The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
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with Charles, the butler had received
from his employer a valuable gold
watch as a tribute to his heroism in
shooting at a burgler frightening him
sway and saving the family from seri-
Gus loss and possible injury. At that
vine the newspapers made wide com
nent on MatiocS's Leroism. His wage
was increased. He became a valued
member of the household.
The chief listened to Falkner's story
with eager interest. Every nerve IN
his body seemed on edge. lie was the
esert sleuth. One would never have
Imagined him the same quiet individual
VINO found his delight in poxing over
the Old volumes in second hand hook
store or in studying the philosonhers
lie was different kind of student
now. At once he proceeded to investi
gate the case on his own account. What
deductions he had made while listen
Ing TO FalkDer's tale he did not make
known No description can properly
portray the exactness. the fnesse. the
accuracy. with which every corner.
crevice, room. was examined.
His first step after the Investigation
o. the premises was TO obtain a fun
statement from each member of the
family and from every servant All the
stories practically agreed. It ap-
peared that Charles. the butler hero.
had been awakened from his sleep ct
about 8 o'clock in the morning by a
strange sound. He ustened-the sound
seemed 10 come from some part of the
front parlor Charles slept in the base
Tnent. Arming himself with a re-
volver, he touched the electric button.
Il failed 70 work Finding a con-
venient candle. Charles lighted it and
crept silently. cautiously. up the stairs
leading TO the next floor. Suddenly. as
. he proceeded. he came face to face
with the intruder. There was a short,
desperate struggle. Tables and chairs
were overturned. Two distinct pistol
shots were heard. The family was
aroused and rushed TO the parlor floor.
There lay the intruder-dead, shot
through the heart. Charles. the butler.
who had al gain proved himself a hero.
was dangerously wounded by bullet
that had pIowed through his neck.
This was the substance Of what seemed
20 me a most thrilling tale.
Outside in the street, IN front Of the
Falkner residence. one Of the police
men had found a bundle wrapped in an
old newspaper. It contained what
proved to be the underwear of the
dead burglar. Of cheap red flannel ma
terial. such as usually worn by the
yeggmen. This bundle the chief
guarded closely and requested me to
initial for further Identification.
IN all OF the statements OF those VI
tally interested, Butler Matlock was
the hero OF the occasion. Here was a
man to be proud OF. and again tho
newspapers. when the affair reached
the news rooms, in their faring head
lines blazofed forth Matlocks won
derful heroism he became the man
OF the hour. The Falkner family. their
relatives and connections. friends. and
the servants who were the hero's CO
workers in the Sutter street house, all
worshiped at his bedside as if 1t had
- been a shrine.
was glad to have seen q hero IN
real life. but when I mentioned this
TO my chief he merely grunted in a
noncommittal way He went right on
with his Investigations. that day Of
tho murder, as II he had something far
more complicated than a case Of hero
TO pursue Calling me to his side. be
grunted his instructions for me to
make a memorandum Of everything he
did and said, every examination he
rnade-a tremendous task, truly, for
the intricate workings Of that master
mind constituted a task Of immense
proportions. There were no Sherlock
Holmes deductions in what the old
chief did or said He formed his
theories rapidly. quickly. with the in
tuition that is rare, and once formed,
those theories were not easily to be
shaken He was adamantine in ad-
herring 10 his deductions unless direct,
fncontestabIe and irrefutable evidence
proved the contrary. The chief care
fully examined the scene Of the crime.
where the burglar and the butler had
. their fatal scufae. I tried TO fathom
the conclusions at which this wonder
ful man had already arrived, but 1 was
completely at sea.
Walking toward the kitchen he no
ticed a small crevice cut in the kitchen
door. Demonstrating with his own
hand the impossibility of reaching the
key or bolt, Inside job" he growled.
That door was unlocked from the
inside, not the outside" he said.
The door leading to the hallway from
the kitchen had been jimmied IN a
manner that would not aid in opening
It Besides the brass bolt and plate
had no scratch or other sign Of having
been forced. Even to my unprofes-
sional mind these conditions presented
Unusual theories
The electric wires were shipped in
the kitchen and the gas turned off at