Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-29
The Surrey Cattle
Manning Mystery


For the next half hour Malcolm Sage
pored over a volume OF press-cutting5
containing accounts of previous cattle
maiminss.
Without looking up from the book he
pressed three times in rapid succession
a button OF the private telephone. In
stantly Gladys Norman appeared, note
| book in hand. She had been heard to
remark that II she were dead three
| on the buzzer' would bring her to life
again.
Whitaker and Inspector wensdale."
said Malcolm Sage his eyes still on the
| book before him.
| When deep in a problem Malcolm
Sage's economy in words made it diff
/ cult for any one but his own staff to
| understand his requirements.
| Without a word the girl vanished and
a moment later. William Johnson
placed whitaksrs Almanack on the
table. then he in turn disappeared as 81
lently as Gladys Norman.
| Malcolm Sage turned to the calendar.
| and for some time studied the pages
| devoted to the current month tJune)
and July. As he closed the book there
were three buzzes from the house tel
! ephone, the signal that he was thru
| to the number required. Drawing the
pedestal instrument towards him. he,
| put the receiver to his car.
| That Inspector Wensdale? Yes!
! MI. Sage speaking. It's about tho cat
tie nfsimins business. I've Just
heard of 1t. =. I've not decided yet. l
want a larxe-scale map of the district.
with the exact spot of each outrage in
dicated. and the date. Tomorrow
! will do-Ycs. come round. Give me
half an hour with the map first
! Malcolm Sage replaced the receiver
/ as the buzzer sounded. announcing An
| other client
so there II nothing" Malcolm Sage
looked up enquirinsly from the map be-
fore him.
Nothing tina. even a stage detective
could turn into a clue" said Inspector
wensdale. a big. ciean-shaven msn
| with hard. alert eyes.
Malcolm Sage continued his study OF
the map.
They're getting bit restfve, too.
| at the Yard" the inspector continued.
I TT was this cattle-maiminE business
that sent poor old Scott's number up.
he added. referring 10 Detective In-pec-
tor Scotts failure to solve the mystery.
I Now the generals making terrible
row. Threatens me with the Commits
sioner.
For some seconds Malcolm Sage de-
voted himself to his designs.
In response to a question as To what
had been done, the inspector proceeded
l to detail how the whole ncixhhorhood
had been scoured aftc. each maimine.
and how. night After night. watchers
had been posted thruout the district.
hut without result.
II have had men out night and day"
continued the inspector sloomily. He's
a clever devil whoever he Is It's my
opinion the mans a lunatic." he added.
Malcolm Sage looked up slowly.
what makes you think THAR he
asked
His cunning. for one thing" WAS the
reply. Then it's so scnselcss. No."
he added with conviction. he's no more
an ordinary man than Jack-the-Ripper
WAS
He went on TO give details OF his In
quiries among those living In the dis
trict There was absolutely nothing TO
attach even the rcmotest suspicion TO
any particular person. Rewards had
been offered for information: but all
without producing the slightest evil
denoe or clue.
This man Hinds7" inquired Malcolm
Sage. looking about for more matches
oh, the generals got him on the
brain. Absolutely nothing In II. fve
turned him inside out. Why. even the
Deputy Commissioner had n so nj HIM.
and II he can get nothing out OF man.
there's nothing to get out"
We'll" said Malcolm SAGE. rising.
keep the fact to yourself that 7 am
Interested. I suppose, II necessary. you
could arrange for twenty or thirty men
TO run down there" he gucricd.
The whole blessed Yard II YOU like.
Mr.. Sage" was the feeling reply.
Wen leave /. at that for tho present.
then. BY tho way. II You happen to
think you see me in the neirhhorhood
you needn', remember that We are sc-
qusintcd."
The Inspector nodded comprehcnding-
~ and. with a heart lixhtsn~d some
what OF its burden. he departed.
For half an hour Malcolm Sare sa,
enerotscd in the map Of the scene Of
the waimirgs. ON " were n number
Of rcd-ink crosces with figures beneath.
In the left hand bottom corner was a
list of the various outrages. with tho
date and the time. as near as could be
approximsted. against each.
The numbers in the bottom corner
corresponded with those beneath the
crosses.
From time to time he referred II
the two copies OF whitskcr'r Alma mack
open before him. and maao notes upon
the writing-pad at his side. Finally he
ruled a square upon the map in red
! ink. and then drew two lines dis gonally
, from corner to corner. Then without
looking UP from the map, he pressed
ono Of the buttons of tho private tel
cphon.. Tins" no said thru the
, mouthpiece.
Five minutes later Malcolm SAge'-
chauffeur was standing opposite hir
chiefs table. ready to 20 anywhere and
do anything
Tomorrow will be Sunday. Tins"
Yes. sir"
we arc going ou. to Hewpdon. near
, Selford." Malcolm Sage continued
. Q MT n a IA f1r
ward and bent over to Identify the spot.
/ The car will break down. II viii take
YOU or any other mechanic two hours
10 put It right"
Yes. sir" said Tins. strengthening
himself.
You unde"s'.~d." said Malcolm,
sage. looking a. him sharply. You or