Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-01-10
HIS RARE SKILL.


0ACK GREEN was reporter on
I'll a London paper, and in that ca
" pacity he solved the riddle of the
celebrated Sykes robbery case. The
story was printed from one end VI the
country to the other, and 1t made
hero Of Green. especially as he received
a slight wound from stray bullet In
the fracas that took place when Sykes
and his cOnfcderates were arrested.
His injury won him a months vaca.
ton, which he resolved to spend ut his
home In Kent. Ashford was not a very
lively place IN the winter, but Green
was not looking for recreation.
He wanted to sec Ethel Watson. who
In his opinion, was the sweetest ind
smartest girl In the world.
On the afternoon Of his seventh day
in Ashford Green drove up to the Wat.
son house to take Ethel for a drive.
There had been fine fall of snow the
night before. Ethel was standing by
the gate talking to Joe Sawyer. who
also was In love with her. but didn't
dare to say SO openly. Joe was a law
yer. and the only one in Ashford who
lad any practice.
Hello, Sherlock Holmcs" said the
lawyer. Have you heard the news?'
NO" answered Green, sourly.
I'm really surprised" said Sawyer.
you should have deducted It from the
state Of the atmosphere and the price
Of potatoes"
II haven't" responded Green.
J. Justice Hawkins house has been
robbed" said Ethel. land I think It's
positively providentIal that you're
here"
Green looked at Ethel and hc saw
that she expected him to perform, great
miracles. He looked at Sawyer and
saw something quite different.
Get In here. both Of YOU" sa;d
Green, "and well see what We can
do"
They drove to the Justices house.
A The robbery had been discovered by
old Mrs. Gubbins. a lifelong dependent
of the judges family, who went
through the house three or four times
II week to see that all was well. but did
not live there. She had reported the
case to the local pollce--a day and
night watchman--and these function.
aries were present. with dozen Of the
neighbors, when Green and his com.
spaniOns arrived.
Green consulted his watch. and then
he slowly walked into the hall. where
the old-fashioned safe built into the
wall gaped emptily. lie glanced around
with listlcss eye, while everybody
watched him. Then he walked Into the
parlor and stood for half a minute Ivy
the mantelplece.
From this room he passed through
all the others In the house. a slow pro.
cessi0n following him. Finally he led
them to the starting point. the broad
hall. and there he sat down upon the
stairs ana looked Mt his watch, which
he had consulted occasionally In the
course Of his stroll.
Nineteen minutes and n half" sud
Green. Mr.. Jones. I believe you are a
deputy sheriff of this county as well us
u constable Of the village. I will make
my report to You. sir. This robbery
was committed by two men who do
not live In Ashford, and who are not
here Mt present. Where they are
we will consider later.
zone Of them IL about six feet tall
and rather slender. He has red hair,
but il bald on the front part Of his
Uranium. He wore n long black over.
coat and heavy rubber OvershOes. The
little finger Of his right hand has been
broken ana Is bent almost double.
1T may interest YOU to know how I
discovered this. The thief is tall he.
cause he bumped his head on the
swinging lamp In the parlor. and that
10 about six feet from the floor. He
left upon It II small portion OF his SCALP
and one red hair. II he had not been
bald In front he would have left more
hair and less scalp
'"The prints of his OvershOes show In
the dust OH the floor of the kitchen
closet. The print Of his little finger is
In the dust on top Of that table. or was
before Joe Sawyer sat down on It,"
"There wasn't any dust here--not a
speckw exclaimed Sawyer, Jumping or
the table.
TT depends on the eye" responded
Green, calmly.
ITO continue: The other rObber was
short, thlck-set and dark. He wore a
pea jacket ana fur cap. He had n
heavy black beard, which may. how.
ever, be false. cannot tell from the
single hair which l found upon piece
Of bread In the kitchen until l have
examined 1t with a microscope. He
was an Irishman."
"Great Scott" exclaimed the con-
stable. "HOw do you know thutY"
'Fr0M his method Of knocking out
the ashes from his pipe" replied
Green. "lrishmen have u peculiar way
Of doing 1t. have not time to explain
In DETAIL"
'"rhe tall man walked on this sIde."
said Green. mark the longer stride
and tho prints Of the 0vershoes. With.
out doubt they walked across the mea.
dows to Chartham and took the tao
train for London"
why not the $50 for Dover:" AJAX
ed Sawyer.
Thieves with plumber always strike