Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-01


 'Is anybody suspected?" asked Hew, itt.
 "Claridge won't admit that he sus. poets any one, though he believes that whoever it was must have watched him yesterday evening through the back window of his room and must have seen him put the cameo away in his desk, because the thief would seem to have gone straight to the place. But I half fancy that in his inner mind he is inclined to suspect one of two peo- pie. You see, robbery of this sort is different from others. That cameo would never be stolen, I imagine, with the view of its being sold. It is much too famous thing. A man might as we'll walk about offering to sell the Tower of London. So that it really seems more likely that it has been talk en by somebody who wishes to keep it for mere love of the thing-a collector, in fact, unless, indeed, an ordinary vul- gar burglar has taken it without know ing its value"
 That isn't likely" Hewitt replied An ordinary burglar, ignorant of it's value, wouldn't have gone straight to the cameo and have taken it in prefer ence to many other things of more ap- parent worth, which must be lying near in such place as Carriages"
 True. I suppose he wouldn't. Al fn }ply hot the breaking in Is clearly the work of a regular criminal-from the jimmy marks, you know, and so on.''
 "Well, but what of the two people you think MT. Claridge suspectsT
 "Of course can't say that he does suspect them. I only fancied from his tone that it might be possible. He himself insists that he can't in justice suspect anybody. One of these men is Hahn, the travelling agent who sold him the cameo. This mans character i does not appear to be absolutely ire proachable. No dealer trusts him very l far. Of course Claridge doesn't say what he paid him for the cameo. These [ profits, which I believe are as often something like 800 per cent as not. But 1t seems Hahn bargained to have something extra, depending on the amount Claridge could sell the carving for. According to the appointment, he should have turned up this morning, but he hasn't been seen, and nobody seems to know exactly where he fs."
 Yes. And the other personT'
 'Well, scarcely like mentioning Mir. Woollett, because he is certainly gen tleman, and I believe in the ordinary way quite incapable of anything in the least degree dishonorable. although, of course, they say a collector has no conscience in the matter of bis own particular hobby. He lives in cham bers in the next turning past Claridge's premises-can. in fact look into Clar. idge's back window if he likes. He examined the cameo several times be- fore bought 1t and made several high offers-appeared, in fact, very anxious indeed to get it."
 Now, let me see Mir woolletts rooms, you say, are near MT. Cartridges place of business? Is there any means of communication between the roofs?'
 'Yes, am told that it is perfectly possible to get from one place to the other by walking along the leads"
 Very good. In regard to MT. Clar. idge's assistant now. Do you know anything of him?"
 'Cnly that he has always seemed a very civil and decent sort of man. Honest, should say, or Claridge wouldn't have kept him so many years. There are good many valuable things about at Cartridges. Besides, the man has keys of the place himself. and, even if he were a thief, he wouldn't need to go breaking In through the roof"
 50 that" said Hewitt "we have. di. rectly connected with this cameo, be- sides yourself. these people: Mir. Clar. idge, the dealer; Mir Cutler, the as- sistant in Mir. Carriages business: Hahn. who sold the article to Claridge, and MT. Woollett. who made bids for 1t. These are allT'
 Al that know of. Other gentle men made bids believe. but I don't know them"
 There was unwOnted excitement at Mir. Claridge's place when Hewitt and his client arrived Mir. CIaridge. a brisk. stout. little old man. was talk ing earnestly 10 burly police inspect or fin uniform. He came forward eagerly.
 "The leather case has been found. am pleased to be able to tell you. Lord Stanway. since you left"
 Empty. of eOursey'
 Unfortunately. yes. It had evident. ly been thrown away by the thief be- hind a chimney stack a roof or two away. where the police have found if. But 1t is a cIew. of courSe.- "Ah. then this gentleman will give me his opinion of f." Lord Stanway said. turning 10 Hewitt. This. Mr. claridze. is MT Martin Hewitt. who has Deen Kind enough to come witn me here at e moments no;ice.~ Mir Claridge bowed and beamed on Hewitt through his spectacIes- I'm very glad sfr. Hewitt has come" be said.
 Hewitt bowed in his turn and then asked: Can see the broken deskY Mfr. ClarilIra led the way into the room behind the shop The desk was really a sort of work table. with a lift ing top and a lock. The fog, had been