Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-08
Copyrisht. 1919, by the PnEe Co.
COPYRIGHT. 1910. by Evening Public LedG
THIS STARTS THE STORY

THIS STARTS THE STORY
Hugh Garland. of the United
States customs service, is assigned
to discover the whereabouts of a red
diamond Struggled into the country
on the steamship Dom Pedro. lie
accepts position as assistant to
Colonel Wharton. n collector of an
tiques and gems. In the coloncl's
house he meets Dora Wharton. his
niece, and Jules Jncquette and Vic
tor Jayne. guests. A visit from
Doctor Henderson, n ncighbor starts
O conversation about diamonds, and
the colonel displays the Star of the
South, the jewel for which Garland is
hunting. Garland has reason to be-
lieve the diamond was stolen before
II was sinuggled Bromley Barnes.
Garland'S chief. arrests johnson.
steward on the Dom Pedro. and Hart
ley Glaz;cr, diamond dealer.
Among Glaciers effects they discover
a number of 500 bills which are
identified MS having been drawn from
the bank by the colone'.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
SsTTNHAT note" he said imprcssivcly
L "is one of the bills which was drawn
from the bank by tO'oncl Wharton.
Query How did it come into the pos
session of this diamond DEALER
'Co'oncl Wharton was purchaser
of curios of all kinds vcnturcd.
Yes agreed the veteran. "but
that will not do as an explanation in
this case. | have my own theory. but
III let it simmer in my brain for II
while
As he talked he began sorting the
articles that lay on the desk. lie
turned TO me:
THAT bank note was one bit of cyi
dencc. Now lonk and see if you can
find anything c'Sr that might furnish 10
clue to the ease we have in hand.
/ looked for some time and then
pointed 10 the small latch key.
THAT looks as II it might unlock
the mystery
He laughed.
"Iou have all oi the characteristic,
Of a good detective. | thought the
same thing. but 81 far | haven't been
able to do anything with it. My theory
is that this is the key of room where
Glazicr has hidden some Of his secrets.
Query: Where is the room:"
Have you looked anywhcrc%'
We've examined all of the rooms
In his shop without result. This key
must unlock some door in another part
of the city. Ny theory is that it is Il
vacant houSc--that is to say, an unoc-
cupicd house. But there are Il thou
sand such houses in this city and 7
wouldn't know where to start. Be
sides. even if I did. when could we ever
such task?''
While he talked | had the key in my
hand and was examining it--and
thinking. Presently an idea came into
my head and it filled me with Joy.
turned to Barnes.
You couldn't do it alone. Of course.
But why not get the assistance Of the
sity police. Chief Kclly's good scout.
He'd lend you hundred of his men
'or a day"
Barnes stared at me.
Hundred men with one key-Itugh.
ron must have bean drinking"
No. ] retortcd. Il mean hun
ired men with n hundred keys"
He stared at me.
Give me chat key" | said. "und in
IN hour I'll have hundred duplicates
made for you"
lap on the back.
BY Jove." he cried. "I'll have To
land it to you. boy. You have some
ray matter in that head of yours. The
hing's so obviously simple that it never
occurred TO me-.
Ten minutes later the key had been
eft with lOcksmith with instructions
to make the 100 dup icatr.. Altr.
hat we proceeded to the office of the
hief of police. Kelly, the czar of the |