The Washington times., 1922-07-23
MADDENEDI BY
MYSTERY
A Complete Detective Story
Bv STEPHEN LEACOCK

detective. his usually impassive
features suffused with q carT"'ne
blush.
'I bred him." said the countess.
"and I've got $50. 900 on his
chances. so no wonder want him
back In Paris. Only. listen." she
said. ''If they've got hold Of the
prince and cut his tail, or spoilt the
markings on his stomach. It would
be better far to have him quietly
put out OF the way here" g..
The great detective reeled and
/leant up against the side of the
room. The cold-biooded admission
OF the beautiful woman for the mo-
nent took away his breath.
The countess resumed her, tiara.
She left. ",
The secretary re-entered.
81 have three kilograms from
Paris" he said. They are, COM
pletely battling" .,.
He handed over the first Ssle-
gram.
II read:
1.-The Prince Of wurttemberg has
q long. wet snout, broad ears. very
long body and short hind legs.
The great detective looked pug
zled.
He read the second telegram:
The Prince Of wurttemberg can
be recognized by the patch Of
white hair across the center of
his back.
The two men looked at ono
another. The mystery was mad.
dsning. impenetrable.
The great detective spoke.
''Give me my domino" he said.
These clues must be followed
up"
Then. pausing. white his quick
brain analysed and summed up
the evidence before him
~ young man." he muttered.
evidently young. since described
as a pup with q long wet snout
Chs! addicted. obviously to drink
ing), a streak of white hair across
his back "a first sign of his aban.
doned lifet-yes. yes" he con-
tinued. with this clue shall
find him easily"
He wrapped himself in a long
black cloth with white spectacles
attached.
For four days he visited every
corner in London.
He entered every public-houss
in the metropolis. Nobody paid
any attention to him 90 long as
he had the price Of a drink.
The search proved fruitless.
Secretly. after nightfal. the
great detective made his way into
the home OF the prime minister.
He examined It from top to bot
tom. He found nothing.
Still undismayed. the great de-
tective made his way into the
home Of the Countess Of Dash.
leigh. Disguised as q housemaid.
he entered the service Of. the
countess.
Then at last the clue came
which gave him q solution Of the
mystery.
On the wall of the countess
boudoir was . large framed en-
craving. II was portrait
Under It was . printed legend
The Prince Of wurttsmberE."
ONLY A FLOOR DUsTER.
The portrait was that Of .
dachshund. The ioAg body. tho
broad ears, tho unciipped tail. the
short hind legs. all were there. In
the fraction Of a second the great
detective had penetrated the whole
mystery.
The prince was q dog!
Hastily throwing a domino over
his housemaid's dress. he rushed
to the street, summoned . passing
taxi, and In a few moments was
at his own house.
'T have itr' he gasped to his
secretary. The mystery 10 solv-
ed. I have pieced It all together.
BY sheer analysis have reason
cd It out. Listen-hind legs. hair
on back, wet snout, pup-eh,
what7 Does that suggest nothing
to your"
Nothing said the secretary.
"It seems perfectly hopeless"
The great detective. now rsoov-
cred from his excitement. smiled
family. g..
''It simply means this, my dear
fellow. The Prince of, Wurttem-
berg 10 a dog. a prize dachshund.
The Countess Of Dashleigh bred
him. and he is worth some $780,
900. in addition to the prize Of
$4,000 offered at the Paris dog
show. Can you wonder that"
At that moment the detective
was interrupted by the scream
Of a woman.
Great heavenr' The Countess