South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-17


reached Coin Court when a loud
telephone ring echoed across the
stiffness of the sitting room. He
crossed to the instrument. picked up
the receiver, and smiled as the stri-
dent voice from the o her end of the
wire reached his ear.
'Dornton speaking"
Yes? What's the matter?"
Did you, or did you not, collar
the man you suspect?' demanded
the official.
mo; he wasn't at the reception"
said Duff languidly. He went 10
bed just before nine o'clock, and is
still there"
Dornton groaned.
Mrs. Belford's pearls have disap-
peared," he said hoarsely. "On my
special instructions, she did not wear
them tonight Left them securely
locked up in a safe in her room.
Stolen under my very nose. A nice
muddle we seem to have made Of
the whole thing between US" His
angry Indignation and disgust vi
brated over the wire.
Good night" said Duff. I'm off
to bed" He dropped the receiver
and left il dangling from its hook.
'Dornton tried several times after
that to ring him up, but naturally
got no answer.
The early evening editions of the
following days papers contained
ford accounts Of the theft OF the
famous Bolford pearls.
Duff lounged about in his sitting
room. yawning over the papers. In
spector Dornton called at the house
three times. only 10 be met by the
bland, slanting-eyed Chinaman with
the stolid assurance, Him not at
home. No tellee when him come
back. No tellee at all"
At dusk that evening Duff let him
self out of his house unostentatous-
ly by means OF a secret door in his
laboratory wall and the convenient
roof of his garage just below, from
which he dropped into the back Of
his courtyard, and, secure from any
possible observation Of Dornton or
any CT his men, slithered out Of
sight over some ratings shutting his
domain off from the muddy Thames.
Something like an hour later he
turned into the vestibule of a big
set of modern fats just of Park lane
and assembled TO the second floor.
He rang the electric bell of a fat
numbered 80, waited patiently, rang
again, received no response, then
took key from his pocket, fitted it
TO the patent lock, eased the door
open and closed IL again behind him.
A thickly carpeted corridor.
Ranked by doors on either side. was
revealed by the light OF the electric
torch which Duff snapped on. One
by one he opened the doors with
cool elaboration. and made a com
prehensive search Of each room.
There were locked drawers. cup
boards and recesses, but Duff made
no attempt TO unlock them; he sim
ply prised them open with the first
Implement that came to hand-a
poker from the drawing-rOOm fire
place-and strewed the contents on
the floor. He turned up a c,'rPst or
rug here and there. and neglected to
replace them. Then he opened
window. outside which there ran an
iron ladder, presumably a fire.
escape, which led into a back yard.
and returned 10 the drawing room.
where he sat smoking innumerable
cigarettes.
At II o'clock he lit a brand-new
paraffin-oil bicycle lamp and set It
on the carpet near the door. At
half-past IL he carefully adjusted a
silk mask over his face, turned up
his coat collar and fastened II snug
" round his chin. jammed the brim
OF his soft felt hat low down over
his eyes. and stood expectantly alert
nesr the threshold Of the open draw
iAs-rOom door.