Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-04-05

VI AAAANN'
Forged finger prints! That's a new
idea in crime. isn't it, Simmonds?" and
GODFREY laughed excitedly.
Slmmonds took the glove, got GU,
ms pocket glass, and examined the
ringer tips infinitely.
You think these reproduce SWANS
1lnger prints?" he asked, sceptically.
I'm sure they do! You see it's the
hand; look at the thumb-you see it's
a double whorl. Wait till We put them
side by side with SWANS own, and
you'll see that they correspond, line
Tor line. Yes, and look at those stains
DO you know what those stains are,
Slmmonds? They're blood. Did you
notice the stains, doctor?"
Yes" said Human. Il think they're
blood stains. That will be easy enough
to determine"
Whose blood is it?" asked Sim
monds, mt 1 could see that even his
M a been penetrated.
Well" answered Godfrey, smiling,
science isn't able, as yet, to identify
the blood of Individuals; but I'd be
willing to give odds that it's SWANS
blood. My idea is hat Silva got the
blood for the finger prints from the
blood-soaked handkerchief. which
Swain probably dropped when he fled
o the arbor, and which Silva picked
up n dropped beside the chair, after
ne was through with it,, as an additional
plt or evidence
That's reasonable enough" agreed
amman. with a quick nod, blu what
l can't understand is how he made
these reproductions"
God1rey sat down again and contem-
plated the glove pensively for some
moments. Then he turned to me.
Where is that book of finger prints
you spoke about, Lester?" he asked.
out. Godfrey took it and began to
turn the pages quickly.
Swans name is in the index."I said.
n he glanced at it, and then turned
to the place weber the page had been.
Which reminds me-" said Human,
with a rueful smile, that l concocted
missing page. l felt quite chesty about
It! I'm glad it didn't throw Miss
Vaughan off the SCENT"
So am ~" agreed Godfrey, "for it
must have been this missing page
which gave Miss Vaughan her first
suspicion of the truth. Perhaps it was
that Silva could reproduce finger
prints. We shall learn when we hear
her story. In any event, it's a clever
easy enough when you know
howl"
Like standing the egg on end" 1
suggested.
Lively Il1Ch AZ easy WlGn
you work 1t backwards. But Just think.
Simmonds," he added, what problems
the police will have to face, IL gloves
X these become fashionable among
cracksmen!"
Simmonds groaned dismally.
you haven't told us yet how it was
DONE" he said.
bit back a smile, for Simmond's
tone was that of pupil to master.
We'll" said Godfrey, slowly. cit
might be lone in several ways. The
first thing is to get a good set of the
prints to be reproduced. That Silva
got from this album. The molds might
be made by cutting them in wood or
metal; but that would TAX an expert
and besides. l fancy it would be too
slow for Silva. He had a quicker way
than that-perhaps by transferring
them to a plate of zinc or copper and
then eating them u with acid. Once
the mold Is secured, it is merely a
question Of pressing India-rubber mix
ture into 1T and then heating the rub
Der until it hardens-just as, a rubber
stamp is made. The whole process
would take only a few hours"
Simmonds drew a deep breath.
1T may be simple" he said, but that
fellows a genius. just the same. He's
much too clever to be at large. We've
got to get him!"
b sure of one thing retorted Cod
frey. you'll find 1t harder to catch
him thar 1t was to let him go! He
won't walk into you arms. Not that 1
1 blame those muckle headed men Of
yours-and I blame myself for not
keeping my eyes open. Here's the glove
take good care of it. 1t mean
SWANS acquittal. And now there is
one other thing l want to see before we
go to bed. Suppose we make q little
IN tho rO0fO
ITO the roof? What for?" demanded
Simmonds. as he wrapped the glove in
his handkerchief and, put 1t in his
pocket.
"You know how fond you are of fire
works!" retorted Godfrey, smiling, and
started for the door.
II haven't the slightest idea what
you're talking about" said Hinman.
but I'm as.curious rs an old woman
and I like fireworks. tool"
Come along. them" laughed God
frey. and led the way up the stairs.
cant" he added, over his shoulder.
In the entry at the top OF the stairs
leading to the attic story was a heavy
closed door. n Godfrey looked at is
with q smile.
d you suppose those two German
servants have slept on through all this
excitement? ?" he asked: we found
afterwards that they had!
The fl2fe of GOdfrey's torch disclosed
g enird flight Of stairs at the n Of
the entry. and, when we reached the
foot Of these and looked up, we found
ourselves gazing at the stars.
"Ah!" said Godfrey: II thought SO!
The stage was set, ready for the cur
tain. and then the leading lady failed
to appear. So the villain went in
search Of her. found her with the glove
In her hand. and started to suppress
her, when our timely arrival inter-
rupte1 him! Gentlemen. / think I can
promise you q most interesting demon
stration. What did Miss Vaughan call