it was as cruel and selfish and
ever came before me- Now, let me
just run over the course of events, and
you will contradict me il I go wrong"
The man sat huddled up in his chair,
with his head sunk upon his breast,
like one who is utterly crushed Mr.
Holmes stuck his feet up on the cor
ner of the mantel-piece, and, leaning
back with his hands in his pockets,
began talking. rather to himself, as it
seemed, than to us.
The man married a woman very
much older than himself for her mon
ey," said he, land he enjoyed the use
of the money of the daughter as long
as she lived with them. 1t was a con-
siderable sum. for people in their po-
sitlon, and the loss of it would have
made a serious difference. 1t was
worth an effort to preserve it. The
daughter was of a good, amiable dis
position, but affectionate and warm
hearted in her ways, so that it was
evident that with her fair personal ad-
vantages, and her little income, she
would not be allowed to remain single
long. Now her marriage would
mean, of course the loss of a hundred
year, so what does her stepfather
do to prevent it? He takes the obvi-
GUS course of keeping her at home,
and fsrbidding her to seek the COM
pany of people of her own age But
soon he found that that would not
answer forever. She became FESTIVE,
insisted upon her rights, and finally
announced her positive intention of
going to certain ball What does
her clever stepfather do then? He
conceives an idea more creditable to
his head than to his heart. With the
conn1vance and assistance of his wife
he disguised himself, covered those
keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked
the face with mustache and a pair
OF bushy whiskers, sunk that clear
voice into an insinuating whisper, and
doubly secure on account of the girls
short sight, he appears as Mr.. Hos
mer Angel, and keeps off other lovers
by making love himself"
1T was only joke at first" groan-
ed our visitor. I'VE never thought
that she would have been so carried
away"
Very likely not. However that
may be, the young lady was very de-
cldedly carried away, and having quite
made up her mind that her stepfather
was in France, the suspicion of
treachery never for an instant entered
her mind. She was flattered by the
gentleman's attentions, and the effect
was Increased by the loudly expressed
admiration of her mother Then Mr..
Angel began to call, for it was obvi-
Gus that the matter should be pushed
as far as it would go, if a real effect
were to be produced. There were