C._vide_ (=see) Scrap-Book _circa_ (=about) 1881.
With a sharp exclamation of delight, Brereton turned over the pages of that queer record of crime and detection until he came to one over which the figure 1881 stood out boldly.

A turn or two more of pages, and he had found what he wanted.

There it was--a long cutting from what was evidently a local newspaper--a cutting which extended over two or three leaves of the book--and at the end a memorandum in Kitely's handwriting, evidently made some years before.

The editor of that local newspaper had considered the case which Kitely had so carefully scissored from his columns worthy of four headlines in big capitals:-- THE BUILDING SOCIETY DEFALCATIONS MALLOWS AND CHIDFORTH AT THE WILCHESTER ASSIZES VERDICT AND SENTENCE Brereton settled down to a careful reading of the report.

There was really nothing very remarkable about it--nothing exciting nor sensational.