Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-07-14

cover the thief he w0uld 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 pri-
vate detective, and the news of the
robbery had not yet gone forth to the
newspapers.
1--WE 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 a 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 Oh the velvet slippers,
but some of the threads were broken
and the beads were slipping off. In
fact. Fem noted here and there on the
light carpet some Of tine rose colored
beads that formed the flowers. and
farther on near the hall door there
were some green beads.
Interested now, he slipped to his
1tlAOo anu NlIcCS anu lOlIoNcO IuC Ilull
of the dropped beads. He brought his
light and his magnifying 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 floor of bedchambers
Now and then he came upon a drop
ped bead. sometimes green or white or
pink. on stair and along corridors,
sufficiently numerous to give him q
definite clew to follow. Up second
flight Of stairs he followed the trail
Of the beads until group of several
brought him to a standstill at the foot
CT 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. II couldn't understand how
the dickens that chap knew the trap
door would be unlocked from within.
It's clear enough now" He chuckled
softly as lie 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 off to the blue haze which mark.
ed the rural district where be had
planned to have a home some day.
"Looks as if that home isn't so far off,
Elizav'
One, two. three, four, five, six, seven
beads led Fem III zigzag line to the
foot of one Of the four chimneys of the
house. This chimney. unlike the others
was topped. with large galvanized
iron hood that effectually prevented
any drafts from entering the unused
flues A little hinged door on either
end made it possible to occasionally
use the chimney without removing the
iron hood, but now these little doors
were closed.
Detective Fenn's penknife pried ope1
the nearest door, and the sunshine fel
inside the opening and lighted up the
sooty cap of the chimney. There rest
ing on the narrow brick ledge was 6
paper wrapped parcel which unfoldee
in Fenn's hands into the Raddaso1
jewel case. The jewels were safe in
side.
With long drawn sigh of relief anc
parting wave of his hand at the dis
tant country. Detective Fem scurriec
down the stairs and stopped before thu
library door to regain his breath and tt
appear as nonchalant and cool as {
detective is supposed to feel at critica
moments. Then he pushed the doo1
open and entered the room.
Mr.. Raddason looked up with Sigh
smile that broadened to laughing dis
may when he saw the parcel that Fem
carried.
Caught me. eh?' he chuckled. hold
ing oHt his hand for the jewel case
''We! done. Fem. thought | hat
you fairly puzzled. used to rea(
detective stories until got tired O
their plots, SO invent 'em myself nov
and watch some sleuth like you worl
'em out before my eyes. It's worth {
thousand easily to me-. Tell me VIII!
you abandoned your flying machine
theory"
1T really wasn't theory. Mr. Rad
dason. | just. mentioned it because
couldn't think of anything else at TIL
moment. You did it very cteverly, sir
You did leave a patch of SCOT on tn
sleeve Of your pajamas which l coult
not understand until found the bead
that you lost from your slippers BY
the way. sir. you did wear the slippers
last night when you went/ up on tn
roof to conceal the jewels?"
Mr.. Raddason nodded. II didR
know the beads were being scattered
So I left a trail of evidence ash wen
along. eh. straight to the chimney"
Eyes. SIR"
The millionaire wrote a check for 81
amount that covered a generous fee a
we'll as the thousand dollars special re
ward and gave it to the detective
"Tll confess i ought to have found 1
better hiding place. Fenn," he salt
ruefully. 1.-The next time set you ;
problem it'll be one that keeps 20,
guessing for awhile! Come out nov
and have some luncheon with me-"
Thanks. Mr.. Raddason. but I've go
to meet Mrs. Fem. We're going tt
look at a little place in the countr!
we're thinking Of buying And as tn
detective hurried away he. looked IA
happier than the millionaire who hat
planned this fictitious jewel robbery t.
afford himself some hours Of amuse
uent