Putnam patriot., 1910-03-11
The Mystery
OF the Open
Window -.
A Clever Bit Of Detective Work
That Won q Reward.
By KARL K. SHINANSkY.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association
BY KARL K. SHINANsKY.

The acquaintance began In this wise
Lieutenant Philip vandermutL was
walking toward the war department In
Washington when Miss Beverly Com
stocks horse started to run away
The groom was thrown out, and the
reins dropped to the pavement. Van
dermuth was just in time to stop the
horse Miss Comstock distrusting bel
groom's driving abilities, vandermuth
drove her home. He was introduced
to her father and spent the evening Al
her home.
When vandermuth arrived ut his no.
tel he found that all that he could
think Of. was Beverly Comstock.
The next morning be received q note
from Captain Comstock requesting him
to 60 to Comstock's private once in
the Westing building. and be respond.
ed forthwith.
Il am glad you came" said Captain
Comstock. II want to talk to you
about some plans l have In hand"
The captain went to a large safe
which stood open before a wide win.
dow.
Young man." he said to Philip. I'll
you knew how valuable that roll OF
plans is you would not wonder at our
watchfulness. They are the same
ones | told you about last night. The
man you saw at the door is a secret
service agent detailed for duty here"
While he was talking he had taken
a paper from the safe. aud. leaving
the door open, he took ii to the table
where Philip was sitting. Philip and
the captain discussed the plan for hall
an hour or so, when Captain Comstock
went to the safe to get other draw
ings.
Philip was startled by a loud cry
and saw the captain fall with a thud
to the floor
Nandermuth rushed at him, saw that
he had tainted. then opened the door
and called for help.
He looked into the safe and gasped
The plans were gone
The secret service man stationed out
side rushed in and exclaimed: Whats
the matter? What's this disturbance
about?
THE plans are stolen" cried Philip.
Several other men came running in
to see what had happened. One OF
them. a doctor, examined the captain
and announced that his condition was
serious. but not dangerous.
In the meantime the man whom Phil.
ip had met at the door called up the
secret service Office. and In few
minutes the chief himself hurried in,
and straightway Vandermuth was put
on the grill
The secret service men examined the
room from end to end. The doorkeep-
er said no one had passed him.
The captain had recovered by this
time and was sitting on the couch
pale and weak.
Well" said the service man, "tht
secretary of war orders US to finc
those papers if We have to use the
whole force"
As Vandermuth went to his hotel be
heard the newsboys yelling:
Extra, extra, All about the big
robbery! Government plans stolen!'
Philip bought a paper and saw that
all the facts were correctly stated
Halfway down the column he read IL
subhead type:
THE SECRET SERVICE ACCUSES Nc
ONE. BUT A FRIEND OF CAPTAIN
COMSTOCk is THOUGHT TO BE
UNDER SUSPICION.
vandermuth gasped.
nil h 1anfnin ffnmSfnC L
was discussing the absorbing subject
with his daughter.
Beverly" he said. there is only
one way | can think it was done"
How she asked. with interest.
Il hope it is not true, but when ]
was closing the door Lieutenant Van
dermuth might have thrown the plans
out of the window TO friend
"oh. father. you don't think that. do
your cried Beverly In despair.
The next morning Nandermuth Went
over TO the Gomstoeks'. where he was
met by Beverly. who led him To her
fathers study. There Philip found the
captain.
..Ah.r he said scornfully and tact
lessly, IA clever rogue. Sir. neither
my daughter nor myself can associate
with man under suspicion Betty.
show him the door
Philip WAS staggered by this and
was about to make hot retort. but
he turned and marched TO the door.
followed by Beverly.
When out of hearing Of the lrate
captain the daughter looked the lieu
tenant full in the eyes and tremulous-
ly inquired:
Did you take those plansE
mo. Miss Comstock: did not touch
them"
A week later he was sitting IN the
window Of the captains office, as ne
had done a dozen times since the plans
were lost. He had volunteered his
seryices to the officials, and. more with
the idea Of keeping him under surveii
lance than expecting any help from
him, they had permitted Fandermuth
free access to the offices
yandermurh was looking dreamy
at the big building across the street.
when he saw a mans face at a VIII
dow several floors up
IF that mans arm were long enough
he could reach down here. thougn'
Philip.
That evening be went to the Com
stocks. where he found Beverly and
told her what be had discovered snt
laughed at him. Philip explained the
thief might have dshed for the papers
but Beverly pointed out that be woaia
have been seen from the street
Two whole days were spent by van
dermnfh going from once TO Office In