The suburban citizen., 1902-05-03
Gutbrsg Guy Clarke
Benson.
C6V 1E hear a great deal about
NM the Russian detective
" " and how he will fol-
low n rnuctarty 70 Tho

" and how he will fol-
low a mystery to the
end of the EARTH" said a gentleman
the other day in the smoking depart
ment of a drawing-room car on an
Eastern railroad. Its my opinion
that our detectives right here in
America are about as wideawake as
any in the world"
"D'you think so?' said a red whis.
kereN man seated by the window, in
tone indicating that he was of a
different opinion.
Il am sure of it," said the other.
II am aware that Scotland Yard is
held up as a model for detective work,
but Scotland Yard could learn any day
from some Of our frst-class detective
agencies"
What d'you know about it any
wayT asked the red whiskered man.
well, our firm was robbed several
years ago Of some securities-we're
stockbrokers-and / was the member
Of the firm who took the matter in
charge. found a detective who traced
the thief in no time and recovered all
the property. He was smart as chain
lightning. He told me Of many intri-
cate cases he had followed, showing
me just how be had worked them up.
He said they were blind as bats at
Scotland Yard"
The man by the window gave a 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 whls-
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 a case?"
The man turned and looked out OF
the window but he was evidently a
loyal Briton and could not bear to hear
any Sritlsh institution attacked
III do it," he said, turning from the
scene without. "One OF my intimate
friends, Lord Blandery, gave a party
at his country seat, and / was among
the guests. The morning we were all
TO leave, the family jewels were miss
ing. There were fifty guests about to
depart and one Of them might be the
thief. Lord Blandery didn't like to
propose a search, but l have a fancy
for detective work and made UP my
mind to spot the thief. Lord Blan-
derry acceded to my request to permit
no one TO leave the house until | gave
the word, then told me all about the
missing property, showing me a few
things that were left.
Here he said among other things.
is a mosaic sleeve button. The other
has been stolen. i bought them in
Rome several years ago..
"'There is clew,' said, in case we
fail to find the thief here. I'll take it
to man | know in Scotland Yard,
and III lay you a 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 l left the sleeve button at Scot.
land Yard.
Soon after Lord Blandery's valet
found another place and left his lord
ships services. One month later he
was found dancing at servants ball,
wearing a mosaic scarfpin. A 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 single sleeve button, had had II
turned into a scarfpin. Lord Blandery
recovered a hundred thousand pounds
worth Of iewelry and paid me the
wager and I secured the scarfpn
from Scotland Yard as a memento"
Il don't believe that yarn said the
champion Of the American detective.