Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-12
The Argus Daily Story
Bit of Amateur Detective Work-By Edith D. Martin.
Copyrighted

gueSts-a list of whom | gave him
left with him package for transmits
sion. Ny chief object was to remain
at home when the others were out en-
joying their winter sports. With this
in view. was constantly assuming one
indiSposition or another for an excuse
to carry out my plan.
had little doubt that if l found the
watch l should discover it in Sarah
fuckers possession. did not see how
she could we'll hide it anywhere but in
her room. l was obliged to take great
risks in going there. for if caught L
should be considered q thief myself.
I thought Of communicating my design
as a protection to our host, but he
was too headstrong to trust with so
delicate a matter. and l preferred to
work without a single confederate.
The first chance l got to remain in
doors when the others were out l
waited in the hall till 1t was deserted.
then went into Miss fuckers room
for search. / expected to find GER
tain receptacles where she might have
placed the watch locked, but to my
surprise everything-her trunk. bureau
drawers. suitcase, alligator skin bag.
glove and jewel boxes-an were open.
At first this induced me to believe that
l was on the wrong track. but a mo-
ments reflection told me that I was
on the right one. If the watch was in
her possession and her room was
searched during her absence to lock
her receptacles would avail nothing
and might indicate that she had some
thing to hide.
However, searched every nook and
corner, looked into the toes OF her
shoes and felt of her clothes. No
watch did find. Hearing some one
in the hall. stood for a moment with
my hand on the doorknob. The foot
steps passed down the staircase, and
there was perfect stiffness.
1 heard the faint ticking of q watch
But where? Had l not searched
everywhere and found no watch. not
even one rightfully belonging to Sarah
Tucker? l walked toward the center
of the room and stood listening. l had
lost the ticking, and 1t was some time
before 1 could pick It up again, and
| is no direction to sound, though the
nearer one approaches it the louder it
is. 1 moved toward the door where
I had first heard the ticking. but If
there was any increase or diminution l
| failed to detect 1t. At the other end
of the room was an open fireplace
with crate between the two win
dows. l moved toward one Of the
windows and stood by it. fancied
the ticking to be more distinct.
moved slowly to the other window.
stopping to listen after every step
realized that, as the children say
in their hiding games, was getting
warm" 1 put my ear to the fire.
place, and the ticking was louder.
/ thrust my hand up the chimney and
felt its sides. Presently l clutched
watch. 1t was hanging to a nail. I
took 1t out from its hiding place and
saw that 1t was a lady's watch. and
did not doubt that 1t was Cecile's.
Hurrying to my room, l washed the
SCOT off my arm and changed my dress
for the sleeve was blackened, then
walked the floor to calm myself that l
might form plan for turning the
obloquy of the theft from innocent
George Chace to the real thief, Sarah
Tucker The stolen article now being
in my hands. if discovered with it the
charge would fall upon me. 1t flashed
upon me to put the watch back in the
chimney. Fortunately none of the
guests had come in and I had plenty Of
time to do so. Then | wrote In dis
guised hand on bit of paper. Listen
at the fireplace of Miss fuckers ROOM .
and. slipping into our hosts chamber.
left 1t on his dresser, where he would
not fail to see 1t as soon as he went
there. He had taken a party out in
an automobile and came in before the
; other groups. AS soon as he entered
he went to his room to dress for din
ner. | was on the watch. and in n few
minutes after his arrival | heard him
60 to Miss fuckers room. when he
came out / saw that he grasped some
: thing in his hand. At dinner | saw by
his face that something momentous
| was on his mind But he controlled its
= repression so successfully that | alone
noticed it, When he arose from this
table he announced that he would lik,
to see us all in the drawing room. Aft-
er we had assembled there he said:
"A great injustice has been done ia
George Chace. The stolen watch has
. come to hight under circumstances to
indicate that he was made the victim
:, of n conspiracy. / need not accuse the
real culprit who is my guest, to ex-
- onerate Chace."
Then ne went to Cecile and handed
her her watch.
: When | met George he threw his
J. arms around me In his impulsve way
saying:
"What a dolt I've been to get mixed
up with either Of those girls! You're
4 worth a thousand of them"
g fcrgave him.