ious to discover a man's whereabouts before daylight, and we have
been led to believe that you are the only person who can give us the
necessary clue."

"Good gracious! But I shall be happy to serve you if I can," the little
man answered, leading the way into his dining-room with an air of
importance his appearance rather belied. "What is it?"

"Well, it's this," I replied, producing the piece of envelope and the
_Evening Mercury_. "You see these letters on the top of this paper,
don't you?" He nodded, his attention at once secured by seeing his own
name. "Well, that envelope was evidently purchased in your shop. So was
this newspaper."

"How can you tell that?"

"In the case of the envelope, by these letters; in that of the paper, by
your rubber stamp on the bottom."

"Ah! Well, now, and in what way can I help you?"

"We want to know the address of the man who bought them."

"That will surely be difficult. Can you give me any idea of what he was
like?"

"Tall, slightly foreign in appearance, distinctly handsome, sallow
complexion, very dark eyes, black hair, small hands and feet."

As my description progressed the little man's face brightened. Then he
cried with evident triumph--"I know the man; he came into the shop
yesterday afternoon."

"And his address is?"

His face fell again. His information was not quite as helpful as he had
expected it would be.

"There I can't help you, I'm sorry to say. He bought a packet of paper
and envelopes and the _Evening Mercury_ and then left the shop. I was so
struck by his appearance that I went to the door and watched him cross
the road."

"And in which direction did he go?"

"Over to Podgers' chemist shop across the way. That was the last I saw
of him."

"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maxwell," I said, shaking him by the hand. "But
I'm sorry you can't tell us something more definite about him." Then
turning to the Inspector: "I suppose we had better go off and find
Podgers. But if we have to spend much more time in rushing about like
this we shall be certain to lose them altogether."

"Let us be off to Podgers', then, as fast as we can go."

Bidding Mr. Maxwell good-bye, we set off again, and in ten minutes had
arrived at the shop and had Mr. Podgers downstairs. We explained our
errand briefly, and gave a minute description of the man we wanted.

"I remember him perfectly," said the sedate Podgers. "He came into my
shop last night and purchased a bottle of chlor