The Holbrook news., 1922-03-31
True Detective Stories
FOOTPRINTS
Copyright by The Wheeler Syndicate. Inc

6 Jen! know that house like I
 know the inside of this room. What do you suppose 1 got that job as furnace man for? You don't think l like the work, do you? Just ten min utes-that's all I'll need. The safes over in one corner of the bedroom, and the combinations one I could work in affairs where you can hear the tum- blers drop clear acfoss the room.
 Besides" continued the man known to his accomplices as Lefty Joe,' and to the police as one of the cleverest second-story men in the business, 'this'll be the last job I'll tackle. l promise you that. We'll sink the stuff down at Uncle Abie'S and make get away before the bulls know the place has been cleaned out"
 Tt sounds all right" admitted the girl to whom the burglar was speak ing, but I've got hunch that there's slip-up somewhere. You'll be care ful to wear those rubber gloves?"
 Sure l will" answered the other "Foro, or whatever he calls himself. ain't goin' to find any of my finger marks all over the place. No, nor any footprints either. l tell you. Jen, this is cinch. This time next week we'll be out in the esticks-somewhere where they don't know us-landin' a decent job with no fear of bulls. Hurry up with those socks, will you? Don't bother to finish them. It ain't the first time that I've worn 'em full O holes"
 shortly after ten o'clock anyone who might have been watching the fence which marked the end of the Phipps property, would have seen a shadow balance itself for moment, silhouet- ted against the dark gray sky. and then drop, noiselessly, inside the grounds.
 Moving cautiously. so as to avoid the burglar-alarm wires which he had previously charted, Lefty Joe crept softly toward the house.
 It was the work of moment to jimmy open one of the windows on the first floor. and in almost less time than it takes to tell it, Joe was in the bed room, spinning the combination of the wall safe. his sensitive ears listening for the click of the numbers as they dropped into position. Less than half an hour later he was back in his room, pouring his loot into Jennies lap,
 Wen have to lay low for couple of days or so," he informed the girl. If the police find out that I've skipped, they'll suspect me right away, and try to frame up something. They'll have hard time proving it though. l had my gloves on and my shoes of, and not soul saw me. So we're safe, girl, and I'm through-at least until l find another crib as easy as this one"
 But even as Joe was speaking. h. spector Joseph A. FaurOt of the New York detective force, was on his way ts the Phipps home. One of the serv- ants, returning early, had noted the opened window and had notified Mir. Phipps. The latter, after nasty ex- animation of the rified safe, had phoned for the police, and the mere statement that some $l0,0O0 worth of jewels were missing, had been enough to bring Faurot, the finger-print ex- pert, to the scene of the crime.
 "WhOeyer broke in here knew what he was doing" stated the inspector, after he had examined the house and the grounds. Tt wasn't much of trick to open the safe, and our friend took good care to use rubber gloves. No finger prints anywhere about the house. Anything outside?
 Nothing at all, chief" replied one of the policemen who had accompa- nied the inspector. ''Wires all right and no footprints in sight"
 "Hmmm,' unused Faurot, his eyes fixed meditatively on the hardwood floor of the bedroom Then he moved his head suddenly to one side, us If trying to catch clearer glimpse ca the light reflected from above. An in st;,nt later he was on his knees, dust ing the floor with powder which he produced from his pocket-a combina- ti0n of mercury and chalk. A few strokes of a camels hair brush, to eliminate the surplus powder, and he photographed the smudge with a pocket camera which he invariably car Tied with him.
 This is an experts job" he an- nOunced as he arose. Round up every secOnd-story man in town. and give or ders that no ones to leave the city without my permission-anyOne with record. l mean"
 One by one, as they were brought into headquarters, the suspected men were put through q strange ordeal. After removing their shoes and socks. prints of their toes were taken, pre- cisely as their finger prints had pre- viously been recorded. It took the in spectOi less than five seconds to order the release of each man, until he ex- amined the prints of the sixteenth pris- Oner.
 Bring him in!'' he ordered Then. ! as Lefty Joe faced him defiantly, Eau rot inquired mildly, Where's the stuff you got from the Phipps' place last night, Joe? Oh, it's no use to register innocence. We've got the goods on you this time. You wore rubber gloves. but you forgot that the human toe leaves a mark just as individual and distinct as the fingers. Your right sock had a hole in it last night, so we found your visiting card on the floor of the house shortly after you left"