Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
NOTES FROM DETECTIVES BOOK
LOrigfnaLl

the festivities by the announcement
that one OF the guests had lost valu-
able diamond ring. There was not
servant in the house but had been in
the family for years and thus far had
been perfectly honest There was no
evidence of the house having been en-
tered from without. Everything point
ed TO a suspicion that some one of the
guests was the thief.
AS / had a fancy for amateur de-
tective work, asked the host TO put
the case in my hands. He did So and
l commenced my observations at once.
All l asked of Colonel Peterson was TO
prevent any guest from leaving If he
could possibly do so without making q
scene. This he promised. but none of
the guests would leave until the thief
was discovered.
1t is well known that detectives usu-
ally get their clews from observing
mlnuti;e. began a systematic entry
in notebook. "A copy of which l give:
l. Saw Miss Ives come ont OF Miss
Benton's room. When she discovered
me looking at her she started.
=. wilkins is feeling the servants
more lavishly than is proper in the
house Of Il host. Saw him hand the
butler 4 silver dollar today.
,. Another gem missing.
+. Hovey keeps the tip end of the
forefinger of his right hand covered
with kid. Keeps his nails well pared
and says lie cut the nail of this finger
too closely.
> Wilson is the man. l have just
heard that his money was made in or
ganizing schemes, getting i'll other peo-
pies funds and selling out So says
Barker. but L am not sure that Barker
is not prejudiced against Wilson.
6. Miss Ives is very conscious every
time l look at her. Caught her wills
pcring with Miss Martin, and when
they SAW me they stopped and walked
away from each other. Wouldn't have
Miss Ives turn out to be the thief for
the world. l am half in love with her.
Z. Another gem missing today. The
colonel insists on all the jewels of his
guests being placed in his safe. He
alone knows the combination. The jew
els were put in the safe this morning.
each in Il box marked by the name Of
its owner.
g. Have been approached by several
persons today saying they suspect Miss
Ives. They declare she has been acting
qucerly, but they have not caught her
doing anything peculiar.
9. Miss Ives came to me this evening.
with tears in her eyes. to say that the
guests all act as if they suspected her.
She explains it all in this wise: She
says that she left a hat pin in Miss
Burton's room and went for it. When
she came out and saw me looking at
her, remembering that any one of us is
liable TO suspicion. she felt embarraSS-
ed. She consulted Miss Martin to know
what she ought TO do, and Miss Martin
has beer talking TO the others, who
have caught false impression. Poor
Miss Ives is heartbroken over the mat
ter. 1 am thoroughly convinced that
she is innocent. l would give my head
TO prove her so.
10. Am watching Wilson like hawk.
He has a passion for jewelry and wears
a great deal of ii. The theftS having
usually been committed at night. / am
going to watch Wilson's bedroom door.
Fortunately it is directly opposite mine.
IL Lust III III ith tdittl tic AIiCL b,lll-
gularly enough, it was Miss Ives who
led the way TO the discovery.
About u midnight Wilson's door
opened cautiously, and l heard him
leave his room in his slippers. Slipping
| on u dressing gown. l followed him.
He went To the dining room and
straight for drawer in the buffet
where the silverware is kept. He open
ed the drawer and took out a spoon.
He then opened door below and took
out a bottle. He poured some liquor
into glass, put in some sugar with
the spoon he had taken, poured in Wa
| ter, stirred the mixture and drank it.
He then went back TO his room. / re
manned below till l heard his door shut.
l was greatly disappointed.
Starting back TO my chamber, 1 felt
touch on my shoulder. The gas,
turned down. is kept burning in the
| dining room, and by its dim light I
saw Miss Ives in loose gown and slip
| pcrS. / looked at her astonished.
zone of the guests is at work at the
| safe" she said.
You don't mean h!'
Il heard a footstep and followed it.
| Come"
We both stole softly to u rear part
of the house on the floor above. At the
| end of hail opposite where 4 stair
| case goes 10 the floor above the safe is
kept. | led the way up a front stair
case. and. going along the upper hall,
! we took position at the head of the
/ back staircase, where we could watch
| the safe. Some one was working at it
"a man. He had a light, which was
| shut of 10y screen. We could see him
| distinctly.
| He was Hoyey.
Holding the tip of his forefinger (the
| finger be had kept coyeredJ against
/ the lock, lie was turning the knob back
| and forth. He worked half an hour.
| Finally there was click, and he open
| cd the safe door. Taking out the boxes
| of jewelry. he shut the safe and re-
turned to His ROOM | sent Miss Ives