The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-09-12

man and woman actually appearing in
the crime were represented as evil as
sociates into whose company the youth
had unhappilF fallen.
"Fain." said 1 over the phone, what
do you make of this?'
Marvellous. marvellous coincidence"
said he.
Hold the story" said 1. I'VE can't
print it now. It's too coincident alto
gether. I'll give you another as soon
as l can"
I tried to get Barton Wheelock over
the phone, but was told that he was
downtown-at Burdick's, as inferred.
Half an hour later l walked into the
jewelers. store, and the door had not
closed behind me when a voice cried,
That's him.
Mr.. Burdick had identified me as the
my arrest. but Detective Heilbron of
headquarters, whom 1 had known for
nine years, hesitated about proceeding
to that extremity. The result was that
told the facts as they have been
stated here.
"Why," said I in conclusion "the
bogus Wallets manner and indeed his
language are precisely the same as in
the story. The telephone trick is iden-
tical even to rubbing out an address in
stead of putting the false one at the
end OF the list, where it might have ex-
cited suspicion"
Heilbron solemnly shook his head.
This amt no coincidence" he safd-
81 been on the force too long to swal-
Ter that. Who's seen that story? That's
what want to know"
Nobody" said l. Il didn't show 1t
to a mortal creature until l sent It
down by the boy this evening"
who's been In your office mean
whileT
THE janitor." I began. but he
laughed.
This amt no janitor's job" he said
Anybody elsey'
Nobody but Barton wheelock," said
I, smiling. "and he didn't see the story.
He didn't know was writing it"
HeiiDron rubbed his head In q spot
that he has nearly denuded by this
| habit.
II II
'The key to the whole case is there"
Suggestion is a queer matter. and
one who writes stories sees many Of Its
wonders. As the germ Of this affair
had sprung out of Barton Wheelock's
mention of his errand, SO the solution
came out of that last sentence uttered
by the detective.
"Give me the best description you
can of the man who posed rs the
| valet" said l to Burdick, and he COM
piled with great particuiarity.
81 knew him with a beard and mus
tache." l rejoined. .'but it's the same
man."
what do you meanY demanded
| Hebron
| "T agree with you" said l, that
it's a perfect certainty that the man
who committed this theft got his sug-
| gestion from my story. Now, who
| could have seen 1t? The thing has been
locked In my ofiice-locked in my desk.
The desk belonged to my predecessor.
a little shystering lawyer with bad
reputation, fellow named Elwood.
A minute ago you spoke of the key to
the mystery. My mind seized the
word. Elwood still has a key to the
Office and a key to the desk He was
to come to see me about money for the
desk last week. Indeed, l heard that
he was there. but did not meet him.
Beyond a doubt he walked into my
office to wait for me, opened my desk
out of curiosity, saw my memorandum
about the Wheelock diamonds, contain.
ing the true facts, and my story con-
tanning the suggestion"
At this point Heilbron slapped my
shoulder SO hard that I've been lame
| ever since.
"The man, for a thousand dollarsr'
he cried. Il believe l know him."
To cut the story short, they arrested
Elwood and his wife In Richmond, Va,