The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

fessional thief"
Mr.. Eitzroy was evidently much per-
turbed. ITS curious. very curious" he
remarked. as he stared thoughtfulIy at
his junior partner. 1T would be very
painful matter if it turned out that we
were charging an innocent man."
"ImpossibIe" exclaimed Malcolm
testify. As he spoke he rose from his
chair. The door OF the room had just
swung open and he stepped toward It
to see who wished to enter. He found
no one there. however. so he shut the
door sharply and turned again to his
partner.
'Impossibles' he repeated. The man
had the jewelry and was on the point
of leaving the hotel when 1 caught
him"
The senior partner found this re-
mark unanswerable and for a moment
or two. was silent.
There's some one at the door. NAL
colm." he said presently will you see
who it is?"
Malcolm looked toward the door. 1t
was open again and was swinging In
ward There was a perplexed look on
his face. as he moved toward it.
Again he found no one at the door.
but as he stepped from the doorway
into the corridor a waiter almost ran
into him
Did you open this door," asked
Malcolm
NO. SIR" replied the man He had
been hurrying and was almost breath
less. But 1 was coming to tell you.
sir" he went on. that there's a police
inspector down stairs what wants to
see you and Mr.. Fitzroy."
Mr.. Fitzroy had stepped to the door.
Tell the Inspector to come up.
waiter" he said quietly.
There was an air of suppressed ex-l
citement about the stout. ruddy facsd
police inspector when he walked into
room S5 and shut the door behind him
He carried a brown bag that Malcolm
promptly recognized as his own. and he
placed this carefully at his feet as he
took the chair that was offered to him
He looked both the partners over ST.
lently for a moment and then he
leaned forward and spoke IN q low.
confidential voice.
There's something very strange
about this robbery. gentlemen" be be-
gan. I'm the nrst place. 1t seems a
queer thing that a gentleman like Mr..
-
Ten thousand pounds worth OF Jew
slry Is a Big temptation. Inspector" in
terrupted Malcolm
Wen allow that. Mr.. Malcolm" said
the inspector. looking curiously at the
junior partner for an instant. but Mr..
Ivor Watson tells a strange story and
we have reason to believe that there Is
a good deal IN what he's got TO say"
At this point he paused a moment
and he picked up the brown bag and
placed IT on his knees. Suddenly he
turned to the junior partner.
Mr.. Malcolm he said. sharply.
Mr.. Ivor Watson tells US that in the
train last night you tried to force your
acquaintance on him. and that much
against his viii you tried to draw h
into conversation"
Malcolm muttered an angry protest.
but the inspector continued. calmly:
Then he tells US that you seated
yourself at the same table as him at
supper last night and that on top OF
that you opened his bedroom door twice
last night"
What an Internal Hep' cried NAL
colin. 'he-'
Malcolm stopped suddenly as Mr..
Fitzroy rose to his feet and stepped
past him. His eyes followed his part
ner's movements He saw that the
door of the room was again open; he
saw Fitzroy step through the doorway
and come back again instantly. looking
very puzzled
DO you know" said the senior part
ner. looking queerly toward Malcolm.
that's the third time since we've been
in this room that this door has opened
without any one touching itr'
Malcolm stared blankly at his part
ner. and the inspectors face betrayed
his very strong interest in the situa-
ton
of course there's something wrong
with the door and 1t won't stay shut
unless It's locked" He locked the door
at the words.
Malcolm opened his lips to speak. but
the policeman suddenly laid big hand
on his shoulder.
"Just one moment Mr.. Malcolm"
he said. 7 think that door explains
the mystery; but first OF all tell me II
you know this bag"
Malcolm looked at the brown bag
the inspector held up
"Of course 1 do" he replied; '1ts the
one that was stolen from me-"
You are quite right. sir" said the
inspector. and his mouth twitched with
the suggestion of a smile. but Just
look at what is inside it,"
He opened the bag as he spoke and