The Coolidge examiner., 1935-02-01
BY THE CLOCK
g
By X. II. WILKINSON
e Beu sYuslrass wNu seTvlas

Ter and valet Tor more than ten
Z ycarS have always found him
honest and upright believe what
De- says
Inspector Joe Warren looked from
ghc tall handsome figure of Rud
% the stiffly erect. thick set. bald
headed Orlway
There was on the buffers face mn
. expression Of indignation. of bored
hauteur.
somehow Warren got the idea
that ordway thought him n bit
coarse aud crude 10 bis manners
and appearance: ard the thought an
uoyed him
He did not address the serving
man. turned instead 20 Inspect the
roufu.
Il waa spacious room, iastetuily
and expeusiyely appointed
There was "A large table 90 its cen
Z ter, priceless portraits On the wall
huge bookcase. q radio. an clec.
F trio clock atop a stand Of lts own
F in a corner.
behind the clock there was a waIi
safe. the door of which uow stood
oFeu.
Warren strobe over 70 the safe
AMI appeared 60 glance Inside
E Presently be turned. addressing
Aughony Eud.
Your Jewels were kept IN thls
safe. Mr. Bud1"
The tall man nodded.
Il placed them there early this
evening. having purchased them in
the late afternoon. Tomorrow
planned 90 transfer them 60 ms
safe deposit box until such ,lnc as
wished 10 dispose o. them"
F And after dinner this evening
F sou went outf Yon returned home
abou, q half hour ago" lie glanced
a; the clock. "Ahou, n 20. and
found The safe open and the Jewels
gomez"
Yes That's right"
"Who was ln the house during
your ABSENCE
"oriway and n man named Ty-
lcr Vincent Hes The cook and ord.
WAYS general helper"
where ~ be- DOW r
Presumably asleep In his room
on the third floor"
Humm Inspector Warren tuGged
az the lobe of hls lefi ear aud
contemplated lie turned 20 Ord.
way.
"ordwuy. your master seems 20
thlak highly ~ you. Hence I viii
take It Tor granted that your char
acier Il aboye repronch hope you
won't mind answering frankly a few
ques;ionsT"
NO; az all. sir. have every wish
10 recover the jewelry."
Good Now. first of All. were you
In the house ali the time during
Mr.. Rud's abseneeT~
Yes. sir. Save for a brief spell
when / went into the cellar 90 re-
place a fu~e that had blown dur
Ing the thunder shower we had.
shortly after SIR. Rud's departure
"How long were you gomez"
Ten minutes Possibly fifteen"
"And the lights were out during
that timer
"Yes. sir"
How long was Il after your re-
turn above stairs that you dlscoy-
cred the theftf"
Ordway reflected.
1T must have been about thirty
minutes. | had come into the H.
brary with the intention OF reading
until Mr. Rud's return. | noticed nj
once that the safe was open. and
upon investigation discovered that
the jewels were missing. lmmedl-
ately called police headquarters and
then summoned Mr.. Rud from his
club"
Warren nodded thoughtfully.
Then you think Il llkely that the
theft occurred during the time the
lights were out and you were below
stairsE"
Very likely. sir"
In that event" said Warren. "it
Is also likely that the man who
committed the crime was familiar
with the interior OF the house. He
would have 10 work fast In order
10 accomplish his deed during the
brief time that Ordway was below
stairs"
Warren paused and eyed the but
Ter closely.
"Ordway. would you think II pos
sible 10 believe that some one ar
ranged to have that fuse blown
took advantage OF the thunder
shower as n likely allbl-and loot
ed the safe during your absenceT
Ordway looked uneasy. Il wouldn't
dare say. sir"
warren nodded.
"You mean you don't want TO say
because you don't want 10 incrlm-
mate Tyler Vincent. who Is the only
man who could have gotten away
with the thing without being de-
tected by yourself"
1 Ordway gnawed at his lower lip
land refused TO meet Warran's eyes