South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-12


polished flooring OF Major Derwent
DuHs long. low-ceilinged sitting-room
was elderly, lean OF limb. we'll groomed. and as
immaculate as the figure standing the
vIdechimnsyed fireplace. in which fragrant
logs spiuttered merrily.
The two men looked at each other with a
brief inquisitlve stare.
"Er-Msjor Dun?" queried the visitor.
sir Evan Galton7" returned Duff. glancing
nonchalantly at a card held lightly in his right
hand.
Yes" said the other briefly. Then, after a
fragmentary pause: Its awfully kind OF you
to grant me an interview! The fact of the
matter ia
You were robbed yesterday of a valuable
diamond necklace?" said Duff in a casual tone
A flicker OF surprise and irritability Swallowed
across Sir Evan Cations face.
Il was" he said May ask" he inquired.
with uplifted brows. how you came to know
that fact?"
Il heard It quite casually from a friend Of
mine at lunch observation-disclosures Dorm
ton. Of the c. l. D." said Duff. as his visitor
seated himself.
But / informed Inspector DorntOn this
morning that the necklace had been found"
said Sir Evan Cation sharply.
frankly" he went on, q had come to the con
cluson that for some reason OF your own when
YOU made that statement it was not true!"
Sir Evan Cation WINGED.
Il told Dornton lie" he admitted. in thin,
hollow voice Il don't know how you guessed
It." he added, searching Dufs inscrutable face
narrowly The necklace has not been found"
Call Il a guess my part. II you like"
,aid Duff Il arrived ut the conclusion from
a process of logical argument You informed
Scotland Yard that the jewels had disappeared
from a case which you placed overnight beneath
the pillow OF your bed in the Hotel Splendide;
that in the morning you had found the case
beneath your pillow. empty. couple OF hours
later you phoned to Scotland Yard to say
that you had found the diamonds in the pocket
Of your evening coat. which statement auto
maticaIIy brought to end the machinery OF
inquiry which the organization ct the Yard had
set foot"
Exactly" said Duf's visitor But
"But." interposed Duff taking him up sharp
". when Dornton mentioned the case to me,
CONTEMPLATING himself that it had fzzled out
so satisfactorily began to reason. It's fatal
habit OF nine reasoning" he interpolated. with
a family whimsical smile 4 argued that II
YOU had placed the case beneath your pillow on
retiring it was logical to suppose that you
would assure yourself that the necklace was In
il at the time.
You must have been positive OF that. or you
would have made search in your apartments
before ringing up Scotland Yard. In short,
YOU had no doubt when you gave the alarm
that the necklace had been stolen from its case
after being placed by you beneath your pillow.
Yet your explanation a couple of hours later
In he kat Of
your evening coat l concluded promptly that
YOU had made that statement not because you
had found the diamonds. but because you had
a strong reason to stop all official inquiry That
same reason. I argue. prompted you to come
to me this EVENING""
You're right Major Duff" came the candid
admission. The diamonds we're in the case
when I hid them beneath my pillow Eetiring.
When discovered yesterday morning that they
we're missing instantly suspected clever
hotel thief and, on the spur OF the moment
elected the aid OF Scotland Yard.
"Then | remembered that only my wife and
my Secretary yOungster. named Harold Biz
nev-knew when they travelled up from Holm
wood. my country place in Surrey, with me for
a weekend IN town that the diamonds were
in my possession.
we we're not bringing up any servants with
ne not even my wfes maid, as We knew we
could RELY on the hotel service therefore,
when I realized that fact after having, on the
spur of the moment notified the police of my
loss II was driven home to me that even the
cleverest OF hotel thieves could not possibly
nave known that had the diamonds with me,
LEI alone where 10 find them, and l began to
suspect that the thief could be no other than
Young Birney"--
Sir Evan Gallon broke OF, and in spite OF
he fact that the two we're alone in the biz
room edged his chair closer TO Dun and
sronned his voice TO a hoarse. confidential
whisper.
Birney is the son OF an old friend OF mine,
and for that reason gave the boy chance.
He was led astray. gambling. racing, and all
that sort OF thing Got into tight corner and
forged a cheQue convicted and did time
twelve months When he came out l set him
on his legs again. and he seemed grateful --
The old man broke of, lit cigarette. and
smoked In silence for some moments before he
resumed:
Il started hunting round my room, and found
q signetring belonging 10 the lad on the floor
iust near the head OF my bed. Obviously II
had slipped from the finger when he pushed
his hand beneath the bolster. He was not IN
the hotel at The time l made the discovery. but
came in shortly afterward. and I taxed him
with the theft Just before the Scotland Yard
people were due appear on the scene