The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-11-07

made Barton wheeiock guilty. TIA
man and woman actually appearing IN
the crime were represented as evil as
sociates into whose company the youth
had unhappily fallen.
"Fain," said l over the phone, what
do you make of thisT'
Marvellous. marvellous coincidence"
said he.
Hold the story" said l. I'VE can't
print 1t now. It's too coineident alto
gether. I'll give you another as soon
as can"
tried to get Barton Wheelock over
the phone, but was told that he was
downtown-at Burdick's, as l inferred.
Half an hour later 1 walked into the
jewelers. store, and the door had not
closed behind me when a voice cried.
That's himv'
Mr.. Burdick had identified me as the
suspicious visitor and he demanded
my arrest, but Detective Hebron of
headquarters, whom ] 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 in conclusion, 'the
bogus Wallets manner and indeed his
language are precisely the same as In
the story. The telephone trick is iden-
teal 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"
Hebron solemnly shook his head.
"This amt no coincidence" he said
81 been on the force too long to swal
Ter that. Who's seen that story? That's
what l want to know"
Nobody" said 1. 81 didn't show II
to a mortal creature until I sent Il
down by the boy this evening"
who's been In your Office mean
while?'
THE janltor," began. but hi
laughed.
This amt no janitor's job" he said
Anybody elseT'
Nobody but Barton Wheelock," said
| 1, smiling, land he didn't see the story
He didn't know was writing it."
Hebron rubbed his head in a spo
that he has nearly denuded by thi'
habit.
well go up to your place." he said
1.-THE key to the whole case is there"
Suggestion is queer matter, ant
one who writes stories sees many of 1T
wonders. AS the germ of this affai
had sprung out of Barton Wheelock
mention of his errand, so the solution
| came out of that last sentence utteret
by the detective.
"Give me the best description 20,
can of the man who posed as thu
valet" said to Burdick, and he com
piled with great particularly.
II knew him with a beard and mus
tache," / rejoined, "but it's the sam
man."
what do you mean?" demands
Hebron.
II agree with you," said l, "tha
it's a perfect certainty that the mai
who committed this theft got his sug
gestion from my story. Now, VIII
could have seen it? The thing has bee
locked in my office-locked in my desl
The desk belonged to my predecessor
a little shystering lawyer with ba
reputation, a fellow named Elwood
A minute ago you spoke of the key t
the mystery. My mind seized tn
word. Elwood still has key to tn
office and key to the desk. He wa
to come to see me about money for tn
desk last week. Indeed, | heard tina
he was there, but did not meet hin
Beyond doubt he walked into m
office to wait for me, opened my des
out of curiosity, saw my memorandum
about the Wheelock diamonds, contain
ing the true facts, and my story col
tanning the suggestion"
At this point Hebron slapped m
shoulder so hard that I've been lam
ever since.
"The man, for a thousand dollars!
he cried II believe / know him."
. To cut the story short, they arreste
Elwood and his wife in Richmond, Va