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

leather, which as he wandered aimlessly
around the room. he traced to the litter on
the hearth
For the fraction OF a second his sound eye
rested on the various ornaments on the marble
mante.helf then focused sharply on a thin.
slanting line marked in the film Of dust-a
line that cut across the corner furthest from
the window
He turned and speculatively eyed the bed.
Then he glanced casually at Sir Evan Gallon.
May / just rummage about myself for
few minutes?" he asked. Il can concentrate
my thoughts better alone"
Gallon nodded comprehensively, and, with 8.
brief III wait for you In the sitting ROOM"
went out.
Left alone Dun crossed to the broken glass
lying near the fender. In something less than
five minutes he had sorted out the larger
splinters and had arranged them into obIong
shape. measuring roughly four inches by five
Then he picked up the poker, which had evil
IDENTITY been used 10 stir up the charred mass
in the fireplace. for some fecks of burnt paper
still adhered TO its tip, and turning over the
debris carefully, picked out two blackened slips
of metal. in the shape OF small. square clip
hooks.
Then he carefully hunted through the torn
papers on the floor. For the most part they
consisted of receipted bills for small amounts.
business letters. a chemists prescription. and
leaves from a pocket diary, the entries on the
latter of quite impersonal character
Among
tape embroidered with the initials H. H b."
Poor fool" he mutt cred beneath his breath
IF not already too late, what's the best thing
TO do?"
He stood stock STILL frowning at the little
embroidered slips in the palm of his hand, his
quick brain working at lightning speed
Then he seized the telephone receiver, which
stood hooked on an instrument near the door,
and raped out a Fleet Street number.
The call answered at he other end he asked
dfaf oil xr-fth he odi of
an evening paper. and beat an impatient tattoo
with his long fingers on the table top till
second voice responded.
For FIVE minutes he spoke in a low, rapid
tone debating paragraph which someone at
the other end took down in shorthand.
Rush il into the next edition, like a good
chap. he concluded. pile il on as thick as
you like about the fnger-prints and the marks
on the window sill I'll take all responsibility
But for goodness sake get it into the next
issue I'll explain some day. Good-by!"
He rang off.
Now for the other side OF the story" he
said to himself. as he left the room and stood
listening in the corridor outside.
The sitting room door was slightly ajar, and
through il there came a murmur of voices-Sir
Evan Gallon and his wife discussing together.
Duff tiptoed cautiously to the next door on his
right opened II, and looked in. The room was
obviously Cations dressing room. further
door led to q ladys apartment.
Duff retraced his way to the corridor door,
and, working his way through the three rooms,
tested all the locks. One worked with sus-
piciOus ease. He withdrew the key, shifted at
It, and replaced It,
Refined castor OIL" he muttered. Now,
where's the botte?'
He wandered into the bathroom on the other
side Of the corridor opened a small medicine
cupboard set over the washstand basin. and
from among litter of bottles picked out one
containing a colorless liquid minus a label.
He withdrew the cork. placed his forehnger
in the neck, tipped the bottle and passed the tip
OF his moistened finger to his outh.
Now for the feather" he said. as he quilted
the bathroom and returned to the rooms on
the opposite side of the corridor.
A brief search resulted in his dragging from
beneath bed large hatbox. He studied its
several labels, then he tumbled its contents
ruthessy on the floor and with scrupulous
care replaced the various oddments before
thrusting the box back Then he crossed to a
window, and with diamond pin which he took
from his tie he deliberately cut a pane from
one Of the sashes.
Then he sauntered into the sitting room. Sir
Evan Cation at his entrance, sprang to his
feet.
Thought you were never coming" he jerked.
his face lined and white. Found out any
thing?"
NO" said Duff slowly "By the way, when
you discovered the diamonds were missing yes
terday morning, did you leave your room after
ringing up Scotland Yard?"