Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-06

I FOUND Bromley Barnes in his
L office, with his feet elevated Oh his
desk smoking a Pittsburgh stogie and
reading Bill Nye's Comic History or
the United States" That might have
seemed discouraging to au enthusiastic
amateur sleuth, but | knew my old
friend well enough to realize that he
| was neither indifferent nor iudolent
| His hobby consisted of collecting the
works of American humorists and he
said that he found in their pages not
only the needed relaxation from the
cold, matter of fact problems which he
was compelled to face every Gay, but
also the inspiration which helped him to
solve some of his most vcXatiouS cases
/ He tossed his book aside when ] en-
tered the room aud called on me for q
recital of all the events which had oc-
Cured at HedgcwatCr House since our
last meeting. | told him everything
clearly and in detail and the fact that
he lifted his shaggy eyebrows more
than once convinced me that he was
deeply interested. if not amazed. at INV
revelations. He asked me many ques-
tions, and was particularly anxious to
know if had left Hapgood on the job
My answer in the affirmative satisfied
him. He paid special attention to the
little square of cloth which | had found
near the summer house and he lookeu
at it through microscope with the
manner of an expert. After that he
leaned back in his chair and lit a fresh
stoge.
Hugh he said refectively. 9Th.
moro ! think of this case the more I
am reminded of the old story of the
moth and the fame. You have oren
heard of the gruesome fascination
which draws the murderer back to the
scene of his crime. That is a fact
which has been proved by experience.
But it does not stop at murder. It
holds good of other forms of crime.
The criminal does not rest easy. He
, is nervous, impatient i'll at ease. 1t
is so in this case. The man who has
been skulking around Hedgewater House
is only another instance of the moth and
the flame. He will never rest until
his wings are burned
You seem confident
Perfectly" he replied. You have
bit of cloth there. 1t is our business
to find the suit of clothes of which it
was part and after that the man inside
the suit of clothes"
] laughed.
May I ask what you have been do
ing at this end of the line?''
That is not only your right but your
duty. I've been trying to round up all
of the diamond dealers in town. And
I've been successful, too. The process
of elimination has been going on. I've
discarded all of those that are beyond
suspicion and have only retained a few
that would be likely to yield to tempta
ton, or that would deliberately engage
in unlawful business. There are just
four Of these and they are all located OF
Diamond Row, which is the popular
name for Commerce street, where most
Of the jewelry houses are located. Tn
going to make the round of these shops
this afternoon and ! want you to &c
with me-
How can 7 tell?"
But I thought you had som. specia
object in view"
He laid his hand on my shoulder II
kind. fatherly sort of fashion.
my boy, the one thing in view al
ways is the Red Diamond, Aside from
that, we are going on what the lawyers
call fishing expedition. How it viii
turn out ! can't begin to guess. w
may not even get nibble."
Commerce street proved to be quain
little thoroughfare in the heart of thu
business section of the city. 1t was
quite unlike any of the other streets il
the vicinity. 1t had a favor and &
character all its own. Both sides o.
the street were lined with curious little
shops, all related in one way or another
to the trade In jewelry and precious
gems. One establishment dealt exclu
sively in diamonds, another in old golC
and silver and a third in antiques O.
all kinds. Across from these thre,