Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-04-23

most insecurity hung on external
hinges. The burglar had a screw
driver, for he took off the door lock
below with it. Why, then, didn't he
take this trap off by the hinges instead
of making a noise and taking longer
time and trouble to burst the bolt from
its ~fastenings? And why, if he were
a stranger, was he able to plant his
Jimmy from the outside just opposite
the interior bolt? There was only one
mark OF the frame, and that precisely
In the proper place.
after that I saw the leather case.
1t had not been thrown away or some
corner would have shown signs of the
fall. 1t had been put down carefully
where it was found. These things,
however, were of small importance
compared with the hat. The hat, as
you know, was exceedingly thick with
dust, the accumulation of months. But
on the top side, presented toward the
trapdoor, were a score or SO of rain
drop marks. That was all. They
were new marks, for there was no
dust over them. They had merely had
time to dry and cake the dust they had
fallen N. Now, there had been no
a since a sharp shower just after Z
o'clock last night, as the police told
me. AT that time you, by your own
statement, were in the place. You left
at 8, and the rain was all wei at ten
minutes or a quarter past Z. The trap
door, you also told me, had not been
opened for months. The thing was
plain. You or somebody who was
here when you We're had opened that
trapdoor during or just before that
shower.
"The only other evidence there was
pointed with all the rest. There were
no rain marks on the leather case 1t
had been put Oh the roof as an after
thought when there was no rain. l also
saw In b lumber room q number of
packing cases-one with a label dated
two days ~back-which had been OPEN
ed with an iron lever, and yet when I
made an excuse to ask for it you said
there was no such thing in the place.
Inference: You didn't want me to COM
pare it with the marks on the desks
u doors. That is all, I think. 1 am
going now to Lord Stanway's. If 1
We're you, l think I should apologize to
MI. Woollett in some way"
Lord Stairway, who in the hour or
Two Of reflection left him after parting
with Hewitt had come to the belief
that be had employed q nan whose
mind was not always in order, re-
ceived Hewitt's story with natural as
constituent. Fol- some time he was in
doubt as to whether he would be doing
right In acquiescing in anything but a
straightforward public statement Of
the facts connected with the disappear
ance of the cameo, but in the end was
persuaded to let the affair drop on re-
ceiving an assurance from Mr.. Woollett
that he unreservedly accepted the apol-
ogy offered him by Mr.. Claridge.
AS for the latter, he was at least
sufficiently punished in loss Of money
and personal humiliation for his es-
capade. But the bitterest and last
blow be sustained when the unblush-
ing Hahn walked smilingly into his
office two days later to demand the
extra payment agreed on in considera-
ton Of the sale. And the unhappy
Claridge was obliged to pay it, know
ing that the man had swindled him,
but unable to open his mouth to say so.
The reward remained on offer for a
long time-indeed, it was never public
ly withdrawn, 1 believe, even at the
time Of Claridge's death. And several
intelligent newspapers enlarged upon
the fact that an ordinary burglar had
completely baftled and defeated the
boosted acumen Of Mr.. Martin Hewitt,
the we'll known private detective.