The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-26
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been made by the gardener and
they may have been there for days.
Not much to 60 on" commented
Smedley. and heaven knows I'm no
detective" He leaned forward In
his chair suddenly, his eyes glowing
"A detectivel" he explained. 1
know just the right man. What's
the matter with my head? Why
didn't / think of that long ago?
Frank Sheridan. of courseP
Frank. Sheridan?" WILDER repeat
ed. The only Frank Sheridan l
know of is a lawyer. Not much OF
a lawyer, either; I never heard OF
his trying a case. More OF an idler,
I should surmise, and certainly no
detective"
That's the fellow" said Smed-
ley. but you've got him wrong. He
is no idler and he is mighty good
lawyer, though he does not prac-
tice. He is immensely wealthy and
is kept fairly busy managing his in
vestments. He has Offices in the
Hume -Mansur building and he is on
the Job every day. Let me tell you
about h m"
go ahead" said WILDER, but I
can't see"
You will in a moment" Smedley
interrupted. Frank Sheridan is
about my age, % or g. We were
classmates in Indiana university
law school and became close friends.
He is a whimsical sort of fellow, in
tensely alive and interested In every
phase Of life.
Sheridan has a keen, analytical
mind, with almost uncanny power
to go to the bottom of a knotty
problem. A mystery, a puzzling stu
alton is a challenge to his mind;
he can not rest until he has probed
1t.
His hobby is the Psychology OF
crime. He is intrigued by the queer
twists in the brains of men that
lead them to break the rules OF So
ciety,
ain his leisure hours he hauntS
the police courts and attends the
raa Tor criminal trials at the court
house. This has thrown him IN
close touch with me and my work.
He often sits with me during the
progress of a trial and his whispered
suggestions In cross-examinatlon
many times have given me the cues
to important evidence hidden In the
minds of stubborn witnesses.
"The processes of the human mino
seem to be an open book to HIM. l
have consulted him with great profit
in the preparation OF ditficuit
crimirla. cases, and sometimes he
has voluntarily made personal SUD-
rosa Investigations which nave
changed the whole trend OF a case.
Frank Sheridan either could be
a great trial lawyer or q great oe-
tective If necessity ever should COM
pei him to earn living. AS it Is,
he plays the game only as ne
chooses and only for the fun OF II;
he never accepts fee.
"But present to him q problem
that strikes his fancy and he Is on
like hound on the trail, barking
jcyously.
with 1t all, he has an extremely
attractive personality, rare sense
of hunor and violent dislike Tor
personal publicity. He Is the soul
of honor, a man you could trust
with your most carefully guarded
secret.
"If we can interest him in the
recovery of the lost diary, your wor-
ries on that score soon will be at an
end. If there is any way OF I'M
the burglar, Sheridan WILL
And that way"
"You have made out a good case,
but would Sheridan be interested IN
such a commonplace burglary?"
WILDER asked.
commonplace" Smedley ex-
claimed, you don't call the story
YOU have told me commonplace
Frank will eat it up. Let me call
him." His hand went out to the ex-
tension phone on the desk. Trust
me in this, Mr.. Wilber," he said
yravely, "you will never regret It,"