Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-04-27
The Amateur
Detective
BY WINIFRED DUNBAR



detective?"
Yes" bowed Robert Prince, telling
the truth but conveying u wrong i'm
preston.
Only an hour ago he had been de-
plOring with Arnold, his friend and a
man who creditably followed the de-
tective line as science, the fact that
his life had become practically vapid,
protitless, almost uncomfortable.
Robert Prince was world weary be-
cause he had no motive in life. He
had inherited money, but not bust
ness. He really craved to be of some
practical use in the world, but did not
know how to begin. He had acted so
bored that Arnold had laughingly sug-
gested that he interest himself in some
detective case.
"When l get case that will really
stir up your ingenuity and inability
and get that idle mind out of its dull
beaten track" said Arnold, "I'm GO
ing to make you interested in it," and
now case that held his attention had
come to the front. Arnold was absent
from the office, but Robert allowed his
caller to think he was the famous
sleuth.
'That Is my name," said the young
girl, handing a dainty card to Robert
bearing residence address and the
name, Miss Fidelia Blain." II wish
to engage your services, not in hunt
ing down criminal, but in recovering
for me large sum of money"
1t was clear, simple and yet star
Ting narrative, that Of the fair young
girl. She had been an art student, her
brother Il travelling agent for a large
steel firm. A sister had recently died
leaving two small children. Their fa-
ther was diSsolute SCOundrcl who
had broken his wife's heart.
An uncle had left an estate to the
surviving brother and sister. They
had at once liquidated this and had
faithfully placed third of the pro-
ceeds in trust for the children.
This had Infatuated John Barr, the
| brother-in-laW. To quiet him, Fidelia
| had given him thousand dollars.
When he had squandered it in gam
! bling he returned and had since been
continuously annoying them with ap-
plications for small loans.
II tolerated him." now related FL
della, until l had got through some
matters in court where would be ap-
pointed the guardian of the children
Mr.. Barr kept coming to the house un-
| der pretence of a right to see Them
Yesterday evening l locked up in my
desk nearly four thousand dollars in
cash and twenty thousand dollars in
| unregistered bonds which l received
from our broker too late to take to the
bank. This morning they were gone.
Mr.. Barr is missing and near the desk
A i picked up a. glove with his name
written on the inside lining"
"Then he must be the theft" oh.
served Robert.
'He must be. For the sake of the
children l do not want him arrested,
but l must get back the money and
bonds
81 will take the case" announced
Robert.
Robert was a trfe ashamed of him
self as he realized that he was simply
eager to keep in the company of his
fascinating client as long as possible.
Remarkable good fortune rewarded
his efforts. Robert finally came across
a man who knew Barr who had seen
him staggering home early that morn
ing. Where was his home, inquired
Robert. An hour later he pushed open
the door of room in large office
building to find lying prone across a
bed-the very man he was after.
Barr seemed stupefied, drugged
Robert tried to arouse him, but could
not do so.
For hours Robert watched by the
bedside of the man.
Towards evening the patient was in
deliriun. 1t seemed that Barr had
intended to flee the city, but had got
to drinking. He met some associates
and Dragged or netting a fortune.
They had drugged him and had taken
satchel away from him.
Stuffed with paper-ha ha !" gloat-
ed the delirious Barr. THE money,
the bonds safe. The key-ah. the
key! They are batiied-l am rich"
"The key-the key" was the mad
burden of the invalid. Robert noticed
that he lay on one side, his naked
shoulder revealed. He had observed
plaster there at the first but had left
1t to wear off.
1t had done this In part. One edge
was turned over. Something glittered
Robert investigated. He detached
from under the plaster small fiat key
bearing a number and the initials
~. s. d. ""
Within two hours Robert Prince
knew that key unlocked box rented
by Barr IN the Union Safety Deposit