Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-10-18
"Ah!'

"Ahv
"This may mean nothing-it meant
nothing to Jones-but l inform you of
it because there Is a question l want
to put to you in this connection. You
smile"
did II" | meekly answered. 81 do
not know why"
This was not true. | had been wait
ing to see why the inspector had so
honored me with all these disclosures,
almost with his thoughts. Now | saw.
He desired something in return.
you were on the scene at this very
moment" he proceeded, after a brief
contemplation of my face, land you
must have seen this man when he lift
ed the jewel and handed it back to Mr..
Grey. Did you remark his featpres?"
mo, sir; ! was too far off. Besides.
my eyes were on Mr.. Grey"
THAT is pity. l was in hopes you
could satisfy me on a very important
point"
What point is that. Inspector Dal-
zell?"
whether he answered the following
description" And, taking up another
paper, he was about to read it aloud to
me, when an interruption occurred. A
man showed himself at the door whom
the inspector no sooner recognized than
he seemed to forget me in his eager
ness to interrogate him. Perhaps the
appearance Of the latter had something
to do with it. He looked as If he had
been running or had been the victim of
some extraordinary adventure. At all
events, the inspector arose as he enter
ed and was about to question him
when he remembered me. and. casting
about fSE some means Of Kidding him
self of my presence without Injury to
my feelings. he suddenly pushed open
the door Of an adjoining room and re-
quested me to step inside while he talk
ed moment with this man.
or course went. but cast him an
appealing look as I did so. 1t evident
ly had its effect, for his expression
changed as his hand fell on the door
! knob Would he snap the lock tight
and so shut me out from what con
cerned me as much as 1t did any one
in the whole world. or would he recOg
niZe my anXiety-the necessity | was
under of knowing just the ground
was standing on--and let me hear wha
this man had to report?
| watched the door. 1t closed slow
ly, too slowly to latch. Would be
catch it anew by the knob? No; ht
left it thus. and. while the crack wa:
hardly perceptlble. | felt confident tina
the least shake of the floor would wild
en- it and give me the opportunity
sought But did not have to wal
for this. The two men in the office
had just left began to speak and, t.
my unbounded relief We're sufficient,
ineligible even now to warrant me IL
giving them my fullest attention.
After some expressions OF astonish
ment on the part of the inspector as t.
the plight in which the other presente,
himself the latter broke out:
1--WE just escaped death! I'll tel
you about that later What want t
tell You now is that the man we wan
is in town. saw him last night o
his shadow, which is the same thing
1t was in the house In Elghtyslxtl
street. the house they all think closed
He came in with key and
"Wait. You have .him?'
"No. It's a long story. sir
"Tel it,
The tone was dry. The inspector wa
evidently disappointed.
Don't blame me till you hear" salt
the other He Is no common crook
This is how it was: You wanted In
suspects photograph and specimen
of his writing. knew no better plac
20 look for them than In his own room
in MIR. Fairbrother's house. | accord
ingly got the necessary warrant an
late last evening undertook the job.
went alone-I was always an egotis
teal chap. more's the plty-and wit
:, no further precautlon than a passin
explanation to the officer | met at tn
corner | FASTENED up the block TO tn
! rear entrance on Eighty stree
There are three doors To the Fairbrot
er hoHse. as you probably know, tv
D on Eighty-sixth street 0he large fro
T one and small one connecting direC
l ly with the turret stairs and one {