Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-31
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Guthrey Guy
Clarke-Benson

|
eve hear great deal about the
Russian detective and how he will
follow n mystery to the end of the
EARTH" said a gentleman the other day
In the smoking compartment of Il
drawing room car on the New York
| Central railroad. Its my opinion
that our detectives right here in Amer
lea are about as wideawake as any in
the world
"D'you think so?" said n red wills
kered man seated by the window in Il
tone indicating that he was Of diff
ferent opinion.
Il am sure of it, said the other.
Il am aware that Scotland Yard is
held up as n model for detective work,
but Scotland Yard could learn any
day from some of our first class de-
tective agencies"
What d'you know about it any
Way" asked the red whiskered man.
We'll, our firm was robbed several
years ago of some securitieS-we're
northumberland l was the member
of the firm who took the matter in
charge. l found a detective who trac-
ed the thief in no time and recovered
all the property. He was smart as
chain lightning. He told me of many
intricate cases he had followed, show
ing me just how he had worked them
up. He said they were blind as bats
at Scotland Yard
The man by the window gave n
snort.
Many Englishmen are of the same
opinion" the speaker persisted. Scot
land Yard was once a home for re-
markable detective work. 1t is now
very much run down"
II know better" said the red whis-
kered man, goaded by this disparage-
ment. Scotland Yard is the best in
the world
How do you know
I've seen the way they work"
Perhaps you can cite Il case?"
The man turned and looked out OF
the window, but Ee was evidently Il
loyal Briton and could not bear TO
bear any British institution attacked.
IN do it, he said, turning from the
scene without. "One of my intimate
friends. Lord Blandery, gave party mt
bis country seat. and | was among the
guests. The morning we were all to
=.
There were fifty guests about TO de-
part, and one of them might be the
thief. Lord Blandery didn't like to pro-
pose a search, but have Il fancy for
detective work and made up my mind
to spot the thief. Lord Blandery ac-
coded 10 my request TO permit no one
to leave the house until l gave the
word, then told ME all about tie miss
ing property, showing me Il few things
that were left.
Here" he said, among other things,
is a mosaic sleeve button. The other
has been stolen. bought them in
Rome several years ago"
There is n clew,' l said lin case
we fail to find the thief here. Ill take
it to Il man 1 know in Scotland Yard |
and I'll lay you 4 hundred pounds he'll
return your jewelry. He'll find its
mate and by that means the thief"
Well, every guest was searched, |
leading the way. we took our leave. |
and / left the sleeve button at Scot
land Yard.
soon after Lord Blanderys valet |
found another place and left his lord |
ships services. One month later he |
was found dancing at Il servants ball. |
wearing Il mosaic scarfpin. y detec- |
tive from Scotland Yard who had kept |
an eye on him ever since he had left |
Lord Blandery walked up to him and |
placed the missing sleeve button be-
side the pin. They were identical. The |
valet, not being able to make use of Il |
single sleeve button. had had it turned |
into a scarfpin. Lord Blandery recov-
cred a hundred thousand pounds worth
Of jewelry and paid me the wager, and
{ secured the scarfpin from Scotland
Yard as n memento."
II don't believe that yarn" said the
champion of the American detective.
"I'H show you the pin. l have it
right here in my pocket" And. draw
ng out n small jewel box, he opened it
and produced a mosaic pin of a very
peculiar pattern.
Tom Rourke' said the doubter
you are the biggest liar in the world.
IS well as the biggest thief. You have
fallen a victim TO your insane desire to
Ivertop everybody else. For trying TO
Town me you'll get twenty years of
penal servitude when l get you back
% London. I've been following you
or six months. Here is the mate TO
FOUR transformed sleeve button
He pulled up his coat sleeve, and
here in one of his cuffs was mosaic
,utton, the counterpart of the pin.
"Who are your" exclaimed the
riend of Lord Blandery. paling
I'm Peter Yorke of Pinkertons.
Scotland Yard got this sleeve button
rom Lord Marivale. not Lord Blan-
lery, as you have named him. There
vas no valet in the case. but one of
ord Marivale's guests was Guthrey
iuy Clarke Benson, who had brought
orged letters of introduction from
Melbourne. Soon after the robbery Y
lie disappeared, aud the forgery was
discovered. 1t was believed that he
ad sailed for America. The remain
ne button was sent to our New York
flee. and / was put on the case.