Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-04-02
as to his associates you may

clues as to his associates you may
have"
Robert was a trile ashamed OF
himself as he realized that he was
simply eager TO keep in the company
OF his fascinating client as long as
possible. Then, too, by taking up this
case, he. an inexperienced person in
the detective line, he might be i'm
periling the chances for recovering
the stolen property. Still as he knew,
Arnold had left the city for the day
and he determined to take initial
charge OF the case At least.
Remarkable good fortune rewarded
thing OF the places where Barr hung
out and the loose crowd he associa-
ed with. Robert finally came across
a man who knew Barr who had seen
him staggering home early that morn
ing. Where was his home. inquired
Robert. An hour later he pushed
open the door OF a room in a large
office building to find lying prone
across q bed the very mar he was
after.
Barr seemed stupefied, drugged.
Robert tried TO arouse him. but could
not do so. He searched his clothes
and the room. but was unable TO dis.
cover any trace Of the stolen plumber.
For hours Robert watched by the
bedside of the a Then he got
alarmed and summoned a doctor. The
physician announced that the man
was in no immediate danger, but that
he had evidently been given a poison
10 drug him. Its effects would prob
ably V become eliminated from
mind and body, he told Robert.
Towards evening the patient was
in a delirium. Then from his mad
rawlings the watchful Robert began to
learn what had become Of the miss.
ing loot. 1t seemed that Barr had
intended to flee the city, but had got
to drinking. He met some associates
and Dragged of netting a fortune.
They had drugged him and had taken
a satchel away from him.
Stuffed with paper-ha! hal"
gloated the delirious Barr. THE
money, the bonds safe. The key
ali. the key! They are batfled-I am
rich!"
This much and no more through
that night and the next day-then
Robert hired a male nurse, left him
in charge of the patient and went to
report to Miss Blair.
No enc has got the money and
bonds but Barr" he assured her. He
has placed them in safe hiding. ]
shall stay with him night and day
till find out where"
The key-the KEY" was the mad
burden of the invalid all the next
day. Early the following morning
taking his turn to watch the patient,
Robert noticed that he lay on one
side, his naked shoulder revealed
He had observed a plaster there al
the first but had left it to wear of
1t had done this in part. One edge
was turned over. Something gilt
tered. Robert investigated. He de
tached from under the plaster a small
fiat key bearing a number and the
initials: ~. S. D. ""
Within two hours Robert Prince
knew that key unlocked a box rented
by Barr in the Union Safety Deposit
Vaults. Within four he had learned
that the bonds and money were con
tanned within it and that all Fideli'
had to do was to prove her right to it
Barr was sent to a country SAM
tarium. but died within the week anC
a family scandal was avoided.
A week later Robert went into thu
Office of Arnold and confessed hi
bold detective exploit
Il suppose l ought to pay you {
fee," he said, for putting me in
position where l could be Of service
to the sweetest-dearest-"
"Ah!" smiled the shrewd detective
readily-"then you have at last fount
something worth living for? All right
Bless you my children, bless you!''
(Copyright, 1913. by W. G.. Chapman.)