The Washington times., 1912-09-24

Graftoni''
WHAT"
You haven't been using a pen in the
last hour have your
Then he did, you may be sure, Sect
even now. He was hurried, for he did
not even take the time to dry the point"
,,r But what .s, on earth could have set
That's our next problem. Mr.. Graf
ton"
He looked over the blotters once more;
black and worn as each of them was,
the thief might have dried dozen
pages with any one and left no trace
whatever. He tossed them aside.
Nothing to be learned there, either
i fear. However"
Burlcigh bent low over the big pad OF
plotting paper that covered Graftons
desk, and very few seconds later ms
broadly.
There's our confirmation Of the writ
| Ing" he said. one finger pointing 70 the
pad.
Grafton hurried to his side and stared
down at the desk Under Burleigh's
patch, perhaps, the size of a dime.
SIT is very fresh" said the detective.
"It's copying ink, apparently, for the
blot Is siIl almost light blue o WHEREAS iSas
that. IT'S hardly dry even how"
What does It teach us7' laughed
Burieigh. "well. that he had need for
pen and that he used one Of yours"
"And what earthly use could he have
"I don't know" confessed the detec-
tive. But use he did have. and he
He whistied softly through his teeth
for a time. while Grafton watched with
what patience was possible. Burleish
looked sharply at him.
You have no means OF kn H,,d Jus, nus.
ARE In the desk?"
"Of course not"
ut had occurred to me that he might
Suddenly nSss msn'e Envelopes. Them
WELL I use the Government stamped
envelopes" said Grafton. vaguely.
Amy idea of the number OF them tha'
The owner OF the Grafton building
"Why. yes" he said. suddenly. 81
have. Last evening. just before that
telegram came, ! needed an enyeaoPe
the pigeon-hole now-the long kind, yo9
see. / used one for mailing some ora
| insurance policies. There should oe
twenty-four left"
Perfectly sure Of that at least, Bur-
| The detective took down the bundle
and counted them t sT1fsS them he again.
and even for the third time.
| "Weli. there are twenty-three here
now" he said. triumphantly'
| "what?"
| For moment they stared at each
other. Burleigh's train of investlsation
| seemed to be leading somewhere.
at establishes another thing Tor q
wanted to inclose something in an en- =,
yeiope-then, / fancy. he wanted to d.
rect the envelope. Possibly 1t was a
letter he wrote-possibly-
pr Hs ss ose ',G% ss s sshs
ing his head, he had passed Grafton
five or six times before he paused.
&c "Gradtcn: there a,s,a ,s something or o'h'r
man. I'm trying to tell you. all can.
You must understand that.
stni Something you've neglected to
where or other which would bind "a, AL
these odd little facts together. I'm
this evening that do not known
"Think, Mr.. Grafton" persisted the
defective. You were at the CLUB: you
man. You entered the building. Did
any little thing happen then-anythingy
at all out Of the ordinary, you known
All? And then you spoke to Park
YER. He appeared entirely as usual
not Mustered at seeing your
Certainly not"
Next you went UP in the elevator
Did you do anything unusual there?
"Well-yes. Between the second ano
third floors I showed Mr.. Elsford the
working of our automatic break
"Indeed?" cried Burleigh. And II
made as much racket as usual-a noise
that could be heard throughout thu
building?"
81 presume So"
"Then we're bound to conclude that
that frightened the thief In this office
Now-anything more. sir?'
! but, Burleigh"- began ORATOR
protcstingiy. Then he stopped with
startled expression. by Jove! Yes
Just as we were going up after tina,
some one upstairs mailed letter. u
came down the chute and made sor'
of white streak in passing the littl'
glass pane, which startled us both.
"a white streak. chr" Burleigh's toni
WAS eager II believe that I'm begin
ming to see, Mr.. Grafton. And how
did YOU account for that white stneak 2
"Simply that some Of the tenant,
| must have mailed some piece OF wori
on which they were engaged aftel
business hours"
Burseigh. pausing for a moment. nod
ded his head with much decision AM
walked to the door Of the outer office
Parker"
Eyes, SIR"
(Which Of the tenants were in thu