Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Born Detective.
tOriginal.1

ana the detective proceeded:
"a Mr.. Towner came to me one day
to employ me. He had missed a valu-
able diamond from a safe he kept in
his house, the combination being
known to no onetbut himself, not even
to a member of his family. The safe
was an old one, with a letter combina-
ton. He was about to tell me the
word the letters spelled when
stopped him. l wanted 10 see If l
could pick the lock myself.
''I went with him To his house. new
one and fitted with a number of mod
ern contrivances. Only the safe was
old fashioned. 1 failed to pick the
lock. While it was old, 1t was u very
good one. 1 told Mr.. Towner that
some one except himself must have
known the combination, but he told
me that he had got it from his father
on his deathbed, and his father as
sured him that he alone knew it. The
son had never revealed 1t.
81 was absolutely without a clew The
only thing L could do was to take up
for n pointer. 1 was introduced by
Mr.. Towner as an old friend from
Australia and treated as q guest. No
one had seen me working on the lock,
of course, as this would have been IA
tai to my investigation.
"Mr TOwner was widower with sey-
eral children, the younger being under
the care of a governess. 1 soon became
suspicious of this young woman, for
no other reason than that 1 found she
was suspicious of me. ] often caught
her looking at me critically, and as
Mr.. Towner. You're a detective At
any rate these are the words l supplied
from her expression.
THE safe stood in n closet on one side
Of hall, and my sleeping room was
directly opposite. 1 could look at the
sleeper: besides I remained awake sew
eralanights till early morning. BY my
bed l kept long dressing gown and
pair of felt slippers to slip on in case
of need. L did not keep a light in my
room nor in the hall, as this would have
defeated my purpose.
zone night 1 was awakened by hear
ing a footstep overhead. Some one Is
astir,' l said. L must be ready
However, remained in bed for half an
hour, then. since no one came to tamper
with the safe, got up, put on my gown
eli nj 4YsI
the house. 1t was very dark, but L had
taken note of the rooms, doorways,
etc, so l got on. very well. Suddenly
heard the scratch of n match, and di-
rectly before me stood the governess.
~ beg your pardon said. L came
down for a biscuit When 1 can't sleep,
usually put something into my stom-
ach to start digestion and draw the
blood from the BRAIN
| "'Will you excuse me for saying that
don't believe your storyF she replied.
"Shc smiled as she spoke. She was
pretty girl and looked all the prettier
from a flannel robe she wore trimmed
with lace and her hair in a thick braid
hanging down her back. The match
was burning out. and l was about to
step to an electric button to turn on
the light when she stopped me.
81 am investigating something she
said, that is going on in this house
that has long puzzled me. If you turn
on the light, you may spoil my chance
to discover it this very night
"She was certainly very clever. 1
had failed to catch her in some theft,
and she had the presence of mind to
avert suspicion by pretending to be on
the lookout herself. 1t was plain that
the game was up for the time.
az have no wish to interfere with
your plans 1 said. If you'll give me
a biscuit, I'll go to bed
Lighting another match, she went to
the sideboard, for we were in the din
ing room, took out a few biscuits and
handed them to me.
"'PIease stay here awhile she said.
4 may want you TO confirm a story
"All right 1 said; but don't keep
me waiting all night
"As 1 heard nothing further 1 con-
cIuded she had gone out. There would
be no use in following her, as she was
thoroughly forewarned. What a pity
1 could not have discovered her with
out her discovering me. L lay down
on lounge and munched a biscuit.
Suddenly l felt hand on my arm.
"'Come,' said a voice which l knew
belonged to the governess.
"She hurried me upstairs to the end
of the hall on which was my sleeping
room. A light had been turned on
since had gone down, and there be-
fore the safe knelt Mr.. Towner. He
had just opened it and taken out some
thing-I could not see what it was
and closed the safe door.
""The rascal 1 muttered.
"'Not at all; he's asleep
eve followed him and saw him I'M
lock the door of small jewel vault so
concealed by panel that no one in the
house knew of it and place in it the
article he had taken from the safe.
"Well, the missing diamondwas found