Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-19
with his hrlrht littls .yaa

SUING uttio atleutloH. nave mere TOUR
letters which purport to come from
the missing man. They are oil type
written. In each case. not only are
the 's's' slurred and the RS taillcss. |
but you will observe. II you care to
use my magnifying lens, that the four
teen other characteristics to which /
have alluded are there as WE'LL
Mr.. Windibank sprang out Of his
chair, and picked up his hat II can
not waste time over this sort OF fan
tastic talk. Mr.. Holmes" no said. "If
you can catch the man. catch him,
ana 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 l have
caught himi"
What! where?" shouted Mr.. Windi-
bank. turning white to his lips, and
glancing about him like rat In a trap.
"Oh. it won't do-really it WON'T"
said Holmes. suavely. There Is no
possible getting out OF It, MIR. Windi-
bank. 1t is quite too transparent, and
it was very bad compliment when
you said that IL was impossible for mo
to solve 30 simple a question. That's
right! Sit down, and let us talk It
over"
Our visitor collapsed into a chair.
with a CHASTITY face. and glitter OF
moisture on his brow. Tits not
actionable," he stammered.
II am very much afraid that It is
not. But between ourselves. windi-
N ,,lr oh
heartless trick in petty way as
ever came before me. Now. let me
just run over the course OF events.
and you will contradict me IL 1 go
wrong"
The man sat huddled up In his
chair, with his head sunk upon his
breast. like one who is utterly crush
ed, Holmes stuck his feet up on the
corner OF the mantel-piece. and, lean
ing back with his hands in his pockets.
began talking, rather to himself, as Il
seemed, than TO us.
THE man married a woman very
much older than himself for her
money" said he, "and he enjoyed the
use OF the money of the daughter as
long as she lived with them. 1t was a
considerable sum, for people in their
position, and the loss OF it would have
made serious difference. 1t was
worth an effort TO preserve II. The
daughter was OF a good. amiable dis
position, but affectionate and warm
hearted in her ways, so that 1t was
evident that with her fair personal adj
vantages, and her little income, she
would not be allowed 10 remain single
long. Now her marriage would mean.
OF course, the loss OF a hundred a year.
so what does her stepfather do TO pre-
vent st? He takes the obvious course
OF keeping her at home. and forbiddinx
her TO seek the company 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 posi-
tive intention Of going to a certain
ball. What does her clever stepfather
do then? He conceives an idea more
creditable to his head than to his
heart. With the connivance and as
sistance of his wife he disguised HIM
self. covered those keen eyes with
tinted glasses, masked the face with a
mustache and pair Of bushy whisk-
ers. sunk that clear voice into an in.
sinuating whisper, and doubly secure
on account of the girls short sight, he
appears as Mr.. Hosmer Angel. and
keeps of other lovers by making love
himseE."
1T was only joke at first" groan-
ed our visitor. we never thought
that she would have been 80 carried
away"
Very likely not. However that may
be. the young lady was very decidedly
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 fattered by the gentleman's
attentions, and the effect was increas-
ed by the loudly expressed admiration
OF her mother. Then Mr.. Angel began
to call for il was obvious that the mat
ter should be pushed as far as it would
go. II real effect were TO be produc-
ed There were meetings, and an en-
gagement which would finally secure
the girls affections from turning
towards any one else. But the de-
ception could not be kept up for
ever. These pretended journeys tc
France Were rather cumbrous. The
thing to do was clearly to bring the
business to an end in such dramatic
manner that IL would leave q
permanent impression upon the young
lady's mind, and prevent her from
looking upon any other suitor fol-
some time TO come. Hence those Vows
OF fidelity exacted upon a Testament
81.
possibility of something happening OF
the very morning of the wedding
James Windibank wished Miss Suther
, land TO be 30 bound to Hosmer Angel
and 80 uncertain as to his fate tina
for ten years to come at any rate, sh,
would not listen to another man. A
far as the church door, he brough
her, and then, as he could 20 no far
Their, he conveniently vanished ava,
by the old trick Of stepping IN at on
door OF fourwheeler, and out at tn,
other. ] think that that was the chair
OF events. Mr.. Windibank."
Our visitor had recovered some
thing of his assurance while Holmes
had been talking, and he rose from hi
chair now with a bold sneer upon hi
pale face.
ut may be SO, or It may not, Mr.
Holmes" said he, "but II you are s.
very sharp, you ought TO be sharl
enough to-know that 1t Is you who ar
breaking the law now, and not me.
have done nothing actionable from
the nrst, but as long as you keep tina
door locked you lay yourself open t
an action for assault and Illegal con
straint."
THE law cannot. as you say, toucl
you" said Holmes. unlocking an
throwing omen the door mNet thar