The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-11-01

I HAHSS " HcaAo Vi an ticCtIiC NhO-
don't always let my clients into my Sc
crets at the outset of case, and Thought
1t best for the camera 10 remain clock
in Burt's eyes.
Placing the apparatus on the mantle
piece, made connection between the
shutter and the drawer where the "ca-
bles" lay, running the wire along the wall
and under the floor-cloth in such way
that it could not attract attention. If
any one opened the drawer / knew that
the lens would do its work, and that
should be in possession of a portrait Of
the opener.
There" l said, as l completed my ar
rangements, while Mr. Burt looked won
dering on, ''if any one pays visit to your
drawer while you are at the meeting
shall know it by means of this machine.
l will look in about four o'clock and ex-
anime it, before you have occasi on to
touch the drawer yourself"
As we left the room together | noticed
that window was open, and / called
| Mr.. Burt's attention to the fact.
"Oh, yes" he said, 81 like fresh air. I
always keep the window open. I see
what you are thinking about; but it is
moral impOssibiity for any one to enter
unseen that way. It could only be done
by means Of a ladder eighty feet long
placed in the center Of a crowded alley
below. See for yourself"
1t was true enough. The wall of the
lofty building ran sheer down into sort
OF alley or courtyard, through which was
public thoroughfara teeming with busi-
nessmen taking advantage of the short
cut" A ladder placed there would have
created an obstruction that would have
been promptly resented. So We went
our several ways, firm in the conviction
that the rOom was unass3ilable except
through the doorway.
At four o'clock l returned to Q1een
Victoria street, and found Mr. Bart wait
ing for me in the outer office. 0a pas
sing through the ante-room on our way
to to the private sanctum, 1 noticed that
Mr.. johnson was absent, and learned
that he had gone out to the bank on bis
principals return from the meeting. In
the private room everything was as We
had left it, and there was no apparent
trace ofany intrusion. But one glance
at the shutter Of my camera, told me
different story. Turning to Mr., Burt,
said
"YouT drawer has been opened during
your absence. 1t is only question of
time now. You viii know all about II
in day or two"
The fnancier wanted to write me big
check on account, SO oveTioyed was he to
fad that he was not the victim of a su-
pernatural agency. But bade him wait
till the morrow; l would report to him
further in the morning. Taking the cam
era went back TO my Office and repaired
to my dark room. l will not say that
felt any positive uncertainty as to whose
face should discover on the negative,
but will confess that l should not have
been surprised at seeing certain features
pressnt themselves in the process Of de-
veloF ment.
What was my astOnishment, then to
note as soon the details Of the pic began
to show up. that no living figure had
been present in Mr.. Burt's room at all
The desk came gradually into view; the
outline ofthe chair Sd owed Itself; and,
yet, the drawer was undoubtedly open,
but the tamperer was not there. Yet,
stay As developments, progressed,
minute objects began TO be visible, and a
faint line running from the drawer out
through the open window caught my
eye. CieTeF and clearer it grew, till at
any rate the method of the mystery was
revealed. The drawer had been opend
from the outside with the aid of long
bamboo rod. Whose hand had guided
it, and where had the unknown found
fOolhold?
The next morning was early at the
Office of Burt and Company. The finan-
eier greeted me effusively, the more so
when informed him that we were on
the eve Of discovery. All asked was to
be allowed to give my "clock" another
trial that afternoon.
Permission accorded, set the ap-
paratus so as to focus small window
high up in a building which formed a
right angle with the wall of Mr. Burt's
private room. Judging by the direction
that the rod took in the photograph, this
was the position whence it had been
manipulalated, and l had already ascer-
tanned that there was something queer
about the firm that occupied the one
room Office next door.
From the hall potter ! gathered that
the people were seldom there, and wers
rupposed only to use it as q business adj
dress. That afternoon the camera again
told ne that the mysterious inquirer bad
been at work, and knowing this time
from certain observation ! had kept, iat
should have something definite to tell
him, | promised Mr.. Burt TO call in the
evening at his house in sydenham.
This would give me time TO develop the
fresh negative, get a print from i: and so
arm myself with proof Of the assertion
a very disagreeb!e one-whieh l should
have TO make 10 my employer.
1t was nine O'Clock when 1 reached
Sydenham. Instead Of finding the
millionaire seated comfortably at dessert,
as had expected, he met me, looking
flushed and angry in the hall.
"Come in here, Zlm5ra," ho said,
leading me into the dining room. "YOu
may as well tell me all about it, though
baye a worse worry on my mind now.
Stay though; before You tell me any
thing about that little business. just read
that. may want to pat you on the
tack Of the villain
He placed a letter in my hands, and
read as follows after noting that the date
was Of the same day.
sDEAR Para Mr.. Solgyn and were
married this afternoon. Y5u see he has
made so much money lately that he can
afford it. Itold you there was lot in
thought reading. Hoping that you will
forgive Us, am,