Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03

picture of the Capitol at Washington
l. 1t was postmarked, Philadelphia,
November IL, $50 P. NJ. Below
the picture, in a small copperplate hand, were
these figures and symbols: I-2S- 1874 x47-3o-2
2I-Io-8 65-5-3 2o-32-II 4o-2-ox.
The second post card was picture of Park
Square, Boston, with the majestic figures of
lincoln and the slave in the foreground This.
too, was postmarked Philadelphia, but the date
was November -. The symbols and figures
were unquestionaby written by the same hand
as those on the first: Ill $1,000 X 2os-2-8
agree 22S-3I-2 xpresent tense 235-I3-4
The third card was a colored reproduction
OF an ldylllc bayou near New Orleans. Again
the postmark was Philadelphia, but the date
was November IA. This card contained only
"lII-4I-I-o X I8I-IS-Io press.
Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen-
The Thinking Machine-turned and twisted
the post cards in his slender fingers while he
studied them through squirting, watery. blue
eyes At last he laid them table beside
him, and sank back into his chair, with long
white fingers pressed tip to tip. He was in a
receptive mood.
'Well?' he demanded abruptly
The bearded stranger who had offered the
cards for his scrutiny was gazing at the diminu-
tive figure and the drawn, petulant face of the
scientist, seemingly in mingled wonder and
amusement. 1t difficult for him to asso-
ciate this Grabbed little man with those achieve
ments which had placed his name SO high in
the sciences. After moment the visitors gaze
waVered little and dropped.
MY name is William c. Colgate" he be-
gan. Sometime SInce-four weeks and three
days. to be exact-a diamond was stolen from
my house in this city, and no trace of it has
ever been found. 1t was one l bought uncut
in South Africa five years ago, and it's weight
Is about thirty carats. When cut imagine it
will be eighteen to twenty carats, and it is as it
stands now, worth about forty thousand dol
lars. You may have read something of the
theft in the newspapers?
L never read the newspapers. remarked
The Thinking Machine
Well, in that event. and Colgate smiled
can briefly state the facts in the case. | hav,
several years had in my employment a secret
Charles TraverS. He is about twenty five years
Within the last four or five months have motto
change in his manner Where formerly he had
quiet and unassuming, he has, through evil ass
tons L dare say, grown to be little wild, ar
believe, has lived beyond his income. 1 took {
sion twice to demonstrate with him. The first
he seemed contrlte and repentant; the secon
grew angry, and the following day disappes
The diamond went with him
Do you know that" demanded The Thin
Machine
replied Colgate positively. Il doubt if an
except Travers knew where 1 kept the jewel
tainly my servants did not and certainly my
and two daughters did not. Besides, my wife
daughters have been in Europe for two MOI
The police seem to be unable to learn anythin,
| came to you
g Just where did you keep the jewell"
In drawer of my desk was the reply g
mately l had intended to have it cut and prese
to my eldest daughter, possibly the occasio
her marriage. Now" Colgate waved his hant
The Thinking Machine sat silent for several
utes His squint eyes were turned steadily upy
and several tiny lines appeared in the DOM
brow. The problem then seems to be merely
of finding your secretary" he stated at last g
diamond is of course so large that it would be alb
attempt 0lSDOSP Il CHI
Travers IS an intelligent man. shall give
credit for realizing this. And yet if it should be
up into smaller stones its value would dwindl
a tenth part of what it is now Under those
cumstances, would he have it cut up?"
That is one of the questions which should
to have answered "
For the second time The Thinking Machine pi,
UP and examined the three post cards And '