The Springfield herald., 1912-04-05

Il
In this immediate neighborhood.
There may be many more. but there
have been eleven complaints of losses
of pocketbooks. watches. pins. ETC..
and one woman had all the rings
taken from both hands. and swears
she does not know when 1t happened.
In all the complaints the victims say
they cannot remember Just where they
were or what they were doing. Il
have forty men working in the avenue
and shopping district crowds"
"It seems to me you are taking
some big steps over total loss Of not
more than $4,000 possibly" said Rand
| laughingly.
You're keen one. you are. Oh.
well, you see, Senator George ]. is
crazy about his three kids. He had
their photographs taken not long ago
up here at No. 211 and he came down
to get them Saturday. They were not
ready, and to keep the kids from be-
ing disappointed he took dog home
to them. This morning he comes back
to get the photographs and he loses
his watch, pocketbook with $500 in it,
and big diamond-horse from his fob.
That is why am on the jump"
We crossed the street and walked
up to No. 211. First we loitered along
Zechmann's windows. Then we en-
tered Zachmann's store, looking about
Coming out from 209 we entered the
i corridor of No. 211. Macarthur was
walking between us. A very stout,
swarthy man with shaggy hair was
taking some mail out Of box that
bore the name of "Dr. Keyplan."
and School of Psychic Study" A not
ably handsome woman. more than
thirty and trife overdressed was
standing near. He selected one Of the
letters and gave 1t to her with a
laugh. She took 1t, but noticed she
followed our party intensely with her
eyes. ..
Just then Macarthur turned to the
right sharply and bumped into me.
sending me reeling against the wall.
He, too, ran full into the wall, turned
to the right again, and was out Of the
street door before could recover
myself. Rand was already in pursuit
caught up with him outside the door,
We were not the only ones following
Macarthur, who walked rapidly to the
next corner, and once more turned to
the right. The woman. who had been
standing in the doorway. was close on
his heels. At Madison avenue he
turned to the right again. There
were few people about. Quicken
ing her pace. the woman Joined him
and spoke to him. but at that instant
he wheeled sharply and sent her
spinning just as he had done with me.
Without pausing for apology he mount
ed the steps Of boarded-up house
and began fumbling along the front
as II trying to enter. The woman, set
ting her hat straight, once more hur-
ried on to the corner and turned back
toward Fifth avenue without even a
glance behind her.
Macarthur was coming down the
steps as We came up. His eyes were
fixed, and looking over our heads:
there was no sign Of recognition of
us in them. He fell into his place be-
tween US naturally and In a moment
we were in the park. A man whom We
know to be of the acting-captain's de-
tail passed. He nodded to Rand, who
called him over and said:
"McNally, will you be SO good as
to detain this man here In the park
for half-hour. Work him over toward
the Fifth avenue corner. He is half
asleep"
Away went Rand toward Fifth ave-
nue.. He was all but running, and 1
had to run to overtake him. Before
we reached the thoroughfare We saw
the woman just turning into the ave-
nut. AS we rounded the corner she
vanished into No. 211. The elevator
boy said he had let her of on the
floor occupied by Doctor Keyplan and
that she came there often.
AS we went up in the elevator Rand
drew from an inner packet an instru-
ment of his own invention by which
sounds could be magnifled. 1t was
small enough to be concealed by the
hand and held to the ear.
Rand. posing as a metaphysician,
began to make inquiries as to the
scope of the school, with view to
recommending some students. She
stated at once that she was merely a
| friend of Doctor Keyplan, and knew
very little of psychology. Her attempts
! to use what she did know proved this
statement. She said that she expect
ed Doctor Keyplan shortly and Rand
offered to wait. In someway he con-
trived to keep US moving from picture
to tapestry or statue and then on to
some other object of interest Each
moment he would put his hand to his
| ear as If suffering pain. At last he
fingered about small writing-desk in
the front room a trife longer than
usual and gave me sign to sit down
in the chair drawn up to 1t. Then he
tried to lead madame away, but she
refused to be inveigled and kept her
eyes on me. Rand sauntered over to
the window and evidently saw instant
ly some one he wished to see there.
He beckoned with his finger.
The woman saw the tiny gesture.
Like tigress she leaped upon me, but
her strength was only gust. She
fell sobbing on the floor. Rand came
striding over, caught the top of the