El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-09
THE CORALBANK CASE
The HeraId's Daily
Short Stsry

drew these notes from the bank with
those that are missing2"
Silas Jay nodded.
In that case" said the detective
emphatically, 4 must tsk you to al
low me to examine these notes 4
So"
Silas Jay reluctantly drew them
from their hiding place, and handed
them TO the detective. The latter
turned them over, one by one. his
fingers lingering long over the task.
Then, with half suppressed sigh, he
handed them back to their owner, and
watched that gentleman as he once
more replaced them in the secret COM
partment of the secretary, and heard
the sharp metallic click of the spring
as it flew into position.
When this was done he asked TO
be allowed to see the servants. and
one by one they were called into the
library. He said but little to them
however, chiefly impressIng upon them
the necessity for silence on the subject
Of the robbery, and dismissed them
once more to their respective duties.
Then ne turned to Mr.. jay.
Now" he said briskly. II think
I may cOnfide to you the fact that
my investigations so far have not been
without their reward. Tomorrow
morning I shall return and shall prob
ably require TO again examine-and
if necessary phOtograph-the parcel
of notes stil in your possession. I
viii endeavOr to be here by II o'clock.
l will now bid you good day, as there
are several things that need to be
done in the meantime"
At half past ten the following MORN
ing there was loud pealing of the
the front door bell, and few minutes
later servant announced that two
police constables in uniform requested
10 see Mr.. jay on a matter of con-
siderable Importance. They were
shown into the library, and aWkWardly
touched their helmets to the master of
the house. They were typical country
Observation-Disclosures stolid looking in
diyiduals, who might certainly form
part of the arm of the law, but pos
sessed no iota Of its brains.
Are you Mr.. Silas Jay?" inquired
one, in a slow, eXpressionless voice.
Mr.. jay admitted that such was the
case
We'll" explained the constable,
Were il search of a Teller who's
wanted up in Brummagem for a little
job O. 'OuSebreakin'. From information
received" he cOughed to emphasize the
professional phrase, we know he's in
this districk, and we are Uniformed
that a man answerin' to his descrip-
ton was seen a comm into your 'ouse
yesterday afternoon"
Silas Jay turned pale as a horrible
suspicion crossed his mind. With a
quick movement he pressed the secret
spring OF his secretaire, and a sigh OF
unutterable relief escaped his lips as
he beheld the precious bank notes ~
ing safely within their ingenious hid
ing place. Then, closing the cOmpart-
ment, he turned abruptly to the con-
stables, who were watching him in evil
dent curiosity, and said:
He promised to be here at II this
morning and it barely wants quarter
to that now"
Instantly the men were on their feet.
Il wonder if he'll Gomez" said one.
IF he dOes,' replied the other we've
got i'm. and then were safe for stripe
or two.
simultaneously they moved to the
window, and stood looking out down
the gravel paths that skirted the lawn
and across the tall gates that led on
the road As for Silas Jay, he was too
bewildered even to think cOherently,
and sat, with his chin resting on his
hands, staring straight before him. An
exclamation from one of the cOnstables
reused him.
Here e isl exclaimed the man.
Mr.. Jay leapt to his feet and ran
to the window. At the same instant
man who had just turned in at the
gate came to a sudden standstin, and
glanced irresOlutely in the direction OF
the house
You Internal foolsr' exclaimed Mr.
Jay, with all his old disgust for the
fellow has seen your COMPOUNDED uni
forms through the window, and has
taken the alarmi"
It certainly looked as if this was
actually the case, for at that instant
the man turned, and swiftly retreated
through the gates and out on to the
road, where he was Immediately lost
to view behind the tall hedge which
shut in the lawn. With a smOthered
oath, Silas Jay threw up the window,
n a < q
would allow, started in hot pursuit
One Of the constables followed his eX-
ample, and, being a younger man, soon
outstripped Mr. Jay.
When the latter reached the gate
and looked down the road he beheld
the bogus detective far away in the
distance, speeding along through a
cloud of dust mounted on a bicycle.
The constable had already mounted a
similar machine, and was some fifty
yards from the gate. He was getting
up good pace, and, upon seeing Mr..
Jay, waved his hand in token of his
determination to catch the now rap
idly disappearing thief When Mr..
Jay returned to the house he found
that the other policeman had taken
himself off.
The next day he was so reckless that
he could bear the house no longer, so
he determined, as there was nothing
to hinder him from doing so. to take
the 100 $500 notes into Windsor, and
there deposit them in one of the local
banks. He touched the concealed
spring of his secretaire, and the secret
compartment flew nOiselessly open.
And then, with a wild cry, he stag
gered back against the wall and fell
in a heap upon the floor. The bank
notes were gone!
As soon as he recovered he rushed
into Windsor and wired to Scotland
ward, and the chief sent me down to
investigate. Both the detective and his
cOnfederates, the country cOnstables,
were unknown-in that capacity. at
least-tO the authorities. When I COM
municated this information to Mr. Silas
JAY l thought he would have a fit.
What are You going to do?" he
asked.
4 am afraid" I said. there is but