The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-11-20

i ~
tempted to lead my correspondent int
n trap would fall into one myself
My plot was rapidly working ia ,
head. and saw possibilities of q,
panding IL into novel that would send
my name up among the great wrltors
OF detective stories. hut rA-olved -
wait till the denouement belize benin.
ming, for experience had taught ma
that the easiest way TO write datoc.
tive story Is 10 begin at the end instead
Of the beginning.
After Il lengthy correspondence 4,
was arranged between me and tho
party attempting TO recover the Jewels
that should meet him in house
which was one of row Of stone fronts
Al a certain hour on certain dav
was TO ring the bell OF an apartment
on the third floor of the building. ~
were alone II would he known; n
were followed II would be known. In.
deed. unless I came by myself There
would be no use OF my coming at all
Should | throw up the agreement 7
would be denounced as having stolen
the property
began To realize that l was getting
into the business OF practical detective
story writing with vengeance. II was
time | should take some precautions
against arrest for having stolen prom
erty In my possession. My letters Ia
my correspondent alone would incrimi
police. Indeed, they were now ncces
sary to me. | must devise some plan
with them by which ! should be pro.
tected and they should make the arrest
But, desiring 10 keep the matter in nv
own hands. I told them only that was
tracking criminal and wished them To
be on hand when the trap was sprung
The inspector was not well satisfied 10
take up matter under some one else's
lead. but when he found that was Oh
durate he consented. and ! was turned
over to sergeant TO make the neces
sary arrangements.
Upon showing him the building where
was to meet my party he noticed that
the roofs OF all the houses i'm the block
were Of the same height Thinking
that " any one should wish 10 get away
he would mount 10 the roof and 90
down through the scuttle Of another
house. the sergeant concluded to put
men on the roofs TO watch that means
Of egress.. This would obviate the
necessity OF keeping on my trail in the
street. which would be known 10 the
criminal.
On the day and hour appointed ! re-
paired with the jewels TO the building
rang the bell OF the third fiat in the
vestibule. the latch was drawn, and I
went upstairs. A door stood ajar, and
passed through it into room. A man
advanced Ia meet me. He did not look
nj all like n iailbird or, indeed, n Grim.
ina Of any kind.
All" he said cordially. II see you
have brought the box. Permit me tC
explain verbally that these jewels are
- legacy to my daughter. The will by
which she inherited them was not prop
ery drawn. aud in law, though not IN
equity. they belong 10 another. To save
them | captured them, though if what
have done were known il would sui
iect me Ia criminal prosecution. That
is the reason ! sent them 10 you and
why ! am willing 10 secure your silence
by paying You so large al amount
Here was n subcomplication for my
work. ] was very much interested
and listened eagerly 10 the mans
story OF how he had saved his daugh
ter's inheritance. ! declined TO accept
any reward Cor the return of the Jew
els. but he declared that q bargain was
" bargain and we must both stand by
the one we had made Since the police
were behind ME / thought it perfectly
safe to accept temporarily anything he
might offer.
He counted out fifty 500 bills
which ] rolled i'm wad and put In
my pocket IL had been agreed he
tween me and my supports that when
on my return reached the street
door several policemen who had come
after | had made my entrance should
60 upstairs, while those on the roof
were stopping egress in that direction
! therefore said goodby 10 the man
who had saved his daughters fortune
resolving that 7 would attempt TO per.
suade the policemen below to let the
case drop. But they refused 10 he
persuaded and went up. They rams
the doorbell of the third floor fiat, bur,
not receiving a response. were obliged
10 force an entrance. This took some
time. as every door and window was
barred. When il was effected the tiat
was found to he empty. 4 door had
been cut into the adjoining building
through which any one might have
passed out and away. At any rate ths
man who had saved his daughters
fortune | never saw again. Nor dld
the police.
| went to the station and turned the
bills | had received over to the ser
geant. He sent them TO a bank foI
inspection. and they were pronounceo
counterfeit.
! asked the inspector for theory
as to the meaning OF the whole bnsl
ness. After some thought he said
There was robbery Of jewels re
Gently OF which we were notified aho