Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-04-16

to turn up today seem to make it
worth while not to miss him if we can
help 1t. He isn't the sort of man that
lets a chance of drawing a bit Of
money go for nothing"
They returned to the ROOM. On the
wall just beneath the trapdoor a very
dusty old tall hat hung on a peg. This
Hewitt took down and examined very
closely, smearing his fingers with the
dust from the inside lining. SIS this
n Of your valuable and crusted old
antiques?" he asked, with a smile, of
Mr.. Claridge.
"That's only an old hat that l used
to keep here for use in bad weather."
MI. Claridge said, with some surprise
at the question. ~ haven't touched it
for q year or more"
"Oh, then it couldn't have been left
here by your last nights visitor" Hew-
lit replied, carelessly replacing it on
the hook. You left here at 8 last
] night, l think"
Eight exactly or within q minute or
two
"Just so. think III look at the
room on the opposite side of the land.
ing If you'll let me-"
Certainly If you'd like to-" Claridge
replied, but they haven't been there,
. 1t Is only Il lumber ROOM"
A number of partly broken up pack,
ing cases Uttered about this room, with
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 a rusty old
$ iron box that stood against a wall. 81
should like to see behind this" he said,
1 Juggling at it with his hands. at is
l heavy and dirty. Is there a small
crowbar about the house or some sim.
, liar lever:"
Mr.. Claridge shook his head. "Haven't
T such a thing in the place." he said.
) "Never mind" Hewitt replied. can.
other time will do to shift that old box
and perhaps, after all, there's little rea
son for moving it. 1 will just walk
round to the police station, I think, and
speak to the constables who were OF
duty opposite during the night. 1 think
Lord Stairway, 1 have seen all that
necessary here"
AS they reached the front shop 8
fiery faced old gentleman bounced il
at the street door, stumbling over al
umbrella that stood in a dark corner
and kicking it three yards away.
what the deuce do you mean," he
roared at MIR. 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 a thief? Can't a gen.
tleman come into this place to look at
an article without being suspected OF
stealing it when it disappears through
your wretched carelessness? I'll ask
my solicitor. sir, if there isn't a rem.
edy for this sort of thing. And if
catch another of your spy fellows OIL
my staircase or crawling about my
roof Ill-Ill shoot him."
Greatly, Mr.. Woollett," began Mr.
Claridge, somewhat abashed, but tn,
angry old man would hear nothing ant
bounced into the street again.
"Mr. Woollett is annoyed" Hewitt
observed, with a smile. I'm afrai(
Plummer has a clumsy assistant some
where"
Mr.. Claridge said nothing, but looked
rather glum, for MI. Woollett was
most excellent customer.
Lord Stairway and Hewitt walked
:. slowly down the street, Hewitt staring
= = at the pavement in profound thought
Once or twice Lord Stairway glanced
. at his face, but refrained from dis
turbing him. Presently, however, he
observed: you seem, at least, Mr.
> Hewitt, to have noticed something tina
has set you thinking. Does it look like
t a clew?"
i Hewitt came out of his cogitation a
once. GA clew?" he said. '"The case
I bristles with clews. But it is decided
ly a very remarkable one"
t Remarkable in what particular
}; way?"
! "In regard to motive. Now, it would
seem, as Plummer was saying to me
just now on the roof, that there were
= only two possible motives for such {
robbery. Either the man who took al
:, this trouble and risk to break int
Claridge's place must have desired tt
sell the cameo at a good price or ht
!, must have desired to keep it for him
self, being a lover Of such things. Blu
neither of these has been the actua
= motive"
perhaps he thinks he can extort {
o good sum from me by way of ransom?'
"No, it isn't that. Nor is it jealousy
nor spite, nor anything of that kind
. I know the motive, 1 think-but l wisl
, we could get hold of Hahn. l will
shut myself up alone and turn it ove1
+ in my mind for half an hour present
, ly."
: Meanwhile, what 1 want to know
is, apart from all your professional sub
7 tleties-which 1 confess I can't under
p stand-can you get back the cameo?"
"That," said Hewitt, stopping at the
corner of the street, IT am rather
afraid I cannot-nor anybody else
But / am pretty sure I know the thief
+ "Then surely that will lead you te