The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-10-30

Detective Cack gulped hard, then
gasped:
"I'n be right-I1l send my best man
right out"
He returned the receiver to its rest
ing place, bounced to his feet, snatched
his hat from the wall, raised the win
dow blind and gazed gloatingly at the
ham for a second. then ran all the
way down the eight flights of stairs to
the street, and hailed trolley car.
I'm engaging a private detective
against the advice Of my son-in-laW,"
announced Mr.. Dillingham;, pulling at
his white goatee, spreading his short
legs far apart and glaring hercely
through powerful-lensed spectacles.
Better have kept the whole thing
quiet" snorted the son-in-law, biting
vicfously into a cigar. He was OF
about Clarence's own age, and with
quick, nervous manner. His face ap-
peared never without sneer, for his
features were built that way. He
lighted the cigar. "What's mere S1O,-
600 to raise a rumpus about?"
''Ten thousands ten thousand" OBJ
served the practical Mr.. Dillingham;.
The son-in-law shrugged his shoul-
ders and left the library. Mr.. Dilling-
ham approached the criminal appre'
hender, who was examining the dial
on the safe.
"Tm against detectives myself" con-
fided the head of the house, "but I've
got to show Mr.. Petty-that's my SON.
in-law-he's not running things. How
ever, you got to work on my terms
five hundred dollars If you catch the
robber, and nothing If you fail"
Clarence's heart slid into his shoes
and a smoked ham he had been vision
Jig did movie fadeout. However, ne
stretched himself to his full six feet
and glared haughtily at his prospect
i've customer"
"Those are always my terms" ne
said, with dignity, and added: Il have
never failed on a case"
Mr.. Dillingham; related what he
knew Of the robbery. While discuss
ing a business deal with his son-in-
law, which necessitated opening the
safe to examine some papers, he had
been called from the library. Mr.. Pet
tvs call Of "Help! Stop thief" had
brought him back on the run, and he
found the son-in-law lying on the floor,
his coat partly torn off, pointing to
the window and groaning: HE went
through the window"
Glancing out the aperture in ques-
ton, Mr.. Dillingham; had seen no one.
An examination Of the safe had dis
closed that $4,000 was missing. "Have
you a clew?'' he asked Clarence, con-
cluding his story.
"Call the servants" he directed.
One or all of the servants might have
been guilty, and Clarence Archibald
Creston Kenelworth would not have
suspected 1t, after the straightforward
stories they told. he was honest him.
self and had not yet learned to distrust
others.
Telling Mr.. Dillingham; he was fol-
lowing clew, Clarence left the house,
outwardly confident, but ,inwardly de-
jected.
'Tm no good" he confded to him
self, as he trudged down the lane lead
ing from the Dillingham; domicile. The
sun had just sunk beneath the earth's
rim, and the lane was gray with gath
ering darkness except for few va
grant rays Of twilight that sifted
through the interlacing boughs above.
'I can see myself crawling back to
father-or starving" said Detective
Cack, filing his pipe. He paused close
to big tree, and opened his metal
matchbox, but it was empty. Clicking
it shut in disgust. his hand came in
contact with the tin horseshoe on his
watchchain. A shaft of light struck
the trinket and was reflected against
the tree.
Don't shoot" pleaded a trembling
voice behind the tree. II give up"
The form of man, cringing and
trembling skunk forth. Clarence drew
out his electric flash and let loose a
flood Of light. Before him stood Mr..
Petty, q. travelling bag in his hand.
"The ten thousands in the Bag" he
said. II was trying to beat it. but 1
saw you coming/and lodged behind the
tree. When I heard you cock that
gun, and saw the light reflect from the
barrel, decided it was time to quit"
Half an hour later Detective Archi-
bald Creston Kennelworth, with $500
in his pocket, was regaling himself
with smoked ham. Another half-hour
passed before he was ringing the door
bell at the home Of Magdeline Osborne.
Pcn,fIar;zino American Sports.