The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-11-13


my summer residence-40B CLIFFORD
avenue. Somebody lifted $4,000 from
the safe.
Detective Cack gulped hard, then
gasped:
"rll be right--I'Il 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 gIoatingly at the
ham for second. then ran all the
wav down the eight flights OF stairs to
the street. and hailed trolley car.
"Tm engaging 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 glsring fiercely
through overwhelmed spectacles.
Better haseps.kept the whole thing
quiet" snorted the son-in-law, biting
viciously into a cigar. He was or
about Clarence's own age. and with a
quick, nervous manner. His face ap-
peared never without q sneer, for HIS
features were built that way. He
lighted the cigar. whats mere sl0,-
600 to raise rumpus about?"
"Ten thousands ten ,thousnnd." OBJ
served the practical Mr., pillingham.
The son-in-iaw shrugged his shoul-
ders and left the library. Mr.. Dllling-
ham approached the criminal appre-
hender, who was examining the dial
on the safe.
"rm against detectives myself con-
fided the head Of the house, "but I've
got to show Mr. Petty--thats my som
in-law--he's not running things. How
ever, you got to work on my terms
five hundred dollars " you catch the
robber, and nothing n You fall"
Clarence's heart slid into his shoes
and smoked happhe had been vision
Ing did movie fadeout. However. he
stretched himself to his full six feet
and glared haughtlly at his prospect
| i've customer"
"Those are always my terms" he
said. with dignity, and added: II 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 "Helpl Stop theft" had
brought him back on the run. and he
found the son-in-law lying on the floor.
his coat partly torn Oft, pointing to
the window and groaning: HE went
through the window"
Glancing out the aperture in ques-
tion, Mr.. Dillingham; had seen no one,
An examination of the safe had dis.
closed that $4,000 was missing. "Have
you clewf" he asked Clarence, con-
Guiding his story. W.
Detective Cack smiled enigmatically
"Call the servants" he directed.
One or all Of the servants might have
been guilty, and Clarence Archibald
Creston Kenelworth would not have
suspected II, after the straightforward
stories they told. He was honest him
self and had not yet learned to distrusi
others.
III.
Telling Mr.. Dillingham; ne was fol
lowing a clew, Clarence left the house
outwerdly confident, but inwardly de
jected.
I'm no good" he confided to him
self, as he trudged down the lane lead
Ing from the Dillingham; domicl!e. The
| su. had trot gunL han m IN tho an ~ h,s
rim, and the lane was gray with gath
ering darkness except for a few va
grant rays Of twilight that sifted
through the lnterlacing boughs above.
T can see myself crawling back Il
father--or starving" said Detective
Cack, filling his pipe. He paused closs
to big tree. and opened his meta
matchbox. but 1t was empty. Clicking
It shut In disgust, his hand came In
contact with the tin horseshoe on hii
watchchain. A shaft of light strucl
the trinket and was reflected against
the tree.
Don't shoot" pleaded trembling
voice behind the tree. II give up"
The form Of q man, cringing ant
trembling skunk forth. Clarence drew
ont his electric fash and let loose 4
food Of light. Before him stood Mr.
Petty. travelling bag in his hand.
"The ten thousands In the bag" HI
said. II was trying to beat 1t. but
saw you coming and lodged behind tn,
tree. When / heard you cock tina
gun. and saw the light reflect from the
barrel. ! decided 1t was time to quit
Half an hour later Detective Archi
bald Creston Kennelworth. with S50t
In his pocket, was regaling himself
with smoked ham. Another half-houI
passed before he was ringing the door
bell at the home Of Magdeline Osborne
Popuiarixing American Sports,
Il Ill .~tt 81 -