The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-05

stared down at the desk. Under Bur
ieigh's anger ne saw a small round
blot-a patch perhaps the size OF
dime
1T is very fresh" said the detective.
It's copying ink, apparently. for the
blot Is stlIl almost q light blue
whereas every other one is black
More than that. it's hardly a. even
now"
But what"
What does 1t teach us?'' laughed
Burleigh. well, that he had need
for a pen and that he used one OF
yoyTs."
And what earthly use could he
have had for it,
4 don't know" confessed the de
tective. But use ne did have. and
he wanted it in a hurry. too"
He whistled softly through his teeth
Tor time, while Grafton watched
with what patience was possible Bur
leigh looked sharply at him.
You have no means OF knowing
Just how many sheets OF paper-letter
paper-are - the desk?"
'Of course not
1t had occurred TO me that &c might
have wanted to" BurIeigh broke
of suddenly. Envelopes. them
Well, I suppose the Government
stamped envelopes said Grafton.
vaguely.
Any idea or the number Of them
that YOU left last night?"
the owner OF the Grafton building
frowned IN thought
Why, yes he said suddenly. Il
have Last evening. Just before thar
telegram came, I needed an envelops
and opened a new bunch. They're in
that pigeOn-hOle now-ut, long kind.
you see / used one for mailing some
old insurance policies. There should
be twenty-four left"
You are positive Of that9-
Perfectly sure OF that ct least, Bur
leigh"
The detective took down the bundle
and counted them swiftly. Hs vhissIsd
aloud, and went through them again,
and even for a third time.
We'll. there are twenty-thres here
nowl" he said. triumphantly
'What?"
That's all"
For a moment they stared at each
other. Burleigh's train II iavesties-
lion seemed to be leading somewhere.
1T establishes another thing for a
certainty he said. softly. Our man
wanted to ipclose something in an en-
velope-then, / fancy, he wanted to d.
rect the envelope Possibly It was
letter he wTote-possibly-"
He walked slowly up and down the
private Office. Muttering slightly.
shaking his head, he had passed Graf
ton five or six times before he paused.
Grafton. there is something OF
other that you've omitted!'
Something that I've omitted? Why,
Ran, I'm trying to tell yea ali I can.
You must understand that"
4 do understand It. SIR, but there
is still something you've neglected 10
state. There is a link missing some
where or other which would bind all
these odd little facts together I'm
positive of it, Come. sir-what oc-
CURED this evening that I do not
known
"Why-nothing. Burleigh."
Think, Mr.. Grafton" persiSte1 the
detective. You were at the club. you
say. You came acre with this gentle
man. You entered the building. Did
any little thing happen then-anythinE
at ali out OF the ordinary, you know"
Nothing"
"Ah? And then You spoke to
Parker. He appeared entirely as usuel
not fiustered at seeing your
Certainly not"
Next, you went Up in the elevator.
Did you do anything unusual thers?"
'NYell-yes. Between the second
and third fors I showed Mr.. Elsfor5i
the .s0rking Of our automatic brake"
Indeed? cried Bur!eign. And it
made as much racket as usual-a noise
that could be heard Throughout ths
building?"
Il presume So"
Then we're bound to conclude that
that frightened the thief IL this office
Now-anything more, sir"
But, Burleigh-" began Grafton,
protestingiy. Then he stopped witt a
startled expression. BY Jovei Yesi
lust IS Ne were going mp. after that,