The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-27


Bob stared straight ahead.
''How did you do it," he said to
the monocle-man. what made
you certain"
II saw him place the ring in
your pocket. Feel there" walk
ing over to Bob. The latter felt
where the other Indicated. "A
little vest-pocket camera" said
the monocle-man, softly. II
photographed the act-the out
stretched hand with the ring in 1t
you. unsuspecting, half sprawl
ing over the green felt table.
your coat tails inviting the ring.
Besides. one of my men took the
place OF that ouside-operator and
received a certain little article of
jewelry. We nabbed the out
side-operator, and--well. he's
told certain things" With salts
faction. I'VE have, in short, .
clear case"
Bob held his head. Its whirl-
ing" he said. "Pll get some
things Strengthened out after a
little, | suppose"
That's right" observed the
monocle-man.
There are some things you
can't straighten out" said Dan
In an ugly tone. This is all
very we'll for you, but what about
u.s."
But here the monocle-man
again interposed. His eyes were
twinkling.
"The ways of detectives are Sc
cretive and strange" he announc-
ed, 80 | am not going to tell YOU
how | became acquainted with all
the details of the domestic sides
OF this drama" He bowed to
Clarence and Dan. Suffice to
say that when I took this case
Mrs. Ralston allowed mo to equip
each of the guest rooms with a
little instrument known as the
dictagraph."
Here the three men who had
paid the stealthy midnight visit
to Bob's room looked at each
other sheepishly.
Il am not sworn to any more
truth telling than is necessary"
went on the monoele-man with a
glance In Bob's direction, so
took It upon myself to placate
certain ladies-"Dan and Clar-
ence started-"by telling them
that IL had been my professional
experience"-with an accent or
the word professional - thai
show glrls-ponies, in fact-have
habit of thrusting their com.
pany on rich gentlemen who after
. hard day at business go to a
roof garden for a little innocent
recreation and pleasure.
Here. Bob, who was beginning
to see light, slapped the monocle-
man on the back.
"Of course one of the ladies be-
ing familiar with certain conti-
mental customs, Paris for In
stance"--Bob chicken as the de-
tective proceeded-"understands
all about 1t. In fact, she was very
gracious. and I think both ladies
wore relieved that IL was only a
case OF suppers all around, ard
not plant to be used later as
blackmail. I assured them both
on that score, and both'-the
monocle-man gazed sympatheti-
caily at the perspiring commo-
dore and Clarence-"both your
wives are returning to town to-
morrow to beg forgiveness for
having doubted you for one in
slant"
But" began Bob
"Oh. yes," said the monocle-
man. reading his thought, II had
to reveal my Identity to Mrs. Dan
and Mrs. Clarence. but | didn't
DO IL until after dinner tonight,
and they were good enough to
promise secrecy on that score
especially after | intimated that |
vas probably the only man on
sarth who could make their law
gers forego their prospective fees
and drop any proceedings-it"
But the monocle-man got ne
further. The commodore and
Clarence fell upon him bodily.
ut seems" said Dan effusively
to the monocle-man. you have
been our good angel. II any re-
muneration-?"
no answered the monocle-
man. What I have done for you
was only incidental. I shall be
well rewarded for what have ac-
complished in another direction"
looking toward the cell.
II tried to get him in England
and failed. In France the story