A Novel Chase.

A Novel Chase .

SlfpUgpijIl DO not possess the scientific knowledge of Sherlock : •'E ^ f JJM' Holmes noi * the detective experience of Hewit , there-¦ S gj | gjj | i fore I must claim the indulgence of my readers for the j ; ' sal Kali purely amateurish style in which I executed a rather * . Cr ^^ ' difficult commission , which , no doubt , would have been better placed in the hands of either of the above named gentlemen .

I may say that I occupy a confidential position in the house of Warren & Co ., large export merchants , whose chief offices are situated in one of the many courts near to the Bank of England , with branch establishments in various seaports in Europe and Asia .

On many occasions it has been my duty to visit these foreign branches , for the purpose of adjusting little irregularities and other matters requiring tact and discreet management , and the success which has invariably attended my efforts has won for ihe the entire confidence of my employers .

One morning on entering the office 1 was surprised to find that the senior partner had arrived before me , and had left a message that lie desired to see me in his private room immediately I arrived . I at once presented myself at the door of the private sanctum ,

and , on being admitted , found air . Warren closely engaged upon the examination of some documents . Without looking up he greeted me with the usual " Good morning Mr . Rowlands , " and then desired me to draw a chair nearer to him so that I could have a view of the papei-s he had before him .

" Well , " said he , " I have been most anxious to have your opinion and advice upon a matter which is outside onr own business , and may possibly necessitate your having to cross the Atlantic ; and as time is pressing I will state briefly the facts of the case which are as follows :

"My old and valued friends General and Mrs . Ralei gh are now in sore distress . Their only son about 25 years of age , who held a commission in a crack cavalry regiment , has quarrelled with his Colonel over some gambling transaction , has sent in his papers and left the Regiment some three months since , and after having drawn from a London Bank a considerable sum of money which" stood to his credit , has disappeared , leaving not the sli ghest trace , beyond having exchanged some of the notes at various banks and hotels " for gold .

'" The matter has been placed ' in the hands of a private enquiry office , who have not onl y spent large sums in advertising , but have also visited Monte Carlo and the principal gambling places on the Continent , without success . " " Last week , however , a bank note , which turns out to be one of

those drawn from the London bank by young Raleigh , was handed into a Liverpool bank by a large Atlantic Steamship Company who are unable to say from whom it was received by them , as it was paid amongst many others for passage money and freights during the previous few days .

" Both General and Airs . Raleigh are , as you may suppose , anxious to follow up even the slightest clue . At the same time they are desirous of avoiding putting the matter again in the hands of detectives , as they shrink from the idea of hunting up their boy by the aid of the police .

"As we are not at the present time overburdened with business , I promised the General , who brought the note to my house yesterday , to ask you to assist in unravelling the mystery . Of course everything must be conducted with the strictest privacy . " I was not , on the spur of the moment , prepared to say how far I

felt capable of rendering assistance , bnt promised to consider the matter and let them have my decision that afternoon , in the meantime I ueggpd to be placed in possession of the private inquiry office reports anu other papei-s relating to the case , amongst them were three photographs and the returned five pound note .

A Novel Chase.

Taking these to my private ofiice and giving instructions to the clerks that 1 was not to be disturbed , I carefully examined the documents . The reports were of the usual character , full of hope , but no positive clue . Then I had a good look at the note ; certain characters and figures very faintly written in pencil arrested my attention .

Within an hour I had another interview with Mr . Warren , and agreed to undertake the enquiry ; but beyond stating that I should start that evening for Liverpool , I would not give him any idea at present where I should proceed afterwards . Ample means , with full powers , were placed in my hands , and the next morning I visited the shipping office where the note had been received .

None of the clerks were able to recognise the photos , nor could they give me any further information about the note ; they , however , gave me copies of the passengers' lists on their steamers which had left Liverpool for America that week . On returning to my hotel , T advised my employers that [ intended leaving Liverpool the next morning on the Moss Line Steamer forthe Mediterranean , and i * eqnesting to have letters sent to the post-office . Gibraltar , for the present .

During the five days on hoard I thought over the case in all its bearings . In the first place it occurred to me that as young Ralei gh had served in the army , he would most likely enlist into some regiment under an assumed name , and trust to his superior attain , ments and military knowledge for rapid promotion , and as Gibraltar

is a strong military station , I decided to make the depots there an early point in my search . Then , if young Raleigh had been on the Rock in any other character , I knew no one so likely to give ' me information in that respect , as the well known guide . Michael , I therefore determined in any case to secure his services if possible .

Immediately on landing I discovered Michael amongst the many guides and porters who swarm on the stage on the arrival of a steamer . I handed him my bag to convey to the Royal , and wait for me as I had several calls to make on my way there . The first p lace I made for was the post-office , and upon enquiry found a letter for me which had arrived that morning . Amongst

other matters it contained * a letter of introduction to an officer in the Highlanders , then in garrison , who had been a schoolfellow of young Raleig h ' s . I next called upon a friend , and from him received an invitation to visit the Masonic Lodge , of which he was a member , that same evening . This was precisely what I wanted , as I knew from

previous experience that many of the officers and non-commissioned officers in the garrison were members of the Craft , and no donbt some of them would be \ n * esent at the meeting , from whom I hoped to gain information in furtherance . of my seai * ch . I had also another reason as will be seen presently for visiting that particular Lodge .

. After calling upon other friends and refreshing the inner man at the Royal , I made my way to the Masonic Rooms on the Alameda , where I was duly vouched for and admitted ; as I surmised there was a good muster of soldiers present . Holding a somewhat distinguished rank in the Craft , I was introduced to most of the officers , and from them received invitations to visit them at their several barracks

which I accepted , as this wonld give me a chance of inspecting the men , especially the recruits on parade . During the evening I found an opportunity for looking over the names in the attendance book , and on comparing them with the passenger list I got in Liverpool , I discovered the name of one man amongst them , who had booked for America on the day the note was paid in at the shipping office , thus giving me a good clue as to the bank-note : for the mark and Nos . I

discovered on that note were ? 278 , which to any one skilled in the mysteries of the Craft would indicate the Lodge bearing that number , and which I knew was held on thc Rock . Upon inquiry I found from the gentleman who had introduced the individual as a visitor , that they had met on the steamer coming from Tangiers , and finding him to be a Mason he had g iven him an invitation to visit the Lodge . I casually asked whether he had noticed anything particular about that invitation , when he stated that as neither

Ad03202

PictureFrap,|fan§'Mficates,fe,FinnedtoanyDesign. H."MORELL, 17&18,GREATST.ANDREWSTREET,BLOOMSBURY,LONDON,W.C. Importer aud Manufacturer of ALLKINDSOFPICTUREFRAMEANUKOOMMOULDINGS, CARVER,GILDER,ANDMOUNTCUTTER, Having * the Largest Stock in the United Kingdom , and a large staff of experienced Workmen , is able to execute all orders at the lowest ratft with dispatch . Send for Pattern Book , containing all the newest Designs , 95 Pages , Post free for Six Penny Stamps . ESTIMATES QIVEN , TELEQRAM 8 , " BABBITRY , LONDON . "