Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-08-29
@~The GlasshOnse Pearls
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a visiting card on which was neatly
inscribed: Eleanor, Duchess Of Glass
house, Alb, Mount street, Mayfair"
The set belonging to the safe door
showed first broad patch-presum-
ably thumb, depicting what Is techni-
cally known amongst finger-print ex-
perts as tented arch," and the 9th
er, thinner imprint, had the official
title, also culled from It's peculiar
shape, Of a "whorl" This set was
infinitely duplicated In photograph
number two-the one taken direct from
the Duchess Of Glasshouse's own visit
Ing card.
IAN officer from the Vine street DO
lice station to see me?" repeated the
Duchess of Glasshouse. "I-er-oh!
very well, James, show him up"
AS the servant turned to obey his
mistress a slight flush suffused her
Grace's cheeks, then the tint faded,
leaving them deadly white.
Il must apologize for this intrusion,
your Grace" commenced Inspector
How, Of Vine street, alphabetically, ''but
I have called, as I daresay you've al
ready SURPASSED, about your Jewels"
my JeWelsY replied the Duchess
with a spasmodic gasp, turning even
whittier still.
eyes, madam. We are Informed by
Messrs. Vavistock that a pearl neck
lace you left at their premises in Re
gent street unfortunately forms part of
the stolen property"
Stolen property" repeated the Ouch
ess in monotone. 81 hardly under
stand"
"But surely your Grace has heard of
the burglary that took place on Tues
day night?"
The Duchess merely shook her head.
She was afraid to trust herself to
speak
'Then your Grace is not aware that
a robbery took placer? AS Inspector
How put the question he shot a look
Of swift inquiry deep into the beautiful
but terrified orbs that were staring into
his own. As he half expected, the
Duchess Immediately Quailed before his
eXpectant glance.
mo"
The reply was partly defiant, yet
withal piteous.
"Then," said How, following I'D his
point quickly, permit me to enlighten
you. The night before last daring
burglary took place at Vavistocks' ::
their safe was broken open by nitro
glycerine experts, and all the valuable
contents carried off by some person or
persons unknown. Nothing, with the
exception Of books and papers, was left
behind, and had not those guilty con-
cerned left certain hnger-prints beiind.
we should have been completely baffled
in tracing the culprits."
'Finger-prfntsT" faltered the Ouch
ess. recovering herself slightly. 81 fail
to understand. Er-what have finger
prints-as you call them-got to do
with the matter"
"Well, If your Grace will allow me.
I shall be pleased to explain" replied
How, quietly. LET me give you a dem
enstration."
Whipping out a pocketbook as he
spoke, the inspector drew from from
the interior clean, white card, by the
aid Of pair Of tweezers.
'First take this card, madame. with
your right thumb and forefnger for
just one moment"
Mechanically the Duchess obeyed,
and with trembling fingers returned the
card to How.
''Now, you perceive, madame, you
have presumably left no mark behind
whatever, yet nevertheless, your finger
prints, though invisible, are there"
''Why, where" stammered her Grace,
lncredulously. 1.-THE card Is absolutely
srotless!"
Eyes, it appears to be-" remarked
How, drily, as he sprinkled some black
powder from bottle over both sides
of the card. That's just the error all
originals make They leave these tell
tale markings behind, and, because
nothing visible shows, think no one can
possibly tell; but there you are, your
Grace, look at that!'''
The card How passed as he spoke
now clearly showed a fnger-print each
side.
''Tou mean~to say those fnger-prints
are miner gasped the Duchess.
Yours, and yours alone. The powder
have just applied has caused them to
appear, just as similaH.prints were de-
veloped on one Of your Grace's cards
ut Scotland Yard yesterday. It was