The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-08-26
CHAPTER II-continued

too readily, adding, "As you say. Betty
probably forgot the figures as fast as
you called them off to her. So far as
that goes, there is now and then an
expert who can open a simple lock
like this by putting an ear against the
door and listening for the sound of the
tumblers as they come around into
place. The question is, who did It In
this particular instance"
'There Is one thing certain, Wally.
Whoever opened the safe knew what
was in it. I'm convinced of that.
Which means that the thing feared
most has come to pass. The thief
knows what the black box will do,
and it will be used to swell the sum
total of crime in this crime-ridden
day!"
Markham Strengthened up, and as he
did so he found himself facing the
window directly over the laboratory
bench. Ia
Don't you shut that window at
night" he asked.
at is left shut all the time, except
ing on hot days, and 1t Is always fast
ened at night, as you see it now"
'Yes, / see the fastening; but look
here"-pointing- this crack be-
tween the two sashes? That is where
your spy has been listening in. Sup
pose we go outside and see If he left
a clew of any sort"
The clew-Or a clew-was there-a
deep footprint in the soft soil under
the window. Most Enthusiastically it had
been made by woman's shoe.
81 say, Owen, this thickens things
up bit, doesn't it," said Markham.
II saw a magnifying glass on your
bench just now; go get it, will your
Lands was back in few seconds
with the glass, and Markham studied
the footprint. When he looked up 1t
was to say, you've got pretty nearly
everything in this junk shop Of yours,
Owen; does the list include handful
or so of plaster of PARISH"
"Why, yes; l use it sometimes for
making small casting molds"
Fright. Wet up pound or so and
bring it here"
Lands obeyed, and when the plaster
came, Markham poured 1t into the
footprint and. left it to set.
$50 much for small preliminary"
he said, as he got upon his feet. when
that plaster sets, we'll have cast Of
the lady's foot-or shoe"
II can't see what you hope to do
with that plaster cast" Lands de-
INJURED, after they had returned to the
laboratory. "a woman's shoe-any
shoe, for that matter-would have
thousands Of duplicates"
1.-THE footprint is clew, slender
one, I'll admit, but still clew. The
plaster cast will preserve 1t, for what
ever it may be worth-which may be
Just nothing at ALL Let's dig out a
few more details. if we can. Was the
door locked when you came here this
morning?"
at was; but that proves nothing. 1t.
has only an ordinary lock which any
body could pick with bit of bent
wire"
"Sure. Getting into building-any
buildings the easiest part OF bur-
glars job"
you think the woman who made the
footprint was the burglar, as well as
the spy?'
"As to that, it's all guesswork, of
course" Markham asserted, "but one
of my guesses is that the woman whose
footprint we are embalming wasn't the
spy. what ever else she may have
been"
what makes you think that?"
''The position of the print. for one
thing. 1t was made by the left foot,
and it is parallel with the house wall
and not ut right angles to 1t, as it
would have been If the owner of the
foot had been facing the window.
Apart from this, 1t was made by
person walking-not standing still; or
I'm guessing it was. 1t is deeper at
the heel than at the ball Of the foot"
"What have you been doing, Wally.
reading Sherlock Holiness"
mot quite that" Markham denied
with grin. "Just one Of my little
sideshows. That footprint was made
by somebody coming from the alley
through the passage between this
shack and the fence; walking, and not
stopping under the window. Is there
gate in the alley fence?"
'There is; yes"
Lets go and have look at it."
Together they went around to the
alley gate. 1t was properly hooked.
Still, as Markham pointed out, this
meant nothing, since the hook could
be reached from the outside for its
replacement. Upon opening the gate
and stepping into the alley they came
upon more footprints, in which mans
were interviewer with those of the
woman, and the track of an automo-
bile.
''How about these?" Markham asked.
-'Who uses the alley for a driveway"
Nobody, that I know of. All the
houses in both streets have driveways
from the front, both for their own autos
and for coal deliveries and the like"
xioI