Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-08
The Face ON the Curtain. :
BY c. CURTz HAHN.
BY C. CURTz HAHN.

vv110ooS0SooV0o SVv oVOSSVVS
How did | manage 10 solve tie
mystery of the great diamond robbery
at Senator Morgans reception? | as
SIRE you il was all an accident and
received far more praise than was due
me-"
The speaker was Randolph Lyman.
the great detective, who had. seeming
ly with the greatest ease, and certainly
with great speed. run down the robDer
and secured the diamonds within
week after they had been stolen from
Senator Morgan's house out on West
Farnam street. Omaha.
YES" he repeated. lit was all
chance. or luck"
"Alighting from the train at the
Union depot, went up TO the viaduct.
and. hailing a cab, directed the driver
to take me to the Her Grand. After
supper-and il was dark by that time
II started out for stroll around the
city. At Sixteenth / turned down
Farnam and passed by the Paxton
Hotel. Accidentally my eyes glanced
upward to the barroom window which
faced on Farnam. The curtain was
down. The glance was only momen-
tary. But in that moment shadow
appeared on the barroom curtain. the
shadow of face in profile, a peculiar
face with projecting eyebrows. prom
inent nose and very retreating chin.
And what was more. 1t appeared very
familiar 10 me. although | could not
place ii. The man was evidently
standing close TO the window and the
strong brilliant arc light cast his
shadow upon the curtain clear cut as
a Silhouette.
The first thing / saw in the pa
pers next morning was an account Of
Mrs. Morgan's reception. and in the
afternoon, when the evening papers
came out. there, with double column
scare heads was an account OF the
theft of her diamonds.
LAS soon as | read The account my
mind. fer some unaccountable reason.
few back to the evening before and 10
that shadow upon the curtain OF the
Paxton bar. And as il did so. in a flash
recalled whose face il was-Jim kel-
ly's, the most expert diamond thief in
the whole country. No amount of dis
guise could hide that face.
There was my clew and ii did not
take me long to decide WHO had COM
mitted the robbery. Jim Kelley was
noted for just this kind of work. and
he was in Omaha, or, at least. was
convinced in my own mind that he
was. | was so certain now OF the face
upon the curtain that instead OF con-
tinuing my journey to Colorado took
the first train back to Chicago. after
investigating the guest book at the
Paxton Hotel.
is IL happened the only man regis
.sred whom the clerk did not know
was Norman Whiting, San Franc. SEQ,
and he had departed TIA; very morning
for St Louis. Or, 1T least so he in
formed the clerk his destination would
be. Anyway he was gone After t.ly-
cling a hundred or more miles south
ward he doubled on his tracks and
made straight for Chicago.
ut was a foolish move. but the most
expert thief will give himself away
some time or other.
Once in Chicago, set the police force
On the lookout Tor jim. ana Within
two days they hau foanI him. easy
going and self-contained as ever
Nov. had rot 4 particle OF cyi-
dence that would hold in court against
g. - J. ls,tT h.
thing to play. was s.fe in such q
move, for Jim's life was too shady for
him to make trouble over a false ar.
rest. ii my diagnosis OF the case WAS
wrong. So | secured warrant and
went TO the Place where the police had
located him. did no, waste any words
either. He was in the bacl, room u!
a saloon ca State street. and as soon
as approached him | snapped a pair
of handouts on his wrist and said:
Jim, | want you At the staten"
thought he turned a triae pale. but
his nerve was still in working order.
and he coolly said:
Glad 10 meet you. even If you are
trifie unceremonious. But may I be
pardoned for asking what you are so
anxious To SEE me aboui?'
Certainly replied. just rs cour-
teously. I am arresting you for the
robbery OF 100000 worth Of diamonds
from Senator Morgan house in Oma-
ha four nights ago
This time he smiled.
"Ah. Another case of clumsy de-
tective work. | woader sometimes why
there are idiot asylui-.s when there are
so many available places on the de-
teotive force. Four nights ago? Tha.
was Tuesday night. And here &c
broke OF and turned to the barkeeper.
who had left his station and was
: standing at the door. Say. johnny
where was last Tuesday night? Do
you remember?