Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-01

much other rubbish. Hewitt took the
 lid of one of the newest looking pack
 ing cases and glanced at the address
 label. Then he turned to rusty old
 iron box that stood against wall. q should like to see behind this," he said tugging at it with his hands. Tt is heavy and dirty. Is there small crowbar about the house or some sim. far lever"
 Mir. Claridge shook his head Haven't such thing in the place. said.
 "Never mind," Hewitt replied. An other time will do to shift that old box, and perhaps, after all, there's little req son for moving 1t. I will just walk round to the police station, think, and speak to the constables who were on duty opposite during the night. I think, Lord Stanway, l have seen all that is necessary here"
 As they reached the front shop a fiery faced old gentleman bounced in at the street door, stumbling over an umbrella that stood in dark corner and kicking it three yards away.
 What the deuce do you mean." he roared at MT. Claridge, "by sending these police people smelling about my rooms and asking questions of my servants? What do you mean, sir, by treating me as thief? Can't gen. tleman come into this place to look at an article without being suspected of stealing it when 1t disappears through your wretched carelessness? I'll ask my solicitor sir, if there isn't rem edy for this sort of thing. And if catch another of your spy fellows on my staircase or crawling about my roof Tll-I'll shoot himw
 Really, MT. Woollett," began Mr. Claridge, somewhat abashed, but the angry old man. would hear nothing and bounced into the street again.
 "Mr. Woollett is annoyed" Hewitt observed, with a smile. I'm afraid Hummer has clumsy assistant some where"
 MT. Claridge said nothing, but looked rather glum, for MT. Woollett was a most excellent customer.
 Lord Stanway and Hewitt walked slowly down the street, Hewitt staring at the pavement in profound thought. Once or twice Lord Stanway glanced at his face, but refrained from dis turbing him. Presently, however, he observed: You seem, at least, Mir. Hewitt, to have noticed something that has set you thinking. Does it look like a cleww
 Hewitt came out of his cogitation at once. "A clew?' he said. "The case bristles with clews. But 1t is decided. ly very remarkable one"
 Remarkable in what particular way"
 'In regard to motive. Now, it would seem, as Hummer was saying to me just now on the roof, that there were only two possible motives for such a robbery. Either the man who took all this trouble and risk to break into Claridge's place must have desired to sell the cameo at a good price or he must have desired to keep 1t for him. self, being lover of such things. But neither of these has been the actual motive"
 Perhaps he thinks he can extort good sum from me by way of ransom?"
 ''No, 1t isn't that. Nor is it jealousy, nor spite, nor anything of that kind. I know the motive. think-but ] wish we could get hold of Hahn. I will shut myself up alone and turn it over in my mind\for half an hour present. ly."
 Meanwhile. what I want to know is, apart from all your professional sub- tleties-which confess I can't under stand-can you get back the cameo9"
 That" said Hewitt, stopping at the corner of the street, q am rather afraid I cannot-nor anybody else. But am pretty sure know the thief.'
 "Then surely that will lead you to the cameo" -.
 "It may, of course, but then 1t is just possible that by this evening you may not want to have 1t back after all."
 Lord Stanway stared in amazement.
 Not want to have 1t back" he ex- claimed. "why. of course shall want to have it back" -....
 q think, Lord Stanway," Hewitt said, that perhaps I had better not say until I have quite finished my in- quiries. I have very little fear of a mistake, however. and hope I may wait on you in few hours at Picca- dilly with news. I have only to see the policemen"
 Certainly come whenever you please. But why see the policemen7 They have already most positively stated that they saw nothing whatever suspicious in the house or near it."
 'T shall not ask them anything at all about the house." Hewitt responded. "1 shall just have a little chat with them-about the, weather"
 In rather more than an hour Hewitt was back in Mir. Claridge's shop. "Mr. Claridge," he said, T think must ask you one or two questions in private. May see you in your own roomT'
 They went there at once. and Hew- lit, pulling a chair before the window, sat down with his back to the light. The dealer shut the door and sat op- posite him. with the light full in his face.
 "Alr. Claridge," Hewitt proceeded slowly. "when did you first find that Lord Stanway's cameo was a forgeryY'
 Claridge literally bounced in his chair. His face paled. but he managed to stammer sharply: "what-what- u-hnt h,rnr, r,osns Eornorrs nn ro.,