Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-02-23
4 MATTER OF MATHEMATICS
IN ADVENTURE OF PETER CREWE-"THE MAN
WITH THE CAMERA EYES"
By H A ROLD AFTER

were lost in meditation, ne sllpped
down to the ground.
Good morning, Mr.. Simpson, he
J said. extending his hand to the bank
| manager. IF we get to New York
before the police capture him, l hope
to have the pleasure of presenting Mr..
| Rowell to you. And that" he added,
lis probable enough, since the police
are dealing with an extremely astute
gentleman"
We made our way to New York and
had an interview with the head OF
the police department. He informed
me of the situation in regard to the
missing man.
That he was in the city was GER
tainty. Had any authentic portrait of
him existed, he would undoubtedly
have been captured long before. At
present it seemed almost Impossible
to take him. But if Rowell was i'm
mune from arrest, he. in turn, could
not leave New York. Detectives were
watching every road, every railroad
station, every ferry house from which
boats left for the New Jersey shore.
Rowell's only possible point OF es-
cape was Long Island. He could doubt
less evade the detectives and cross
the Brooklyn bridge during the rush
hour. But that would be risky pro-
ceeding, for, though Brooklyn lay
open to him, he could not cross from
any point of Long Island to the Con-
necticut shore, while his return to
New York itself would be fraught
with dangers. 1t was highly probable,
therefore, that Rowell was still within
the limits of the borough of Manhat-
tan.
Where are you searching?' Crewe
asked the police chief.
1--WE have two dozen men looking
through the whole city," said the 1T
ter. Were raking it as fine as
though we used a toothcomb. Sooner
or later he must be found"
"The only drawback to that scheme
is that while you are raking one dis
trict Rowell is likely to be in an
other"
well, how would you do better"
asked the police chief, nettled.
why" said Crewe, search all dis"
! trists simultaneously"
Let me tell ysu," said the chief OF
police. "tnet the number of detectives
! at my disposal for this case is twenty
| four. not twenty-four thousand
Nevertheless, if you will place four
of your two dozen at my disposal Tor
a week l will guarantee to find RoWell
if he is within the limits of Manhat-
tan borough" said Crewe. And the
glorys yours" he added.
The police chief looked at me. He
: knew Crewe and his work, but his
pride was hurt he would have liked
I to see him for once unsuccessful. l
nodded.
az say nothing TOR the newspaper"
! l announced. "You stand to win eth
cr way. Either you score off Crewe or
YOU get the credit for the capture"
The police chief pressed bell.
Send Cohen, O'Rourke, Murphy and
! Kelly here at once" he said to the
messenger. Almost at once the four
policemen came in and saluted.
"You will place yourselves under
the orders of this gentleman" said the
chief, indicating Crewe. Its the
Rowell case, and he thinks he can
| work on it better than l can"
Report to me here tomorrow morn
ing at nine," said Crewe. "You may
take the day off. / want to think. l
suppose you're all proficient in SIM
ple arithmetic?" he added. I'm glad
to hear it, You may have little add
ing to do"
l did not see Crewe again until the
second afternoon, when me met by ap-
pointment and lunched together. After
the meal l asked him how he was
progressing with his case.
| "I've got the town staked out,
Crewe answered, "and l think that
the fourth day will witness Mr.. Row.
ellis arrest. Of course, I could take
him earlier by haphazard means, but
1 prefer to utilize the scientific
method"
"Will you inform me how, with four
detectives, you can possibly have
'staked out the town, as you phrase
it?" I asked, little exasperated.
"It is a matter of pure mathematics,
Langton," Crewe answered, a slight
amusement disclosing itself in his
voice. "But come with me and you
shall see for yourself"
We took the elevated to Forty-sec
ond street and walked over to Broad
way. On the southwest corner one
of the detectives, in plain clothes,
, whom l recognized as Murphy, was
lazily scanning the passers by.
How many, Murphy" Crewe asked
him.
1.-TWO hundred and seventy-three.
sir" Murphy responded. Seventy
four" he added, as a man hurried by,
almost brushing into us.
"You are keeping the three parts
OF the day separate, Murphy" asked
Crewe. Good. Keep up your count
and report to me tomorrow morning
at five. At the stroke of midnight you
vacate your post"
Five o'clock till midnight seems
long hours, Crewe," l said.
ct is. But it is only for three days,
and the men are trained to such
periods of work. Besides, they un.