The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-21
The Case of the Vacant Office

| the SIDEWALK
Boyd proceeded down Wall street
walked at moderate pace, and re-
| turned to his office
He was convinced, by the clevar
| character of the robbery committed
| that morning, that it could have heen
devised and executed only by the. era ft1y
gang then operating below the dead
line, directed by that master knaye who
SO long had evaded his most artful and
strenuous efforts to corner him. thai
obscure criminal chief known only as
| the Big Finger.
Inat the latter seriously feared hin,
moreover, and invariably had him nm
der espionage when engaged in any OF
his infamous operations, BOYD had
learned from repeated experiences; vet
as he returned to his office in Pine
street, he could discover no sign of a
shadow upon his movements. despite an
instructive conviction that he was be-
| ing constantly watched
! Boyd governed himself accordingly
with a view to binding any SPY to the
| fact that he already was actuated Nv
| a definite theory concerning the rob
| berry, thus imparting to the thieves an
assurance that they might safely take
| any immediate steps desired. OF what
! their first step would consist, BOYD
felt comparatively sure-so sure that
! he was about to bank heavily upon his
conviction.
He remained in his office until
O'Clock, then went to his home. in Fifty
ninth street. There he telephoned for
/ a physician, who called half an hour
| later, and remained about ten minutes
At half-past four. the dusk of the No
vember afternoon began to fall, and the
curtains of BOyd's chamber on the sec
ond floor front were drawn, and the
room lighted. Next Boyd summoned
his butler and gave him his inStruc-
tions.
At s o'clock, the light In Boyd's
chamber was eXtinguished. At quar-
ter before seven his doorben rang, and
the butler responded. A man on the
front sleeps courteously inquired:
rs Mr.. Boyd at home? Can see
him for q moment ?"
The butler shook his head doubtfully.
'I fear not. sir, tonight" said he
Mr.. Boyd was taken with a severe
chill early this evening, and his phySi-
clan ordered him to bed Is your bust
ness of serious Importance? If so, I
will speak to him..
Not particularly" was. the reply.
after moment. II wanted TO ask after
certain party for whom I am seek
ing. 1 will call again in the morning"
The butler bowed respectfully and
closed the door.
So much for the reliability of Mr..
Felix Boyd's intuitive conviction.
Long before this little episode, how
ever. Boyd had departed IN disguise
from the rear door OF his dwelling, and
FASTENED to keep his appointment in
Harlem. From Harlem, accompanied
by Coleman and Detective Alderman,
Boyd proceeded to Fordham, where
the trio arrived soon after o'clock
1t then was dark, with the sky heaV-
lily clouded, and only the street lights
of the suburban town to relieve the
gloom of the November night.
Discreetly keeping in advance of his
companions, Boyd sought one of the
| rather secluded avenues of the quiet
town, and presently approached his
destinations residence near the west
ern end of the street
1t was quite an imposing dwelling Of
wood, with broad verandas, and a large
stable at the rear, the two occupying
a considerable estate well covered with
| handsome shade trees, the leafless
branches of which were signing dis
mally in the night wind, as IL in gloomy
appreciation of coming events.
The place was somewhat isolated, and
appeared bit run down, as If tha
| owner now lacked the Opulence of by
gone days. The house stood fifty yards
| back from the street, but upon a glass
pane over the outer door of the bright
| ly lighted vestibule the name of the
occupant was printed in letters Of
| considerable size, presumably to OBJ
viate the need of traversing the long
| gravel walk to ascertain who dwell
! there
The name thus easily read from the
| street gate was "Macklin."
With characteristic reserve up to
this time, Boyd had confided none OF
his suspicious to either of his compan-
| ions. The moment Coleman observed
above the distant door, however, the
name of the whilom senior member of
the Wall street banking house. he be-
gan to see the shrewd theory by which
| Boyd evidently was actuated
by JoveI Felix, you suspect MackIin
of having had a hand in that robbery,,'
| he quietly exclaimed, as he and Aker-
man Joined Boyd near the front gate.
The latter was intenuy studying tins
suburban dwelling, as we'll as the dis
| lance and darkness permitted, and
measuring the possibilities offered by
the gloom of the surrounding grounds.
II know that he had a hand in II.
Jimmie" he quietly rejoined, after a
moment.
THE devil he did," muttered Aker-
man. by way of protest That's not
very likely, Mr- Boyd. 1 cannot swal-
| low that
Cough it up, then. and reject it,
said Boyd. laughing softly.
| But why are you so sure OF it ?"
1T viii not be wise to discuss the
matter here" replied Boyd. glancing
sharply about Vault the fence. and
follow me back of yonder shrubbery.
There we may watch without being dis
covered. Now having Macklin's house
under our eye. we may safely await
| Developments
But why are you convinced of his
guilt?" persisted Alderman, when the
three had gained the concealment men
| toned.
The case is as simple as two times
TWO, as L told Jimmie Boyd now pro-
eeeded to explain. in subdued tones.
The character of the job alone con-
vinces me that it's the work of the Ri.-
! Finger"
But he cannot have induced Mack