The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15


correct The bullet was extracted from
the plaster of the wall with a penknife
and proved to be 32-caliber ball.
Dawson put 1t into his pocket after
wrapping it up carefully in a bit of
note paper.
And this is the package they left
behind?" said he. tapping the tute COW
cred bundle fastened about with strong
cord.
"All right, Grimmins," said Dawson.
You have done your work well. my
man."
"oh, it wasn't nothInk. SIR" said
Grimmins modestly. Anybody would
have done the same, sir"
That may be. Grimmins." said Ham
mond warmly. but you'll be $3.50 rich
er tonight for your fidelity"
THANK ye, sir said Grimmins. smil-
ing MS appreciation as he withdrew
Well" said Hammond, what do you
think, Billy?"
II think Grimmins is one of the best
in his line" said Dawson
"Oh. don't be fiippant." retorted Ham
mond. Have you any idea who did it?''
"Yes," said Dawson. "A very good
idea. Wen clear it up in an hour. By
the way, before we begin, Jim, came
away in such hurry this morning that
I forgot to send these papers down to
my office" he added. taking bundle
of papers from his side pocket. VIII
YOU ask Grimmins to wrap them up for
me in bit of paper so that 1 can get.
'em off? They're Important
Certainly" said Hammond Er-
Grimmins. do these papers up In
package for Mr. Dawson"
Just tie string around them. Grim
mins," said Dawson as the butler took
the papers.
every good, SIR" said Grimmins. and
he went out to prepare the package
"And If you don't mind. Hammond.
perhaps Grfmmins might take note
for me to Sergeant Brinczerhon, at
the Thirty third street police station
on this job. He's a good man, and you
can rely on his discretion"
Certainly" said Hammond. Pos
sibly a messenger"
NO" said Dawson. "T want some
body can trust Send Grimmins''
"All right" said Hammond.
In a moment Grimmins returned with
the papers neatly done up in package,
and ten minutes later he was dis
patched to Sergeant Brinckerhoff with
Dawson's note, written on the back Of
an old envelope and inclosed in an
other unsealed.
"Pd like to see you at my lodgings
at noon. Important case (SignedD
Dawson" was all that was written in
the message
Now" said Dawson, when Grimmins
had departed. Tets go upstairs to the
servants quarters and see If we can
find that plunder"
Surely you don't suspeet"-Ham-
mond began.
mo. I don't suspect know" said
Dawson. Come on-Grimmins' room
first
Hammond protestingly led the way.
whats the use of wasting time this
way7" he said
DO you want me to give it up?" de-
manded Dawson, pausing at the foot
of the stairs.
NO" said Hammond. "but il seems
absurd to go through Grimmfns' room
when the poor devil has done no more
than prove his absolute fidelity to me-"
1T pays to be thorough" said Daw-
son, but if you prefer to prolong your
suspense let me begin at the other end.
First there's the bullet"
Yes" said Hammond. as we re-
turned to the dining-room
TT took a sixteenth of an inch of
flesh off Grimmins' little finger-now
look at it," said Dawson. rs there a
trace of blood on 1t or a sign of mois-
ture of any kind to which particles OF
plaster might have .clung if IL had at
any time drawn blood?" he added.
There was not. The ball was clean
and smooth. though slightly fiattened
by the impact with the wall
II wouldn't hang a dog on evidence
of that kind" retorted Hammond. I've
heard Of bullets going through a mans
whole body and coming out as clean as
whistle"
Very true" said Dawson. "It
sometimes happens; but take the loca-
ton of the hole in the wall. 1t is six
feet from the floor. Grimmins saws
that the shot was fired from the curb
stone. Now one of two things must be
true, either Grinmins lied or the re-
volver was fired by man twelve
feet high man of ordinary height
could not have hit the wall from the
curbstone with revolver shot The
ceiling, yes; but not the wall"
HE could have done it from the
other side Of the street." Hammond per-
sisted.
IF he had climbed the lamppost, but
not otherwise" said Dawson. But
apart from that, look at this package
of papers," continued Dawson. OBJ
serve the knot"
We'll. what of it?" demanded Ham
mond. It's the usual kind of knot
so far as I can see"
Compare the knot with that on the