Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-05-04
HOW THE THIEF
GOT IN AND OUT.

By 2. ANTHONY TwININo.

Fs"fAAAAE
the country residence OF Hugo Van
vliet, and. being detective. 7 knew
Il meant that my professional services
would be required. RiF. Van Vliet met
me at the station and while taking me
70 his house in his runabout motor car
told me what had happened. He had
a number Of guests In his house. near
~ all Of whom were. like himself, very
wealthy. II was his FIRST season there,
the house having been recently finish
ed, and he had opened 1t with what he
considered a distinguished circle OF
friends. They were all high class so
eiety people with a British lord thrown
in 10 give the party eclat
Nearly every night some one Of his
guests had been robbed OF either mon
ey or jewels or both. After the first
disappearance he had enJolned all of
them TO be careful to lock their doors
and had bolts put on every door. For
few nights after this there were no
robberies. but then they commenced
again. The BritlsheF's Q4ord Manner
leigh lady had been robbed Of some
superb jewels. The singular part Of II
was that after the valuables were TAX
en-, though the thief could only have es-
capped by the door. II remained locked.
While all were at dinner was
shown the rooms, examining the APP
breaches. the connections with other
rooms. the windows and lastly the
locks and bolts This done, I sent for
the host.
mr.. Van Vllet," I said, II presume
there are times when your guests are
out Of doors amusing themselves"
Yes. both morning and afternoon"
''The maids get through putting the
rooms In order In the morning. ! sup
pose. and IN the afternoon the upstairs
Il deserted2"
"Yea."
Some one at such time has fixed the
rooms TO be entered"
Then It must be one Of the serv-
ants
THE thief IL not one Of the servants.
! suspect one Of your guests"
"You are mistaken"
"Very well. l will accuse no one. l
must either catch the rogue in the act
or the case goes by default. No one
hns yet seen me. Tonight ! win sleep
In the village. and tomorrow | will ar
rive as one Of your guests. have my
evening dress with me and can make
q presentable appearance shall DO
a tribe brusque IN manner. for shall
hail from the far west. My wealth
win be my principal claim to your
friendship. win be John Rogers, a
mine owner"
As Mr.. Rogers l arrived the next
afternoon, went 10 my room aud
moved the bed 80 that by putting out
my hand l could switch on the electric
lights. Then / dressed and went down
70 dinner. AT table l talked a good
deal OF my mines and my taste for
Jewels. Speaking OF the latter. said
that had great fancy for sapphires
and was making up lot OF them to
have made into a necklace to take
back west TO my wife for an annlver-
aary wedding present. | said kept
those ! had collected with me and
would be happy to show them after
dinner, At this Mr.. Van Vllet frowned,
the conversation was changed. and tho
Jewels were not produced.
That night when all the others had
retired ! went to my room. locked and
bolted my door. put small box under
my pillow. then went TO bed and lay
awake waiting, About 8 In the morn
ing heard slight mouseliko sound
80 slight that II was scarcely dlstin-
the door. Then l heard
Indications OF some one fumbling about
the room. had left no valuables on
the dresser or IN my pockets. so the
thief must come nearer, Presently
fancied hand slipping under the mat.
trees. but this might be fancy. What
was not fancy was grasp on tho box
under my pillow, | caught the arm
of figure knecllng beside the bed
Then l turned on the lights held
a woman, and that woman was Lady
sAh," I sald. Il supposed bis lOrdship
was doing these Jobs"
Jumping out Of bed. pushed a but.
ton. A servant on watch answered the
summons.
"Stay here with this woman" said.
''and don't let her 10 out"
] went softly Into the hall and saw
4 white figure slip into Lord Manner,
leighs room. Mannerleigh had evil
dently been watching. l locked bis
lordship's door and. returning to my
room. stood watch over the countess
while the servant went for Mr.. Van
vllet when he came he received the
surprise Of his life.
When the earl aud his lady had been
turned over 20 the p0llce-he was an
English valet and she a lady'a maid
with forged letters-I showed Mr.. Van
vliet little hole IN the door Of every
room that had been entered. except
the thiefS which had been plugged.
over the lock aud bolt. each end Of the
plug having hcen dabbed with white
enamel like the door 30 nicely aa to
be almost unnOtlecable. Through the
hole a wire with a joint had been
nrsakss8 VSshau khss N.lKaN sssaa Fesfs4..