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

Yes; went into the bathroom" replied
Cation promptly.
Well" drawled Dun. 4 can't do anything
more to help you at the moment. i've found
a finger print the window ledge OF your bed
room. Have cut It out and am going along TO
my place TO photograph il. Care 10 come along
and see the result? Mind you" he hurried on.
Il didn't believe that Birney was guilty from
the first, in spite OF your finding his ring and
in spite Of his confession, because ! couldn't
imagine why he should have returned TO the
hotel at all after going out yesterday morning.
Why, If he were the thief. did he come back?
That act to my mind was conclusive proof OF
his innocence
Then you think that he was in collision
with the actual thief" asked Cation, slowly.
Something like that" said Duff. vaguely.
In the courtyard below Duff and his COM
paniOn got into taxi.
In the Strand Duff pulled the driver up short
of a chemists shop and turned to Cation.
1--WE run out of certain Photographic chem
icals at my place" he said. I've mind TO
test those finger prints in the dark room in
here May take a little time. VIII you go 10
my house and wait till turn up?"
Before giving the other time to agree or
expostulate he sprang out and directed the
man TO drive TO Coin Court.
He hurried into the chemists shop. bought
packet OF chewing gum and sauntered out. The
taxi, containing Sir Evan Cation. had disap-
peared.
DuU plunged dCTOSS the tllCh Ol tue ollduu
traffic into the Hotel Splendide and
whirred up to the sixth floor.
Lady Cation herself opened the door in an
swer to his imperious summons. She looked at
him in wide-eyed establishment, in which there
was mingled a mixture of fear and resentment
May l come in?" said Dun. Il want 20
speak to you alone
Silently she closed the door behind him and
led the way TO the sitting room. She flung
herself into a chair and looked at him inso-
lently.
What do you want to talk about?" she
queried, throwing her small head back into
downy cushion.
where's the counterfeit necklace you re-
moved from the case?" drawled Duff.
Her little figure stifened.
The what?' she inquired. with coldly up
lifted brows.
There's no time to hedge" snapped Dun.
Your husband is waiting for me at my house,
and for all we know by now Harold Brney.
because he is in love with you, may be contem-
plating committing suicide to cover up your
deception
His sound eve blazed menacingly. contempt
uously at the lovely woman lying at her ease
in the armchair before the fire.
"Listen!" he hurried on. From the first |
could not believe that Birney guilty OF the
theft, for various reasons which l have ex-
planned to your husband. | guessed that there
must be some story behind his dramatic con-
fesson Of guilt after he was confronted by the
evidence of his signet ring. / searched his
room and found direct evidence that before MS
hurried fight he destroyed a photograph by
burning it in the fireplace after stamping his
heel the picture. SCATTERING the glass to
splinters. / could by the line Of dust on
the mantelsheh that photograph frame had
been placed at certain Anglican angle which
lit up the photograph in the morning light in
direct vision from the position Of the bed.
"That Immediately suggested to me strong
sentimental interest in the photograph, which
for some reason Birney, in fit Of passion or
disgust had destroyed
There nothing among the papers he
left behind to suggest financial embarrassment.
His affairs appeared to be in perfect order.
Why then, had he confessed to purloining the
diamonds, and why had he Disappeared"
Lady Cation lay back in her chair. Her eyes
rested on Duff II fascinated.
Following my theory, | reasoned things
out" he went on. why had Brney acknowl-
edged the theft to your husband? Why was
he speeches. when the evidence of his ring
was thrust upon him? Because. being in love
with the woman to whom he gave that ring
with the woman whose photograph he placed
his manteshef that be could see it first
thing in the morning-he would prefer to take
the blame rather than prove his innocence and
set suspicion alive in her direction.
Arguing vaguely in that line, | made thor
ough investigation of your suite Of rooms.
found that the lock Of the door between your