Evening star., 1930-06-22

his coat he had ben sent, in company
with another young officer, to arrest a youth
ful inventor who earned more than q compe-
tence by methods which were dspleasing to the
police. Not machines nor ingenious contriv-
anceS for saving labor did this young man in
Vent-but stories. And they were not stories
fn the accepted sense of the word, for they were
miSStatementS designed to extract money from
the pockets of smple-mnded men and women.
Dir. Elter employed fewer than IS aliases
and many addresses in the broadcaStng of
his fiction, and he was on the way to amaSsng
. considerable fortune when a square-toed
Nemesis took him by the arm and led him to
ttse seat of justice. An unSympathetic judge
sent Mr.. Elter to 7 years penal servitude
describing him unconscionable Swindler
and a menace to society-at which Willie Elter
smiled for he had skin beside which the
elephants gosSamer silk.
Mr. Reeder remembered the case chiefly be-
cauSe the prosecuting attorney. commenting
upon the various DISCUSSES and Subterfuges
which the prisoner had adopted, remarked upon
popularity which was revealed in every part
which the convict had played-his inability to
spell "able," which he invariably wrote as
though he were naming the victim of Gains
envy
''There is this identity to be discovered in
every criminal however ingenious he may be-
he had said. Whatever his disguise, no mat
ter how cleverly he associates one role or pose
ness common to every character he affects and
especially is this observable in criminals who
live by fraud and trickery"
THIS Mr.. Reeder remembered throughout his
- useful life. Few people knew that he had
ever been associated with the district attorneys
Office. He himself evaded any question that
was put to him on the subject. 1t was his
amiable trait to pretend that he was the
Fiacf hat n fo ~
lection of wrongdoing was to be traced to his
own evil mind that saw wrong very often
where no wrong was
He wrong in so many apparently inno-
cent acts Of man that it was well for his repu-
eation that those who were acquainted with
and pitied him because Of his seeming made
quacy and unattractive appearance did not
know what dark thoughts filled his mind
There was very pretty girl who lived at a
boarding house in his street. He did not like
Miss Margaret Belman because she was pretty,
but because she was sensible; two terms which
are as a rule antagonistic. He liked her so
well that he often travelled home with her
and they used to discuss the President, the
nigh cost of living, and other tender subjects
with great animation. It was from Miss Belman
that he learned about his fellow boarder Mrs.
Carlin, and one evening he travelled home with
her-a frai slim girl with experience in her
face and the hint of tragedy in her fine eyes.
. So it happened that he knew all about Mr..
Harry Carln long before Eastleigh the million
aire oil man, sent for him, for Mr.. Reeder had
the gift of evoking condolences by the suggestion
rather than the expression of his sympathy.
She spoke of her husband without bitterness
but also without regret. She knew him rather
well, despite the ShortneSS at their married
life. She hinted once, and Inadvertently that
there was rich relation to whose wealth her
husband would be heir if ne we're a normal
k~Nnw
great fortune and penniless. She was at such
paTns to rectify her statement that Mr.. Reeder
was assured of her sincerity
There came a slack time for the district at
boFney's office, when it seemed that sin had
gone out of the world; and Mr.. Reeder sat for
. week on end in his little room, twiddling his
thumbs or reading the advertisements columns
Of the Times. or drawing groteSque men upon
his blotting pad varying these performances
with the excursions he was in the habit of max
ing to those parts of New York which very few
people choose for their recreation. He loved
to poke about the slum areas which lie in the
neighborhood Of the river front.
One morning the district attorney sent for
his chief detective. and Mr.. Reeder obeyed the
summons with light step and pleasant sense
Of anticipation
Go and have a talk with Eastleigh," said
Ehe prosecutor. HE is rather worried about a
nephew Of his, Harry CarIin. Do you know the
name?"
MIR. Reeder shook his head; for the moment
he did not associate the pale girl who typed
for her living.
Hes pretty bad lot" explained the prose-
cutor, and unfortunately he's EastleighS heir
I rather imagine the old gentleman want; you
30 confirm his view"
/ Dear mel" said Mr. Reeder and stole forth
Eastleigh was bachelor and an immensely
rich man. Heavy investments in oil lands had
made him many times a millionaire He was
philanthropist, gave literally to institutions
S1<svoted to the care Of young children; he was
the founder of the Eastleight ChiIdren's Home
and subscribed literally to other similar insti-
tutions. thin, rather Sour-faced man he
giared up under his shaggy eyebrows as Mr..