Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-12-03
FACE ON A CURTAIN
BY Q. Curtz Hahn.

L 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 GER
tainly with great speed, run down
the robber and secured the diamonds
within a week after they had been
stolen from Senator Morgan's house
out on West Farnam street, Omaha.
YES" he repeated, ut was all
chance, or luck.
"Alighting from the train at the
Union Depot, 1 went up to the via.
duct, and, hailing a cab, directed the
driver to take me to the Iier Grand.
After supper-and 1t was dark by
that time-I started out for a stroll
around the city. At Sixteenth | turn
ed down Farnam and passed by the
Paxton Hotel. Accidentally my eyes
glanced upward TO the barroom win
dow which faced on Farnam. The
curtain was down. The glance was
only momentary. But in that moment
a shadow appeared on the barroom
curtain, the shadow of a face in pro-
file, a peculiar face with projecting
eyebrows, prominent nose and very
retreating chin. And what was more.
It appeared very familiar to me, al
though I could not place 1t.
The first thing I saw in the papers
next morning was an account of Mrs.
Morgan's reception, and an account
of the theft or her diamonds.
GAS soon az | read the account my
mind. for some uDaccountable reason.
flew back to the evening before and
to that shadow upon the curtain Of
the Paxton bar. And as It did so, in
a flash I recalled whose face It was
Jim Kelly's, the most expert diamond
thief in the whole country.
There was my clew and it did not
take me long to decide who had COM
mltted the robbery, Jim Kelly was
noted for Just this kind of work.
"As It happened. the only man reg
istered whom the clerk did not know
was Norman Whiting, San Francisco,
and he had departed that very morn
ing for st. Louis. Or, at least. so he
Informed the clerk his destination
would be. Anyway, he was gone.
After travelling a hundred or more
miles southwark 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, I set the police
force on the lookout for Jim and
within two days they had found him.
easy-going and self.contained as ever
$50 l secured a warrant and went
to the place where the police had To-
Gated him. I did not waste any words
either. He was in the back room Of a
saloon on State street, and as soon
as I approached him I snapped a pair
of handouts on his wrists and said
Jim, | want you at the station"
"'Glad to meet you, even If you are
a trife unceremonious. But may I he
pardoned for asking what you are so
anxious to see me aboutY
Certainly I replied, just as cour-
teously. 4 am arresting you for the
robbery of 100000 worth of diamonds
from Senator Morgans house in Oma-
ha four nights ago
"This time he smiled.
"'Ah! Another case Of clumsy de-
toctive work. Four nights ago? That
was Tuesday night And'-here he
broke of and turned to the barkeep-
er, who had left his station and was
standing at the door. Say, Johnny,
where was last Tuesday night? Do
you remember
"'Playing poker in the side room
at least up until midnight
81 will confess was a little IN
easy at that reply
But I determined to keep up my
bluff
$50 I replied, quietly. Then it
was not you who registered at the
Paxton Hotel in Omaha Tuesday as
Norman Whiting of San Francisco
Really, jim, I did not think 1 could
be mistaken in that face of yours.
was dead certain I saw you standing
in the hotel barTeom.'
81 could see that this shot told, for
he paled perceptibly.
"'Were you there?' he asked hur-
riedly, and then, seeing that he bad
given himeslf away, lost his swagger
I'D ro,noirod Silant
eyes. was there. Come alOnS to
the station and if you will put us on
the track Of the diamonds l will see
what can do TO make it easy for
you. You sec ] show you my hand.
I know that you did The job. But [
don't know where you hid the plura-
err And l was telling the truth in
both statements.
HE went with me to the station
and on the way told me where I would
find the diamonds. The same night
| telegraphed to Senator Morgan and
he came on next day. OF course such
muck work created sensation and l