The Washington times., 1906-10-28

AAaAAAh AGAsEAJ
queried Coleman, the
central Office man.
observe the broken pavement, and
the deep excavation caused by the ex-
piosion." said Boyd THE main vol
ums OF force operated IN a downward
direction. which Is distinctive char
Rctertstic OF the explosive mentioned.
There's no doubt about II. Jimmie. 1t
was an explosion OF dynamite
But what the dickens can have
caused the explosion. at such time
IN such a placer" growled Coleman
perpiexediy.
Felix Boyd smiled family. with "a
Their an odd expression lurking in the
depths OF his keen. gray eyes.
II was about nine o'clock on a Sat
urday morning in November Boyd
and the central oTice man, at whose
request the former had visited the
scene. were standing IN one OF the
streets IN the banking district. that
wealthy and strenuous section OF New
York 20 which Coleman was officially
assigned.
II was IN this section. moreover. that
Felix Boyd served with his remark
able talents some OF the mighuest
monarchs or the financial world-men
who knew him 10 be an unrivaled
genius IN the art Of criminal detec-
ton; yet his long series OF successful
operations had been so quietly and Sc
cretly conducted that he still remained
a battling mystery TO the thousands
who knew him by sight or hearsay
only.
Although the shocking features OF
the notorious eGtchel and DobsOu
murders doubtless are still vivid In the
minds OF many. the details OF the
work done by Felix Boyd in this cell
ehrated case. are not so generally
known; and no chronicler OF Boyd's
exploits below the dead-line could con-
sistently omit from a selection from
over 800 cases. that Of the one men
toned
On this particular Saturday morn
ing. Boyd and Coleman stood looking
at a large cavity in the street, where
the earth and paving stones had been
disIodged by a SUDDEN startling eXplo-
sion the previous Thursday
The cause OF the explosion was
great mystery II had occurred at
precisely a quarter before rive IN the
afternoon. and within a few feet OF
the high board fence built by the con-
tractors erecting the new Stanley
building. the walls OF which were then
constructed as high as the sixth floor.
This fence closed IN the sidewalk for
something ike nifty yards. excluding
travel over that section,
No plausible theory IN explanation
OF the explosion could be advanced.
The builders had at no time done any
blasting. nor had any explosives
on the premises. No doubtful
characters had been observed, no
suspicious circumstances bearing up
on the incident could he discovered.
nor coubd any advantage be conJectur-
ed 10 have led 70 the deliberate COM
hitting or such an act
IN fact. II was only known that, al
time when the immediate locality
was entirely deserted. the explosion
had occurred with a violence that
shook the neighboring buildings,
bringing their startled occupants into
the snoke-hUed street, and drawing
every laborer on the Stanley building
10 the wall and windows of the front
elevation. 10 learn the occasion Of the
sudden startling noise
In order 70 have him view the scene.
and 10 get his opinion regarding the
incident. Coleman had brought Boyd
there this Saturday morning. on the
second day following the mysterious
episode.
I'm blessed II I can fathom It,
Felix" the central Office man went on
10 remark. while Boyd stood gazing
indinerently at the unfinished face OF
the lofty building opposite.
Presently he rejolned, IN rather dis
interested fashion:
why do you try 20 fathom It, Jim
mIe?"
''Why7"
What Is there IN It for you. provid-
Ing you do fathOm it?'
"Oh. nothing at all. as far as that
goes" growied Coleman. Yet / am
Internally curious 10 know the cause OF
the explosion"
An old maids curiosity" laughed
Boyd. Frequently, Jimmie, such IN
cidents are never explained. If It was
an acCiden5. the responsible party him
self may be ignorant OF what he in
advertently has done. \ stick Of
dynamite carelessly dropped, and
afterward exploded BY a brick fallen
from yonder wall. might serve for an
explanation"
Eather too far-fetched-"
Very likely" laughed Boyd ION
the other hand. II the explosion was
deliberately planned and executed
All. wei. Jimmie. in that case You
may safely wager that the perpe-
trato- OF It had himself guarded
against detection. and that his motive
is too obscure 10 be reached by mere
guessing. I must return 10 my Office.
Jimmie. Are you going along with
meg"
Yes: as far as Wall Street" nodded
Coleman, with a disappointed look. Il
really did think that you. Felix. with
your detective tact and your genius
for anticipating and preventing crime.
would light upon some solution OF this
mystery"
For a moment Boyd did not reply.
lie turned first one way. then the
other. like one IN doubt which to take.
during which casual move his keen.
gray eyes searched the street in both
directions. and every person and door
gay within a hundred yards. Then
he carelessly rejoined, as they saun-
tered toward the nearest corner and
presently approached Broad street: