Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-01-25

work on case the detective told |
her. as she relocked the safe and huns
the palette in its accustomed place.
But 1t seems that this time was
wrong; the money has not been
touched"
OF course. the money was not
touched No one could know where
this safe is. And. after all. Laura's
death was only the result of terrible
accident"
There was no other verdict pos
sible under the circumstances" Raj
ston assured her. Thanking her for
her assistance. he left to return to his
ONCE. the daguerreotype still in his
pocket. and smile of satisfaction on
his lips.
Late that evening he visited Spen-
Ger in his bachelor apartments.
Just the person | most wanted to
see,' the expert cried at sight of his
friend. Draw up a chair and light
cigar. and Well go over your Alden
case together. Tell you the truth. I'm
quite interested in it,"
Well" began Ralston: "as to the
lfirst set OF fingerprints, those from
the box, there was no official record
of them"
Good enough" answered Spencer.
That eliminates professional
crook. But here is something thatll
interest you. The pictures OF the
cats paw turned out better than had
hoped. Take glance at Them" and
he tossed several prints on the table.
"Pretty clear, aren't they?" he went
on. Very unusual. too. when you
stop to consider it, Well. Herb.
you've had good look at them. Do
you notice anything PECULIAR"
Ralston turned the picture to a diff
: ferent angle
something PECULIAR he repeated.
} lWhy. yes, there is something strange
about them, but can't exactly define
: what it is"
: That's just i'll" exclaimed Spencer
| delightfully."-. Just how l felt until /
I got the clue. 1t came to me suddenly
Look here! Notice the fine hair-lines
lof the fingerprints" The expert
J. brought the tips of his four fingers
e lightly together in slight curve. He
e then carefully approached the tip OF
= his thumb to a level with the others,
q holding it slightly apart After ap-
), plying the surface of the five fingers
: on an ink-pad he transferred the inn
ipression to loose sheet of paper ly-
n ing on the table. The result was
: startling
S "There!" he shouted enthusiastical-
: ly; S'there are your cats paws,
= Simple, isn't it? and yet, ! studied
r those proofs for an hour before the
truth dawned upon me-"
: Therefore," began the detective
G excitedly.
e Therefore" interrupted the other;
'your cat is a man instead of four
: footed animal. Miss Alden was killed
d in all probability by some person al
/, present unknown. Herb, it's up tt
s you"
r 81 always suspected as much" Raj
st0n declared. while you were busy
:, with the prints, / have not been idle
: But first, Tom, can you tell il the
@ marks in the dust and those on the
d paint-box are one and the same?'
Spencer shook his head.
4 NO." he stated decisively. "Thers
: is not the slightest resemblance be-
: tween the two. They were made b,
o different persons"
81 thought so. Perhaps you car
say then, II either of those prints cor.
a responds to these" Ralston drew the
+ daguerrotype from his pocket ans
v carried it to the light.
I Look" he directed his friend
Someone has held this daguerreo
q type and there are marks of ths
: thumb on the front glass. See
: 'Now." turning it over and showing
the old-fashioned brass back; "notics
these fingerprints What's your opin
ion, old MANI"
Spencer's eyes glowed with eager
mess and excitement as he compared
the impressions on the picture will
the others. 1t did not take long fol
his trained eye to note any similarity
and laying aside his glass, he leaned
back in his chair.
Herb, where did you find it? Your
!. ldaguerreotype was handled by the
= same man who was clever enough to
;, initiate the marks OF cat. No doubt
about it. Find this ran and you solve
! the mystery"
Ralston grinned.
Thanks for the information" he
said. Leave it to me. / have an ap-
Ipointment with Senator Alden tomor-
row morning, Tom, and | want you tc
come with me-"