Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-02-05

husband and wife were alone together
and while the officers drew themselves
up, one on each side of the door. Dr.
Furnivall removed his spectacles and
advanced to the lady. who sat by the
window. with a book in her hand.
Madam" he said, be good enough
10 look at me-"
She was a tall blonde with a beau.
tiful skin OF red and white, a willowy
form, luscious lips. and blue eyes that
were incomparably lovely and melting
and tender. She beamed up at him
with a smile that would capture the
one she was bestowing 1t on at the
moment. He stood with one hand in
his pocket. and easily repeated the
command:
Mrs. Van Dyke. tell me in as few
words as possible. who you are and
what you know about the attempted
theft OF Nine. Selba's diamonds"
In n colorless voice. she answered at
once:
Our name is Seely. not Van Dyke.
We pretended to belong TO that old
family for social reasons. We are ad-
venturers. My husband and I have
followed this singer three months
waiting for an opportunity to appropri-
ate her diamonds. which, we discov.
cred, she always left in charge of the
hotel wherever she was stopping. on
returning from the theater. At this
small hotel there is but one night
clerk. and the last bell-boy goes to bed
at two o'clock In the morning. We
studied to get this clerk out of the
way for a few minutes. leaving the
safe unlocked, and It must be after
the bell.boy had gone. My husband
learned the make OF the safe. ex.
amined those like 1t at the salesrooms.
had q small piece Of iron made to At
into the bolt-socket. and last evening
managed to spike the safe In the face
and eyes Of the clerk-an easy matter.
for he used to be professional
sleight of.hand performer. We had be-
come acquainted with the Thorndikes
at the table, and knew that the daugh.
ter would not dare to waken her moth
er by screaming. for she has a seri-
GUS heart trouble and the physician
has warned them against startling her
in any way, SO that IL the daughter
could be made to believe there was
somebody in her room she would be
likely TO run to the clerk. who would
probably start so hastily for the scene
that he would not give much attention
to the condition OF the safe.
I'VE had secured a room just under
Miss Thorndike's. and at three O'Clock
this morning my husband. through .
long tube of tin, made on the tele- |
scope pattern. which he thrust up to
her open window. initiated certain |
noises. as II a man were stumbling |
around in the dark. This awakened
her, and she did as we had studied It
out that she would do-she ran for the |
Office. And while the clerk was alb
sent from his place hastened down
and secured the black bag containing |
the diamonds. But a policeman, who.
as we have since learned. was in the
habit of coming TO the back door for |
a dram which was furnished him every |
at Just that time by the night
clerk. saw me at the safe and"
Yes. but please tell me what Mr..
had to do with all this?"
"Mr. Wrinkle was the provision we
made for my escape from conviction in
case I should be caught in the risky !
posed before him and his
pupils as completely helpless hyp-
motto subject In his hands, taking great
care that he and they should become
convinced that his mind dominated me
even at a distance. Then II
our plan should fail in any way, and
| should be apprehended. I could pre-
tend to be in a hypnotic trance. pro
duced by him, and acting under his di.
rection, with no responsibility Of my
own. | had many Witnesses, his pu-
pills. to prove that he could command
me in this way. Then he. not I. would
be convicted"
The authors of this ingenious
scheme were found TO be two noted
English confidence workers. wanted in
London on so many serious charges
hat, being sent back there by the
United States authorities. they were
zach OF them given sentences that
meant practically for life.
Copyright, 1909. by W. @. ChapmanJ
tCopyright 70 Great Dritsin)