The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-02-11
The Mystery
OF the Open
Window -.
a Clever Dit Of Detective Work
That Won a Reward.
by KARL X. SHIMANSRY
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
'"rNright 1910. by American Press
Association.

Tie acquaintance Lcgnn IN this wise:
Lieutenant Philip Nundermuth was
walking toward the war department In
Washington when Miss Beverly Com.
stocks horse started TO run away.
The EroULi was thrown out, and the
rrinS dropped 10 the pavement Van.
''rmulll was just In time To stop the
horse. Miss tumstuck distressing her
ir""ms driving abilities, Nandcrmuth
drove her home. IIc was introduced
I" her father and spent the evening ut
her home
When Nnndcrmuth arrived ut his ho.
tel hr found that all that he could
think of was beverly Comstock.
The nest morning he received n note
from Captain Cumstock requesting him
10 &" 10 Comstock's private office In
the WcsIinF building. aud he respond.
Cd forthwith,
II am glad you came" said Captain
'omsl",E. Il want 10 talk TO you
about some plans | have In hand"
Tn" captain went TO II large snre
which stood open before II wide win.
dow.
Young man." he said to Philip, az
you knew how valuable TINT roll Of
plaus Is You would not wonder at our
wntchrulncss They nre tho same
ones | told You about last night Tho
mnn you saw ut the door Is II secret
service agent detailed for duty here"
while hc was talking he Ind taken
u paper from the snfc, and, leaving
tho door open. he took II to the table
where Phillip was sitting Philip nnd
the ,aptuIn discussed the plan for half
an hour or 80, when Captain cymstock
went to the safe To get Other draw
imgs
rhiiip was startled by u loud cry
aud saw the captain fall with II ,hud
~ the tuur
Nandormuth rushed at him, saw Tint
h" bad tainted, then opened the door
and called for help.
lie locked Into the safe aud gaspcd
The plans were gone.
The secret service man stationed out,
sldp rushed In aud exclaimed: whats
the mullcrf What's this disturbance
abuuif
"Ihr plHns ARE slolcn!' cried Philip.
Several other men came running In
10 see what had Unopened. One of
them, II doctor, examined the captain
and announced that his condition was
serious. hut not dangerous
In the meantime the lnun whom Phil
IL had met ut tho door called up the
secret service office, mud IN few
nlauirs the chief himself hurried In.
mud slInightway Vundcrnuth WIS put
uu th" grin
The rrrrct service men examined the
room FROM end To end, The doorkccp'
or snId 40 one had passed him.
TIL" captain had recovered by this
time and was sitting on the couch.
pale aud weak.
"Wrll,' said the service man, "ths
secretary At war orders ", to find
those papers II we have To use tho
whole force"
As NnndrImuih went To his hotel he
heard the ncwsboys yelling:
"ENtrn, extra! Al about tho biz
robbery! Government plans stolen"
I'hillp bought II paper and saw TINT
all the fn"tI were correctly stated.
halfway down the column he reud In
guIh"nd type.
rllE SECRET SERVICE ACCUSES 40
ONE. hut A FRIEND OF CAPTAIN
COMSrOck ~ TIIOCGIT TO Hn
UNDER SUSPICION.
Nnnd"rmnlh guspcd.
Tho same night Captain COmstOck
was discussing The absorbing subject
With his daughter
"Hcvcry." he said. there IL only
Que way can think II was done"
How" she nsk"d. with interest.
II hop" 1t Is not true. but when !
was closing the door Lieutenant Van
dcrmullI might hav" thrown the plans
Out Of The window 10 II fricud
"Oh. father. you don't Trims that. do
| yOut' cried Beverly In despair
The ucyr morning Nnndrrlnuth went
over 10 the tUmsIurks', where he was
met by Beverly. vino led him 10 her
| fathers study, There IhiIip found the
| captain,
All" lac said scurnfully aud tact
| Icssly. "a clever rogue. Sir, neither
my daughter nor myself can associate
with n man under suspicion, hrtty
show him the door
iLi'ip was staggered by this and
Vas about 10 make u hot rctort. but
| h." turned and marched 10 the door
| followed by beverly.
| When ont Of hearing Of the irnIc
captain the daughter looked the lieu.
tenant fun In the eyes and ircmnlOua'
| " inquired:
| Did you take those plnnsT
go, Mis- Com took; | did not touch
| them"
A week Inter he was sitting In III"
| window u the cnptllnB office, M u"
| ha1 done II dozen times since the plnns
| were lost He had volunteered his
gcrvicca 10 tn" Officials aud. more with
the iIra keeping him under suryell
lance nam expecting amy help from
| hin E'ry bad permitted Nhnhcrnulii
| free "ncr' 10 the offices.
| NaI"ruuth was looking drcnmily
NJ IA" big building across the street
when he saw mans face nt n win
dow several nnors up
"ff that mans arm were long enough
he could reach down here" thought
lhiiip.
That evening hc went to the Com,
ste. 20 where he found Beverly and
tod her whnt 10 had discovered, Sho
laughed ut him Philip explained tho