Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-09-30

library.
Very good. SIR"
From cellars TO kitchens and serv-
ants quarters. all through the draw
Ing rooms. shroudcd In summer cover
inss. prowling around on his hands
and knees. poking into dusty corners.
pcering into the most unsupported
places. went Detective Fem.
IL was battling case. Detective
Fem admitted that to himself as he
sat on the side OF the bankers bed to
rest from his labOrs. II lie could dis
cover he thief he would receive the
$1,000 reward. and that $1,000 would
purchase the little home IN the coun-
Try which he and his wife had long
planned for. james Fem was a pri-
waite detective. and the news OF the
robbery had not yet gone forth TO the
newspapers.
i've simply got TO earn that thou
sand" groaned Detective Fem. But
how He glanced wildly around the
room In which he had not discovered
the slightest clew so far. and his eyes
fell on n pair Of bedroom slippers near
his feet They were large slippers and
apparently the property Of Mr.. Radda-
son. an elaborate pattern was embroid-
cred in beads on the velvet slippers,
but some OF the threads were broken
and the beads were slipping on. In
fact Fem noted here and there on the
light carpet some Of the rose colored
beads shat formed the flowers. and
farther Oh near the hall door there
were some green beads.
Interested now. he slipped to his
hands and knees and followed the trail
OF the dropped beads He brought bis
light and his magnlfying glass into
constant play as he moved slowly
down the length OF the velvet carpet
ed hall to the foot OF the stairway that
led to another door OF bedchambers.
Now and then he came upon drop
ped bead. sometimes green or white or
pink. on stair and along corridors.
sufficiently numerous to give him a
definite clew to follow. Up a second
flight OF stairs he followed the trail
i OF the beads until a group OF several
brought him TO standstill at the foot
OF the ladder leading to the trapdoor
in the roof.
THAT was the weak point In my
theory OF the flying machine" he muir.
INJURED to himself as he climbed the
ladder IL couldn't understand how
the dickens that chap knew the trap
door would be unlocked from within.
Its clear enough now He chuckled
softly as he pushed up the trap and
emerged TO the red painted tin roof
The noon sun glistened ON something
bright. and he bent TO discover another
bead
"Ah" smiled Detective Fem. shad.
ing his eyes with his hand and looking
away of 10 the blue haze which mark
ed the rural district where he had
planned TO have a home some day.
Looks as if that home isn't so far OF.
Elizar
one. two. three. four. Ave. six. seven
beads led Fem in zigzaG line to the
foot Of one Of the four chimneys Of the
house This chimney. unlike the others.
was topped with larg. galvanized
iron hood that effectually prevented
any drafts from entering the unused
Hues. A little hinged door ON either
end made II possible 10 occasionally
nse the chimney without removing the
/ iron hood. but now these little doors
were closed
Detective Fcnn's penknlfe pried open
/ No NIL
inside the opening and lighted up the
SoOty cap of the chimney. There rest
ing ON the narrow brick ridge was a
paper wrapped parcel which unfoIded
In FennS hands into the Raddas0n
jewel ease. The jewels were safe in
side
With long drawn sigh OF relief and
n parting wave Of his hand nj the dis
tant country. Detective Fem scurried
down the stairs aud stopped before the
library door TO regain his breath and TO
appear as nonchaIant and cool as n
detective Is supposed 10 feel at critical
moments. Then he pushed the door
open and entered the room.
| Mr. Raddason looked up with slight
smile that broadened to laughing dis
may when he saw the parcel that Fem
carried
Caught me. ehY' he chuckled. hold
ing out his hand for the Jewel case.
well done. Fem. thought had
you fairly puzzled | used 10 read
detective stories until ! got tired VI
their plots. SO invent 'em myself now
and watch some slenth like you work
'em out before my eyes It's worth
thousand easily TO me. Tell me why
you abandoned your flying machine
theory"
1T really wasn't theory. MIR Rad
dason. Just mentioned II because
couldn't think OF anything else at the
moment. You did II very cleverly. sir.
You did leave patch OF soot on the
sleeve Of your paJamas which could
not understand until found the beads
that you lost from your slippers. BY
the way sir. you did wear the slippers