Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-23
MALCOLM SAGE,
DETECTIVE
(BY HERBERT JENKINs)

But the locked door, sir" said
Thompson.
THAT is a very simple matter. An
ordinary leadpencil, with piece OF
string tied to one end put through the
ring OF the key to act as lever, the
cord being passed beneath the door,
will lock any door In existence. The
pencil can then be drawn under the
door"
That is why you examined the un-
der edge of the door" suggested Sir
, James.
Malcolm Sage nodded. THE marks
of the cord we're clearly defined and
reflected in the mirror
Mr.. Sage, you're a wonder burst
out the inspector.
II then" proceeded Malcolm Sage,
Examined all the other doors in the
house, and ! found that of one room,
which I after discovered to be Peters.
was heavily scored at the bottom. He
had evidently practised fairly exten-
sively before putting the plan into op-
Grafton He had also done the same
thing with the library door, as there
were marks of more. than one operation
Furthermore, he was wiser than to
take the risk of so clumsy a tool as
a lead-pencil. He used this"
Malcolm Sage drew from his pocket
the roll of twine with the thin steel in
canvas-needle, to the eye of which the
cord was attached.
This was absolutely safe" he re-
| marked. Another thing I discovered
was that one lock, and only one lock
In the house. had recently been oiled
that ofsthe library door
| Sir James nodded his head several
| times. There was something of self
regroach in the motion.
| Now" continued Malcolm Sage. we
| come back to why man should be sit
ting at a table absorbed in gazing at
nothing. and at time when most of
| the household are either in bed or pre-
| pairing for bed"
| Peters said that he was checking
his pass book" suggested Sir James.
That is undoubtedly what he was
doing" continued Malcolm Sage, "and
| Peters removed the pass-book. put 1t in
a drawer, first destroying the cancelled
| checks He made blunder in not re-
| placing the pass-book with something
else. That was the last link in the
chain" he added.
| II don't quite see" began Sir James.
What actually happened was that
| Mr.. Challoner went to his bank TO
| draw five hundred pounds with which
he hoped to bribe his nephew's fiancee.
He trusted to the temptation of the
actual money rather than a check.
| When he was at the bank the man
! ager once more asked him to return
! his pass-book. which had not been
| balanced for several months. He was
| very dilatory in such matters"
THAT is true" said Dane. speaking
for the first time.
That evening he proceeded TO com
| pare It with his check book. I suspect
that Peters had been forging checks
| and he saw here what would lead to
discovery. Furthermore. there was a
considerable sum of money in the safe
| and tho quarrel between uncle and
| nephew to divert suspicion. This, how
| ever was mere conjecture-that trou-
ser-pocltet photo. Dawkinr." said Nal
colm Sage. turning to the photographer
| who handed IL across to him.
Now notice the position OF those
keys They are put in head foremost,
| and do not reach the bottom Of the
| pocket. They had obviously been taken
| away and replaced in the pocket as
! Chailona- sat here Had he gone 20
| the safe himself and walked back 20
his chair, the position OF the keys would
| have been quite different"
Instinctively each man felt In his
trousers pocket. and found in his own
| bunch of keys vcrification OF the
| statement.
The whole scheme was too calculated
and deliberate for an amateur said