Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-18
True
Detective Stories
TOE-PRINTS
Upright BY The Wheeler syndicate. Inc.

ID Jen! know that house like |
know the inside of this room.
What do you suppose got that job as
furnace man fori You don't think |
like the work, do you? Just ten min
utes-that's all III need. The safes
over in one corner of the bedroom. and
the combinations one could work In
my sleep-one Of those old-fashloned
affairs where you can hear the tuin-
blers drop clear across the room.
Resides continued the man known
to his accomplices as Lefty joe" and
TO the police rs one of the cleverest
sec0nd-stOry men In the business,
"this'll 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 IA bunch that there's
slip-up somewhere. You'll be care
full 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 I'LL over the place. No, nor any
footprints either. l tell you. Jen. this
is cinch. This time next week Wen
be out in the sflcks-sOmewhere where
they don't know us-landin' Il decent
job with no fear of bulls. Hurry up
with those socks. will you? Don't
bother to finish them. 1t amt 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 shadow
balance itself for moment, silhouet-
ted against the dark gray sky. and
then drop, nolselessly, 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
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 tumblers rs 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 Il couple
of days or So he informed the girl.
III 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 M shoes OFF,
and not 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
10 Inc iinipp> i,vnv. 0ue vi Inc sew
ants, returning early. had noted the
opened window and had notified Mr..
PhippS. The latter. after hasty ex-
animation of the rifled safe had
phoned for the police, and the mere
statement thar some $4,000 worth Of
jewels were missing, had been enough
TO bring Faurot. the iinger-print ex-
pert. 10 the scene Of the crime.
Whoever broke in here knew what
he was doing" stated the inspector,
after he had examined the house and
the grounds. 1T wasn't much of
trick 10 open the safe. and our friend
took good care to use rubber gloves.
No finger prints anywhere about the
house. Anything outside:
Nothing al all. chief" replied one
of the policemen who had accompa-
MED the Inspector. Wires all right
and no footprints in sight"
"Hmmm,' mused Faurot, his eyes
fixed meditatively ON the hardwood
floor of the bedroom. Then he moved
his head suddenly to one side, as If
trying 10 catch a clearer glimpse Of
the light reflected from above. An in
slant later he was on his knees, dust
ing the floor with powder which he
produced from his pocketa combIna-
ton of mercury and chalk. A few
strokes Of camel's hair brush. 10
eliminate the surplus powder. and he
photographed the smudge with
pocket camera which he invariably ear
ried 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 40 ones TO leave the city
without my permission-an with
a record mean"
One by one, as they were brought
into headquarters. the suspected men
were put through 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. Ii took the In
spector 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,
40 I airy Inu faa.1 hin. IaG.ntip H..