Evening star., 1927-10-16
/THE CAT BURGLAR AA a44x
Reginald Fortune Again Dssented the Accepted Theory

to know her engagements, and man
aged to pick a night when she ant
her husband were out. He had to tax
| a chance on what she was wearing
and 1t didn't pan out. She hadn't lef
much behind her but the moonstones
bet he was sick"
yes. Yes. Would you bet you'll
get him."
Inspector Fargo looked knowing
ITS not a thing to bet on"
II suppose YOU know all the first
class men?" said Reggie meekly.
Il wish I did. Mr.. Fortune. l know
men who could have done it." HI
! looked at Bell. Not so many. either
eh? First.class cat burglars-they'r RI
pretty rare And they lie low, the
| cracks. We've never got the mar
that brought off those jobs in the
| Spring"
| Inspector Pargo looked at his super
! intendent. Not much doubt" Bel
grunted.
And one man here? Same MANI
"Ah, that's as may be-" Inspector
Fargo winked. II couldn't say. sir
| Spotting the man. you see, for Jot
of this kind. means working over the
cracks who could have done 1t and
finding what they're up to. Then, il
you can get line on one of them, you
may pick up some evidence"
ANY hopes?"
"I'm always hoping. sir. Is there
anything you would like to suggest,
Mr.. Fortune?"
"Me? oh, no. It's not in my way.
I'm a child in these things. l don't
count until some one is killed"
81 hope it won't come to that, sir, y
Inspector Fargo laughed. He con
ferred a moment with Bell: he prom.
ised to do his best for the lady; he
was gone.
Mr.. Fortune gazed at Bell. Zeal.
lots of zeal" he murmured.
He knows his job, sir
"But only one idea" Mr.. Fortune
sighed.
well. it's a pretty plain case"
"My dear fellow! The hypothetical
expert, he marks down Mrs. Davis as
a lady worth burgling: which she isn't.
He takes pains to find out all about
her house. which hasn't anything in
it. He chooses night when she's out
at a BALL. when she'd be wearing any
jewels she's got. He gets in. leaves a
lot of gold trinkets alone. and pinches
a set of moonstones. That's a re-
markable expert"
Bell moved in his chair. IF you
put it like that" he said slowly. But
you know you can always put a case
so it sounds silly. All crimes are silly
in a way"
"oh, Bell. oh, no. It's silly to be
a criminal at all. But the clever fel-
lows don't play the fool in their
crimes"
1--WE known lot of 'em to fall down
over silly blunder in clever plan
just like this chap"
Yes. Only ne hasn't fallen"
"Why. he only got the moonstones
for all his trouble. That's what you're
saving. sir"
SIS there some catch about these
moonstones?' Bell cried.
mo. no They're just moonstones
in a little white gold"
81 don't know what you're getting
Nor do I. Bell" Mr.. Fortune
wandered to the door. quite dark,
isn't it?" With the door open. he
looked back. His face was like a
troubled child's. 81 wonder what's
next" he said.
Supt. Bell breathed hard. and. when
the door was shut allowed himself to
remark that he wished Mr.. Fortune
wouldn't try to see what wasn't
there.
+ r \
ON the next day, reading the eve-
ming paper in his bath before din
ner, according to his habit. Mr.. For
tune came upon the headline, Mil
lionaire Cat Burglary" A brief mar
rative informed him that, the night
before, while Lord Silvertown, the
soap king. and his wife were out to
dinner. her dressing room had been
entered by cat burglar. Most of her
diamonds had been taken.
Mr.. Fortune called up Bell. THAT
you. Bell? Fortune speaking. Which
wish to remark now we know
what's next" The telephone reported
an inarticulate noise. Tut, tut" said
Mr.. Fortune.
''Is that all you wanted to say,
sir?" said the telephone.
And the next thing, please?" Mr..
Fortune inquired. Bell fumed.
And, in a week. there was another
burglary.
The heiress of gentleman in the
frozen meat trade found that her tiara
and collar had gone from her bedroom
while she was at the ball of the sea
son-the only night for weeks, she