The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-11-22
lie Was Really
Great Detective

Mrs. Parmenter had teiel hcRed to
her husband at noon, to tell him that
the diamonds had not been found. Par
menter left his Office and went over
to see Sweazey about 1t at once.
The stenographer, who had been
very sympathetic, had recommended
Sweazey's agency. She did not know
Sweazey herself, but young woman
friend of hers was Sweazey's cousin,
and she knew that he was just grand.
Parmenter expected to see a gentle
man with high, intellectual brow,
grave inscrutable face-the face Of
student and an eye that had habit
of suddenly leaping from sleepy lids
into a penetrating luminosity. end he
was little disappointed when the
great detective proved to be dumpy in
figure, pop-eyed and fat faced. His
heavy mustache, which was of Jet
ty blackness, except near the roots.
where 1t had rather rusty tinge, was
also in the nature of establishment
to Parmenter; SO was the fiat, black,
GU4A tAAn@ 1CNOAGSOA
sweazey's forehead.
Still. If SWeazey was disappoint-
ment in other respects, his inscruta-
bility left nothing to be desired. A
wooden Indian standing in front OF
cigar store is not more inscrutable
than Sweazey was.
He waved Parmenter to a rickety
a.. L. -, u{4 In, 10
state the case. Then he resit the
stump of an eVil-smelling cigar, and
composed himself in listening atti-
tude, with his feet on his desk.
There was not much to tell. Mrs.
Parmenter had worn the diamonds to
the theatre. She remembered per.
fectly that she took them of when she
retired that night, but the following
afternoon she had been unable to find
them.
1t had happened that in the morning
young man applied for assistance
at the front door. The poor fellow had
Just been discharged from the hospi-
tai and he asked for some cast-off
garments. The maid had incautious-
ly-left the door open while she went to
tell the mistress. and had then re-
turned to the kitchen, still leaving the
door open, while Mrs Parmenter rum
mayed for some old clothes in the
garnet.
There had been ample time for the
young man to ransack the house, as
Mrs. Parmenter recalled when she
missed her jewels.
Sweazey chewed his cigar reflective
ly and frowned at the almanac on the
wall.
Presently he turned suddenly on
Parmenter and the pop eyes bored
into that gentleman's inmost soul
"IIave ron told me everything you
know he asked.
81 think chat is everything" replied
Parmeater.
"You think. But are you sure?" de-
manded the great detective.
Everything that is material" said
Parmenter.
"see here, Cap" said Sweazey, "a
guy that amt in the business don't
know what's material and what amt
You tell me all there is to tell-See?
Or. l tell you what I'll do. There amt
none of my men around just now, so
/ guess I'll take this case myself. Well
so to lunch and you can get busy CIV
ing me the rest OF It while we chew"
They went to lunch. Sweazey was
an expensive feeder. AS he explained
to Parmenter, the best was none too
good for him and he liked lots Of it
especially when another Teller is foot,
ing the bill" he AIDED, humorously.
Meanwhile he put number Of ques-
lions to Parmenter, eliciting the fact
that Mrs. Parm enter OCCASIONALLY play
ed bridge whist.
mot that I can see how Mrs. Par
mentors amusements can be any con.
Germ of yours" said Parmenter, with
considerable heat.
Certainly rot; certainly not" said
Sweazey, sootaiEgly. 81 was igst ask
ing. There's nothing in that. Ny wife
plays bridge herself She can put It
all over me at seven-up. Now, as to
the hired girl Of yours"
There's another thing l want to
speak to you about" said P8rmenter.
"We haven't tae slightest suspicion
of the maid. We think everything OF
her and we wouldn't have her feelings
hurt for the world If you have to
question her, should like you to be
very tactful."
'eYou leave that to me, Cap" said
sweazey. reassuringly. 81 don't sup.
pose your good lady noticed whether
that guy that come to the door for
handout had mole on the back of
bis necka brown mole?"
"She didn't mention it" replied Par
menter "Why?"
''It looks to me like Rat-Tail Reil-
ly's work." said Sweazey. "If he had
that mole, 1t was Rat-Tail- and. you
see that finger?"
He held up a stubby and rather dir
ty forefnger for Parmenter's distin-