The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-04-09
: HOW THE THIEF
!: GOT IN AND OUT.
: eeeeseeeeeeeseeee oee .
By I. ANTHONY TwlNINc.

OOA AN ANIL W u.
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BY I. ANTHONY TWlNlNc.
Copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
| ciation.l
was telegraphed to come at once to
the country residence Of Hugo Van
viiet, and. being detective, I knew
1t meant that my professional services
would be required. Mr.. Van vliet met
me ut the station and while taking me
to 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. 1t was his first season there.
the house baving been recently finish.
ed, and he had opened 1t with what he
considered a distinguished circle Of
friends. They were all high class So
ciety people with a British lord thrown
In to 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 enjoined all Of
them to be careful to lock their doors
and had bolts put on every door. For
a few nights after this there were no
rubberies. but then they commenced
again. The Britisher's Uord 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. 1t remained locked.
While all were at dinner was
shown the rooms. examining the az
proaches. the connections with other
rooms. the windows and lastly the
locks and bolts. This done, sent for
the host.
MIR. Van vliet." said. Il presume
there are times when yourHguests 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
is desertedg"
"Yes."
"Some one at such time has fixed the
rooms to be entered"
Then II must be one of the serv.
ants"
THE thief Is not one of the servants
suspect one Of your guests"
You are mistaken"
"very We will accuse no one.
must either catch the rogue In the act
or the case goes by default. No one
has yet seen me. Tonight will sleep
In the village. and tomorrow will ar
rive as one Of your guests. | have my
evening dress with me and can make
presentabie appearance. shall be
tribe brusque In manner. for shall
hail from the far west. Ny wealth
Twill be my principal claim TO your
friendship. win be John Rogers. q
mine owner
1 As Mr.. Rogers arrived the next
afternoon, went to my room and
moved the bed so that by putting out
my hand I could switch on the electric
lights. Then dressed and went down
10 dinner. At table | talked a good
deal Of my mines and my taste fol
jewels. Speaking Of the latter. 1 said
that had a great fancy for sapphires
and was making mp lot OF them Il
have made Into a necklace to TAKE
back west TO my wife for an anniver
gary wedding present. said I KEEP
those ! had collected with me ant
would be happy to show them aftel
dinner. At this Mr.. Van yliet frowned
the conversation was changed. and th'
jewels were not produced.
That night when all the others has
retired went 10 my room. locked an'
bolted my door. put small box undo
, my pillow. then went 20 bed and Ia.
awake waiting. About In the morn
ing I heard slight mousellke sound
so slight that II was scarcely distin
guishable-at the door. Then hear
: Indications Of some one fumbling abou
the room. | had left no valuables o.
the dresser or In my pockets. SO tn
thief must come nearer. Presently
fancied a hand slipping under the mai
: tress. but this might be fancy. wha
was not fancy was grasp on the bo
under my pillow. caught the arr
: OF q figure kneeiing beside the be-
Then | turned on the lights. bel
!. woman, and that woman was Lad
!. 1 Manncrlpivh
"Ah." ! said. Il supposed bis iordshi
was doing these Jobs"
II Jumping out Of bed. I pushed bu
: ton. A servant on watch answered III
summons.
"Stay here with this woman SAX
"and don't let her go out.
went softly Into the hail and So
white flgIre slip into Lord Mannc
leigh's room. MannerleIgh had ev
IDENTIFY, been watching. I locked b
lordship's door and, returning to m
= room. stood watch over the couutti
= while the servant went for Mfr. Va
yliet. when he came be received Il
surprise Of his life.
When the earl and bis lady had bee
: turned over TO the polIce-he was a
r English valet and she q lady's ma
with forged letfers-1 showed STR. Va