The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-20

time with him by telephone, and giving
his telephone number.
I closed my talk with my sister As
quickly az decently could and hastened
to the central office. Learning the name
Of the subscriber who had the number
the voice had given, was surprised to
find 1t was that Of a druggist on the hill.
This did not bear out my theory, but
Travelled to the store to find it one of the
superior sort. 1t required the exercise OF
no little skill to discover who had talked
through the telephone an hour previously
on a musical subject, but 1t came out in the
end, and was told that it was a profess
sional musician known as Elmer Moies-
WORTH occupying apartments on a floor
above the store.
Inquiries in the neighborhood showed
that the musician was held in esteem as
an industrious, upright man. I learned,
however, that more than once he had been
one of a stringed quartette at musical
gatherings at Weltwerter's. Armed with
this fact l now sought Miss Weltwerter
and forced her to the admission that she
had recognized Molesworth's voice in that
OF the record, but was not willing to be-
ieve it. From her, also, learned val
liable fact. She had, as a precious relic,
sheet or two Of original music manu-
script by Mozart, which she kept in the
safe in the dining room. On the occasion
of musicale at their house once she had
talked to Wordsworth of this, and taking
the musician to the safe had opened it be-
fore him to show it. I saw now how
Wordsworth had obtained the combination
and knowledge of the contents Of the
safe. By little strategy in a few days
l obtained note from MolesWorth, so that
I was enabled to make comparison with
the writing on the music sheet and to See
a marked resemblance.
T. 49,
here Weltwerter stepped in. He feared
If arrest were made his papers would be
lost, and he preferred their recovery be-
fore everything-said he would sacrifice
everything for them-his plate, valuables
and even his loved Amati. He begged me
to undertake their recovery. So l began
my detective career by compromising
felony. I visited Wordsworth in his apart
ments, and bluntly charged him with the
burglary. He was cool and self-possessed
He denied my charge Indignantly, but L
told him the story Of his deed and the
methods Of its accomplishment, step by
step, and how I had been led to fix upon
him. All this time my eyes had been busy
about the room AS I had assembled the
stairs l had heard the sound Of violin,
but I saw none. Beside his desk was
shawl on the floor, and something seemed
to be under 1t. Suddenly I sprang up and
lifted that shawl Under It was violin.
Wordsworth turned pale, and I, lifting the
instrument and pointing to a mark on 1t,
said dramatically: IT was the temptation
to possess this Amai that led you into
the crime He wilted at once. followed
up my advantage by promising him on
behalf Of Weltwerter immunity, silence
and safety If he would return what he had
taken, and he broke down and confessed.
THAT afternoon I returned the priced
papers and the Amati to the brewer. The
plate had been disposed Of or destroyed,
and Weltwerter highly pleased over his
recoveries, let 1t go. He gave me hand
some fee.
This started me on my career. for
Weltwerter, with an exaggerated idea of
my abilities, called me to ferret out
leak IN the funds of a bank of which he
was a director, and in which I was sue
cessful. This led to similar employments,
until now l am a full-fedged consulting
detective, who puts the public officer on
the right track, though I maintain my
lawyers shingle on Court street as be-
fore.
''Weltwerter's papers? Oh, neither you
nor I would care for them. They were
proofs Of his rights to an estate Of rocks
and trees and a ruined castle in Germany
and to the title of the family from which
he was descended. To obtain the money
with which to support them he had brew
ed beer in this country. He has sold out
to a trust, believe, and IS going to Ger
many soon"