The Washington herald., 1913-08-03
CHAPTER u.

Christopher Poe glanced about the room
and then slipped the diminishing glass
into his pocket. Il guess there is nothing
more TO be learned here. It's evident
that the fellow who stole the picture hid
himself away in this quaint old caskct
I and by some amateurish method or other
|! gained admittance to the Turner room
with a canvas stretcher. removed the
original and put in its place this picture,
which is supposed to be an imitation.
Together they returned to the directors
| office and when the attendant was sum-
| moned Poe asked him: Il suppose you
have some very peculiar people who come
regularly to your room and stand for
| some time before their favorite pictures"
Yes, there's a lot Of queer folks come
here everl day. One old lady looks like
sparrow and she stapds in front Of that
woodland picture that looks like green
salad and eats it with her eyes. Then
there's art students who can't seem to
get enough of them tiresome pictures
what look like the Hudson River on a
foggy day"
Tell me about these different art stu
dents" requested Poe with interest.
well. there is one young fellow who
looks like one Of them old Dutch pic
lures in the south room, and he always
stands of about ten feet from that big
1
makes motions with his hands as though
he were going through with the same
work that the painter did. He talks aloud
to himself and sometimes stays SO late
| that / have to tell him II Is closing time,
and even then he doesn't want to 60"
But isn't there some man or woman
that you remember who takes a particu-
lar interest in that picture called The
Morning MIST" asked Poe.
I <-rr -,
near as old as am. who has been coming
off and on now for five years. He's got
one of those little artist glasses and he
stands way at the other side Of the room
and looks through ii sometimes for pretty
near an hour: you'd think from the way
he enjoys it he was looking at a movin'
picture show
Poe cut him of short by holding up the
diminishing glass which he had found in
| the Egyptian room.
DO you recognize this?" he asked.
The gray-haired attendant took the tiny
glass in his hand and looked through 1t,
then he carefully inspected the handle
and smiled. Yes, that's it; know 1t by
the place here where the brass is worn
| through"
Poe turned quickly to Sir Hornsby.
| believe we made a mistake in closing UP
that Turner room. A murderer always
returns TO the scene Of his crime and
suppose in a lessef degree that's also true
| of a thief. Suppose we throw the room
| open now and instruct this man to keep
watch and let us know as soon as this
fellow. who evidently owns the diminish
| ing glass appears" The banker detective
turned to the attendant and queried:
| Has he been here often during the last
month";"
| Yes, most every day. I guess"
what time does he generally Gomez?
| well, he's here just before noon as a
rule. 1 guess he gets his lunch before he
comes, or else he just feasts on that IA.
vorite picture Of his"
Good Then We haven't any time to
lose. Go on duty at once and send some
body here to the office as soon as the
man with the diminishing glass appears.
Wait a minute. I think it would be a
good scheme II you would take this glass
and put it below the picture on the floor,
in a careless position. No, I'll arrange
that"
Christopher Poe stood up and followed
| the attendant to the door and as soon as
he was in the Turner room he placed the
diminishing glass on tho floor directly
beneath THE Morning Mist" picture il
such a position that any one looking al
the substitute masterpiece could not fail
to see il. Then he sauntered about the
room idly and watched the various sight
seers as they entered and walked about
the room.
About an hour later Christopher Poe's
interest in art having gotten the better
of his interest in detection he stood lost
| in a day dream before a ma gnifcent Tur
ner seascape. Then the attendant stepped
up and touched his arm covertly. Az
Poe's thoughts returned instantly to the
stolen masterpiece he noted that the at
tendant seemed agitated and kept mo-
tioning in a clowning manner toward a
short man who stood before The Morn
ing Mist" fumbling nervously in his
pocket
Poe motioned to the attendant to re-
turn to his stand and be Silent. While he
watched out of the corners Of his eyes
the strange little man who seemed to be
very much excited.
l A minute later the banker detective no.
uced that the old wan had discovered the