Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1922-01-19


k6D UT I'm not taking any chances,
= Jen! l know that house like /
know the inside of this room.
What do you suppose ] got that job as
furnace man for? You don't think |
like the work, do your Just ten min
dtes-that's all I'll need. The safes
over in one corner of the bedroom. and
the combinations one could work in
my sleep-one Of those old-fashiOned
affairs where you can hear the tum.
blers drop clear across the room.
Besides, " continued the man known
to his accOmpllces as Lefty joe" and
to the police as one of the cleverest
secOnd-story men in the business,
'thisll be the last job I'll tackle.
promise you that Wen sink the stuff
down at Uncle Abie's and make a get
away before the bulls know the place
has been cleaned out"
1T sounds all right" admitted the
girl to whom the burglar was speak
ing 'but I've got bunch that there's
a slip-up somewhere. You'll be care.
ful to wear those rubber gloves?"
Sure | will" answered the other.
"Foro, or whatever he calls himself,
amt goin TO find any of my finger
marks all over the place. No, nor any
footprints either. / tell you, Jen, this
Is cinch. This time next week Wen
be out in the sticks-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. II amt the first
time that I've worn EN- 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.
II was the work of moment to
jimmy open one of the windows on the
first floor, and in almost less time than
il takes to tell 1t, Joe was in the bed
room, spinning the combination of the
wall safe, his sensitive ears listening
for the click of the tumblers as they
dropped into position. Less than half
an hour later he was back In his room.
pouring his loot into Jennie's lap.
We'll have to lay low for a 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
had my gloves on and my shoes off,
and not a soul saw me. So we're safe,
girl, and I'm through-at least until |
find another crib as easy as this one"
But even as Joe was speaking, In.
spector Joseph A. Faurot of the New
York detective force, was on his way
TO the Phipps home. One of the serv
ants, returning early, had noted the
opened window and had notified Mr..
Phipps. The latter, after a hasty ex-
of the rifled safe, had
Dhoned for the police, and the mere
statement that some $4,000 worth of
levels were missing, had been enough
o bring Faurot the finger-print ex-
pert, 10 the scene Of the crime.
Whoever broke In here knew what |
re was doing" stated the inspector, |
after he had examined the house and |
he grounds. 1T wasn't much of a
rick TO open the safe, and our friend
ook good care to use rubber gloves.
No finger prints anywhere about the
louse Anything outside?
Nothing at all, chief" replied one
# the policemen who had accompa-
lied the inspector. 'Wires all right
md no footprints in sight"
"Hmmm," unused FaurOt, his eyes
liked meditatively ON the hardwood
loor of the bedroom. Then he moved
lis head suddenly to one side, as if
rying to catch a clearer glimpse of
he light reflected from above. An in
tant later he was on his knees. dust
ng the floor with powder which he
reduced from his pOcket-a combina-
ion of mercury and chalk. A few
trokes of camel's hair brush, TO
Intimate the surplus powder, and he
photographed the smudge with
ocket camera which he invariably car
led with him.
This Is an experts job" he an
ounced as he arose. Round up every
econd-story man in town, and give or
ers that no ones to leave the city
'ithout my permission-anyone with
record, l mean"
One by one, as tney were brought
10 headquarters, the suspected men
ere put through strange ordeal.
fter removing their shoes and socks.
rints Ct their toJs were taken, pre-
sely as their finger prints had pre-
.oasiy been recorded. Ii took the in
rector less than five seconds to order
le release Of each man. until he ex-
mined he prints Of the sixteenth pris-
lor.