Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-01-24
BY THE CLOCK
50
By R. II. WILKINSON
.HERE is no reason" said
Anthony Rud, why we
should doubt Ordway's
@ Bell syndioats.-wNu Service.

est and upright believe what he
says"
Inspector Joe Warren looked from
the tall, handsome figure Of Rud to
the stiffly erect, thick-set, bald-headed
Ordway.
There was on the buffers face an ex-
preston Of Indignation, Of bored hau-
teur.
Somehow Warren got the idea that
Ordway thought him bit coarse and
crude in his manners and appearance;
and the thought annoyed him.
He did not address the serving man,
turned instead to inspect the room.
1t was a spacious room, ta-tefully
and extensively appointed.
There was large table in its center,
priceless portraits on the wall, huge
bookcase, radio. an electric clock
atop a stand Of its own in corner.
Behind the clock there was Il wall
safe, the door Of which now stood open.
Warren strobe over to the safe and
appeared to glance inside.
Presently he turned, addressing An
thony Rud.
''Your jewels were kept in this safe,
Mr.. Rud?"
The tall man nodded.
II placed them there early this eve
ming. having purchased them in the
late afternoon. Tomorrow planned
to transfer them to my safe deposit
box until such time as wished to
dispose of them"
"And after dinner this evening you
vent out? You returned home about
half hour ago." He glanced at the
clock. about II 80. and found the
safe open and the jewels goner
Eyes. That's right"
"Wh0 was in the house during your
absence?"
"Ordway and a man named Tyler
Vincent. Hes the cook and Ordway's
general helper"
"Where is he now?'
Presumably asleep in his room on
the third floor"
"Humm." Inspector Warren tugged
at the lobe Of his left ear and con-
templated. He turned to Ordway.
"Ordway, your master seems to think
highly of you. Hence 1 will take it
for granted that your character is
above reproach. hope you won't
mind answering frankly few ques-
tions?"
"Not at all sir. 1 have every wish
to recover the jewelry."
Good. Now, first Of all, were you
in the house all the time during Mr..
Rud's absence?"
"Yes, sir. Save for a brief spell
when went into the cellar to replace
fuse that had blown during the thun-
der shower we had, shortly after MIR.
Rud's departure"
"How long were yOu gomez"
"Ten minutes. Possibly fifteen"
sand the lights were out during that
timer"
"Yes, sir.'
"How long was it after your return
above stairs that you discovered the
theft?"
Ordway reflected.
ut must have been about thirty min
utes. ] had come into the library
with the intention of reading until Mr..
Rud's return. l noticed at once that
the safe was open, and upon investi-
cation discovered that the jewels were
missing. Immediately called police
headquarters and then summoned Mr..
Rud from his club"
Warren nodded thoughtfully.
"Then you think It likely that the
theft occurred during the time the
lights were out and you were below
stairs?"
VERY likely, sir"
I'm that event." said Warren, ut is
also very Likely that the man who COM
mitted the crime was familiar with
the interior of the house. He would
have had to work fast in order to &C.
complish his deed during the brief
time That Ordway was below stairs"
Warren paused and eyed the butler
closely.
"Ordway, would you think 1t possible
to believe that some one arranged to
have that fuse blown--took advantage
of the thunder shower as likely alibi
and looted the safe during your abb
sence?'
Ordway looked uneasy. II wouldn't
dare say SIR"
Warren nodded.
You mean you don't want to say
because you don't want to incriminate
Tyler Vincent, who Is the only man
who could have gotten away with the
thing without being detected by your
SELF"
Ordway gnawed at his lower lip and
refused to meet Warren's eyes.
The inspector wagged his head,
strobe over to the arched doorway
leading into the front hall and spoke
in low tone to Detective Jim Bradley,
who had remained on guard there dur
ing the questioning.
After moment Warren returned TO
the library.
i've sent Bradley up to rouse vim
cient and TO search his room. II Vim
cient is guilty we'll know 1t in short