The Washington herald., 1914-07-26
toopyTigkt, i94.l
The Crime at Belle Haven.

bUfI RIVER was It's DTleI InessdBe' anu
my whole being lit up with pleased
expectancy, for "3077 River" and "sd-
venture" had for a long time now been
interchangeable terms with me. II
was the private phone number of my
good friend, William Rawson. dear old
Billie Rawson. late Of the United
States Secret Service, with whom
have had many a good and exciting
hour in the past.
As it was with the followers OF the
;Caliph in the fine old Arabian Nights
period. so it was with me when Raw
son called. To hear was to obey. and
while q man in the outer ONCE who had
owed me money for several years was
there to pay IT, actually begged him
TO wait for a little while, or IL he
couldn't come back some other day,
because was too busy to see him just
then. I mention this trivial fact sim
ply to show what a commanding prec-
edence Billie Rawson's slightest sug-
gestion always had over me and my
immediate convenience. Incidentally I
am glad to add that the fellow waited.
In few minutes SOFT was connected
with my wire, and to my intense re-
eret it was not Rawson's voice. but
! that Of his japanese valet, Nogi that
came back to me out Of the depths Of
: the receiver.
, 'rMustuh Raw-sunn he gone way"
: said Nogi, in response to my inquiry.
well. Nogi. this is Mr.. Jenkins
/ said I. 81 find a memorandum on my
table asking me to ring you up. Did
Mr.. Rawson leave any message for
me?"
NO sub" said Nogi He just tell me
II anybody ask where he gone to l not
= to know he gone to Belle Haven. Maine.
! on the afternoon train for Bos-tonn- So
! do not know that. All know is he
gone way somewhere"
ct see," said L you are a model of
discretion. Nogi. and II ever I have
secret I wish disseminated from one end
of the earth to the other will conhde
1T to you"
"Yes, suh," said Nogi. 'T DO my best
10 discretionate him"
turned Immediately to my time tables
and discovered that by taking the Port
fland express at $40 p. m. could beat
Rawson to Belle Haven by several hours.
and possibly give him the surprise OF his
life by meeting him at the station on
. the arrival OF the morning train from
Boston. To tell the truth, was glad
to have It so, for hate to travel by
day almost as much as Rawson hates
to travel by night. By 10 o'clock was
safely bestowed in my lower berth. and
lat half past seven the following morn
ing was enjoying fine fresh fish break
fast, with coffee and real New England
. doughnuts thrown in. in the dining-room
! OF the Rock Hill House at Belle Haven,
! in full view Of a glorious ocean. At
eleven-thirty was at the railway sta
/ tion. and when the train from Boston
drew in was delighted to see old Billie,
suit case in hand, step of the Pullman
Scar.
Garry your bag, sir?" said I as he
slighted.
by George, Jenkins-that you?" said
rhe. his face wreathing with smiles
''where the deuce did you drop from?
Tried to get you on the phone before
started. but as usual you were out"
Yes. I know" said I. That's why
I'm here"
But how did you know was coming |
here?" he demanded.
enough to keep a secret all by himself. |
so he called me in to help. He informed |
me that he was not at all familiar with !
the fact that you were coming 10 Belle |
Haven. so I came down on the Portland |
express"
Il think I'll have to have that Jap |
operated on" laughed Rewson. IF he
weren't such an everlastingly good chief |
engineer on the chafng dish I'd fire him. |
However. I'm glad you're here. was
going TO suggest your coming"
What's the job this time?" asked.
"Oh, nothing much-another two-and- |
two-make-four case. guess" he replied |
The proprietor Of the Rock Hill House !
has asked me TO come down and see II |
can find out just who it is that is get
ting away with lot OF little, things IN
the way of silver-backed mirrors and
gold stick pins, and diamond brooches,
and similar trash. Nothing very i'm
portant lost yet. but guests getting nerv-
Gus because the thing is so Internally
persistent"
Inside job. OF course" I suggested
BY the shades OF the immortal Sher-
lock, Jenkins laughed Rawson, ''you
are indeed some deducer. aren't you! 1
fancy you're right. Nobody from the
outside is likely TO hire a motor at $
an hour and risk his neck climbing into
a second-story window merely to satisfy
his passion for 50 stick pins and $27 near
glass brooches. No, the things inside,
all right, and it's my guess, it's an
amateur job at that It's like boy
learning to play the piano. He practices
an hour a day on the simplest forms Of
music until he acquires a certain amount
OF dexterity and then branches out into
something bigger" /,
~SSN