The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-02-20

notes?": I asked. ,.~< =.
"No," said Startling. j..
"Then will You go to the bank to get
them?" I said. ::1Il' be round at the Of
flee in a quarter of an hour"
"Whom are you talking to like that p
cried Startling. II don't know what you
mean. It's a bit too thick. Absolute
~"
II beg pardon" I said. :"But I've got
an idea. Do go. I'll explain all to you
"A]l right" he said. ."But it beats me
absolutely"
I left Startling on his way to get the
numbers of the notes, and turned my
steps to B~lumenthaPs Office. It was
just 2 when 1 got there, the time of the
| appointment. An old dirty looking clerk.
| whom I had seen before, was in the
| clerks office.
"'Mr. Blumenthal ready?" I asked.
"I've called to complete. The appoint
ment is for g."
I thought the old mar looked startled.
CPL see," he said. He passed through
a green haize door, and came back al
most instantly. "Mr. Blumenthal is out
at lunch," he said. II expect him back
| CSCAy Iii VII HOu Ky 1ALO III
room and sit down."
mo, thank you," I replied. "1'll wait
here"
Again I thought the old clerk looked
startled. but he said nothing.
"We might be checking the deeds with
the schedule" I suggested.
"They're locked up in the SAFE" said
the old fellow. And Mr.. B~lumenthal's
got the key"
About 2:l5 I saw a tall, lean man pass
the window and give a searching glance
within. He came along the passage
straight into the clerks Office. He
stopped short when he saw me.
"Who's this. Moscnthal?" he asked.
I took the answer upon myself.
"Mr. Claybrooke, from Chapman 4
Chapman, to complete l said.
"What's that?" he cried. Il beg your
PARDON" he continued; "but I've just
had an accident. Would you mind MAX
ing the completion tomorrow
"We won't pay interest,"" I said.
"No, that's ali right" he agreed.
every good" said I. 1.-TWO o'clock to-
morrow. Will that suit you? Thank
you. Good day."
I found Starring in his room. Ic
looked up as I entered.
cts all your fault, absolutely" ne
said. "If you'd met me at the bank as
l told you, it wouldn't have happened.
Now you've about broken up the show"
"Look here" I said. "Never mind that
now. DO you al to get the money
back? I fancy I know where it is"
"Rot!" said he.
"'Have you got the numbers of the
notes" I asked.
eyes" said he.
"Then come round to Bow street," I
cried. "Tm going to apply for a search
warrant over Blumenthal's office and
house."
"You're mad!" he cried.
"Comc on" 1 urged. "Tll tell you all
about it on the way round"
or course, all the police officials threw
difficulties in the way of an immediate
| application to the bench, but experience
had taught me how to deal with them;
and I was presently sworn and unfolding
my tale in the witness box, and making
my application to courteous old Sir john
Bridge.
"It's an extraordinary story" said Sir
John: II suppose you know you are run
MI 6 some risk if you are mistaken"
"l'n take that" said I. "What I ask
for is a search warrant for the notes
specified in this list"
every we'll" again said Sir John. "You
may as we'll take Burnaby with you as
we'll as the warrant officer. I find he
knows something Of this Mr.. Blumen-
ti1al."
He signed the warrant and handed it
over to Burnaby. We picked up the
warrant officer, and all three got into
the first hanson we came across. Star
ling went back to the office.
Old Mosenthal met us at the door.
Burnaby pushed him aside with a word
to Jones, the warrant officer, to keep an
eye upon him, and went straight through
into the inner office. Blumenthal was
sitting in his office chair, making a pre-
tense to busy himself about some papers
on the desk.
"Hallo!" he cried. "What's this?"
Burnaby produced the warrant, and
explained.
Biumenthal roared with laughter.
"That's good" he said. "Your Mr..
Startling gets robbed, and then tries TO
compromise met"
Now we had not mentioned that Star
ling had been robbed. Burnaby looked
at me and winked.
"Just open that safe," he said.
"Open it yourself" said Blumenthal.
There was not a sign of the notes in
the safe. When we had gone through
this we turned cur attention to the rest
of the room.
Suddenly Burnaby paused. He looked
at the fireplace, where only a few en-
bers smouldered.
"Allow me to make up your fire." he
said.
Certainly" replied Blumenthal, but
I thought with al i'll grace.
Burnaby went on his knees. As ne
did so Blumenthal rose from his chair.
Instead of making up the fire the detcc-
tive thrust his arm up the chimney
and then B%lumenthal was on him.
Between us we soon mastered the law.
yer.
Then Burnaby said, "Perhaps you'd
like to find the notes yourself. I don't
think there's anv Doubt that thew are