The Washington herald., 1913-08-24

a slip OF paper. What addressT' he
asked.
Il haven't the slightest idea an
swered Mr.. Van Der Pool. he said to-
day that he was stopping at some lodging
house in Hoboken: but several years ago
he used to give his address as Yonkers
l believe he has friends there"
And you think he has pawned thus
watch?"
Yes; certainly. He wouldn't keep 1t
long. / saw in his eyes that he had been
drinking. He has certainly pawned It by
now and probably left town"
That's very unfortunate. But we will
do cur best to locate the missing watch
by searching through all the pawn shops
in the vicinity IL you will give us a de-
scription of it."
Mr.. Van Der Pool gave a minute de-
scription of his Jeweled watch and, leav-
ing his name and address. together with
his telephone number. left at once. still
evidently in a very agitated frame OF
mind.
The same subtle smile that had spread
over his face when he sat alone in the
library after sending Bilkins out with the
watch, returned. He walked home brisk
ly and let himself in with his latch key.
going directly to the small kitchen of the
apartment to see how the dinner was
progressing.
Bilkins, with two assistants from the
caterers shop, was busying himself with
bottles and cracked ice and covered
dishes as his master threw open the door.
We'll, things seem to be under way"
Mr.. Van Der Pool smiled genially, nod
ding TO the assistants.
Everything will be here in less than
half an hour" answered Bilkins, adding
in low voice. II attended to that other
little matter. SIR" He fumbled in his
pocket as his master motioned him to
join him in the dining-room.
Here is the money. sir" said Bilkins.
and the ticket. He would let me have
Just ssO because he would have had to
charge a smaller rate Of interest on 500
That shows you what he is, SIR"
Il NJ quite convinced that Silverstein
is d cry bad man already" said Mr. Van
Der Pool. taking the pawn ticket and
brushing the money aside. You Just
pay the caterers bill with that. BIIkins
II will ave me drawing a check"
He sGuntered back to his library, where
he tore up the ticket and tossed it in a
waste basket. and, picking up his book.
beSt to read where he had left Off
At little before o'clock, as Mr.. Van
Der PO was dressing to receive his din
ner guests. the extension phone rang in
his Gressing room, and he answered IT
quickly.
II, lc; is this Mr.. Van Der Pool?'
came gruff voice over the wire.
Yes"
We'll. This is the sergeant at the DO
lice station where you called this after
room. We've got good news for you"
the voice had ring of satisfaction in it.
oh, about the watch" answered Mr.
Van Der Pool. Yes. to be sure, You
haven't traced it aIready?''
Yes. We've got il. It's right here at
the station house. We found il at a sus-
pected place-Silverstein's, over in Sixth
Avenue. Sure enough. II was pawned in
the name of Henry Brown, and the ad-
dress was given as Yonkers."
But this pawnbroker-this SiIverstein?'
asked Mr.. Van Der Pool. with affected
anxiety. He will lose the money he
paid out on the watch. Wouldn't IT be
better If l reimbursed him."
Il should say not"' laughed the police
officer. He does lot of funny business.
and IL you hadn't reported your loss i'm
mediately he would have il hidden. As
it was, the detectives we sent there had
a deuce OF time making him hand it
over, but your description was so accu-
rate he didn't have a chance to hold out
long"
Well, I'm very much obliged to you,
I'm sure" said Mr.. Van Der Pool.
'Oh, that's all right. II you'll drop in
at the station house tomorrow morning
and identify the watch, we'll give it to
you; and II you can give US an accurate
description of this Henry Brown. we'll
try to get him, too"
Didn't the pawnbroker remember him
well enough to give you a description
asked Mr.. Van Der Pool.
No. He was so excited to get a good
pledge so cheap he only remembers that
il was a tall man with a derby hat"
And all men are either tall men with
derby hats or short men with derby
hats laughed Mr.. Van Der Pool over
the wire. Really. now that I have the
watch back, l wouldn't want you to hunt
down the poor fellow that took 1t. Id
like TO give him another chance"
We'll. just as you say. Mr.. Van Der
Pool; il you don't want to make a