Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
The Stolen Shakespeare
Continued from pGge
Continued from pGge 8

give YOU a blank check if you haven't your
book with you"
But you've discovered nothing!"
the thief"
And yet your fee. if you had found either.
was to have been only five hundred! | don't
understand what you driving at, sir!''
Astro recrossed his legs and gave his client
gaze for gaze. He spoke now very delber
ately. His languorous tone had given place
to crisp, hard enumeration. Mr.. Barrister,
he said. what you say IS true. You under
stand me perfectly. If had told you the
name of the thief and the location of the book.
| should have charged you only five hundred
dollars. NV price for not telling you is one
thousand. Do YOU understand me now?"
Barristers face had changed from perplexity
to anger, and then to a sudden comprehen-
sion. He dropped his head and gazed at the
carpet, standing for some moments irresolute
and dismaved. Finally he walked to the desk,
took the blank check that Valeska handed to
him. and dipped his pen into the ink. He
You never expect to find the culprt,
SUPPOSED" he asked, with strange expression
on his face
Il never expect to-" answered the seer.
Barrister signed his name and handed over
the check. You are a most extraordinary
young man, sir'' he snarled, and left the
room, slamming the door behind him.
a minute, I've almost got it! 1t was
Barrister himself who stole the book-his own
book"
Which his wife had given him when
they were married; don't forget that said
Astro.
Yes; SO of course he wouldn't want her
to know he's been mean enough to dispose of
it. She is still in love with him, could see
that and she's sentimental old thing too.
So he had to mimic burglary, did he.''
md ct, 51y he
ordinary screwdriver which he didn't have
sense enough to destroy"
But why did he want the book What
did he do with it,
Made arrangements with Hepson that
morning, stole it that afternoon. Gambling
debt. You found that out yourself from White
who had been forcing Barrister for the money
and sore because he wouldn't pay up
Barrister is sadly in need of ready cash:
found that out from his bank. And Hepson
offered him thirty thousand for his folio
Then Hepson has the book now"
Or it's on its way there. That's the reason
he turned our telegr,aphed offer down He
already sold him his copy
How did you know that"
Let me ask you one question. What was
there about this case that was different from
most affairs like it,
strange that Barrister didn't call in the police
at once.
Precisely. If he had. he was afraid he
would have trouble, and Hepson might be in
vestigated. It's easy enough now for Barrster
to keep his wife from knowing anything of the
sale; and Hepson will be glad enough at get
ting the book to say nothing about it for a
year two. There was my start. 1t seemed
queer that Barrister, losing valuable a
treasure. shouldn't report it at once and have
il traced, and all the dealers notified. His
wfes belief in the occult was what got him
safely over the necessity of calling in the po-
lice. ] didn't like the way he protested SO
much that nobody had offered to buy his
folio. 1t seemed to back up my suspicion"
Il rather suspected Mary" commented
Ealeska. when / saw the violet stains her
fingers just like the ink on the scrap of paper
By the wav. where did YOU get the rest of
that paper, and what does it mean, 1t quite
led me astray.
Which was precisely what it was intended
to do. Our friend Mr.. Barrister tried not only
to hide his own tracks, but to create false
ones in order to befuddle any detective that
tackled the job. l noticed the violet writing
came past the ash barrels. So, l pre-
sumo did Barrister when he came home after
committing the robbery. Aha" he said to
himself, here's chance to fool any detective
that comes hunting for clues Ill give him
clues' So he took the piece, tore off part,
and carefully left it on the floor. confess
that was clever. for as his finding of it in the
ash can was entirely accidental, no one knows
where such trail might have led to. But the
trouble is that such man always goes too