Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-07-09

'Why?" screamed the millionaire.
'You-you stand there and ask why?
I'll tell you why! Because you've been
| too clever for once, Mr.. Smarty. You
said you we're going to burgle this
house. and you've done it-and now
! you're going to prison where you be-
1ong!"
The Saint leaned back against an
armchair, ignoring the handouts that
Fernack was dragging from his pocket.
Those are harsh words comrade,"
he remarked reproachfully. Very
harsh. In fact, I'm not sure that they
wouldn't be actiOnable. must ask my
lawyer But would anybody mind tell
ing me what makes you so sure that I
did this job?"
I'll tell you why" Fernack spoke.
last night the guard got tired Of
working so hard and dozed off for &
while" He shot smoking glance at
the wretched private detective who
was trying to obliterate himself behind
the larger members of the crowd
when he woke up again, somebody
had opened that window, cut the burg
lar alarms, opened that center show
case, and taken about 100000 worth Of
small stuff out of it. And that some
body couldn't resist leaving his sigma
ture"
nc JClkcQ OOJ u klclC VI NdGSOC
own notepaper, on which had been
drawn a spidery skeleton figure with
an elltptical halo poised at a rakish
angle over its round blank head. You
wouldn't recognize It, would your" Fer
mack 1eered sarcastically.
ooh, yes" said the Saint patiently
II can see what it's meant TO be. And
now suppose you'd like me 70 give
an account Of my movements last
night"
IF you're thinking Of putting over
another Of your patent aIbis," Fernack
said incandescently, "let me tell you
before you start that I've already heard
how you slipped the man had watch
ing you-just about the time that this
job was done"
Simon nodded.
You see," he said, Il had a phone |
message that Miss Vascoe wanted to /
see me very urgently, and I was to 4
meet her at the second traffic light |
going north in Central Park"
The girl gasped as everyone sudden
~ looked at her.
But Simon didn't"
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Fernacks eyes lighted with triumph
as they swung back to the Saint
That's fine" he said exIItantly.
And Miss VaScoe doesn't know any
thing about it. SO who else is going to
testify that you spent your time wait
ing there-the man in the moon?"
NO" said the Saint. Because I
didn't go there"
Fernack's eyes narrowed with the
Jog that was starting to creep into his
Drain.
wen what"
II was expecting some sort Of can
Ike that" said the Saint. 81 knew
was going to knock off this
1bition-after the bet I'd made with
Vascoe, the chance Of getting away
With 1t and having me to take the
'ap was too good TO miss. meant 1t TO
ook g0od-that's why / made the bet
But Of course, our friend had TO be
'ure wouldn't have an abb, and he
new that message like he sent me
you'd make me shake my shadow. And
hen I'd have fine time trying to
Prove that I spent an hour or SO
tand1ng under a traffic light in Cen
raj Park at that hour Of the night.
only I'm pretty cunning myself, when
think about it, so didn't go. came
lere instead"
Fernacks mouth opened again
what are we wasting time for2"
norted Vascoe. HE admits he was
lere"
II was here" said the Saint coolIy.
You know how the back OF the house
oes practically down TO the East River,
nd you have a little private garden
here and 8 landing stage2 knew that
anything was happening, IT'D hap
en on that gide-it'd be too risky TO
10 anything on the street frontage,
7here anybody might come by and
ee it. Well, things we're happening. |
here was man out there, but beat
i'm over the head and tied him I'D be-
ore he could make q noise. Then
latte0 around; and somebody opened
he window from inside and threw out
parcel. So picked 1t up and took 1t
ONE. Here 1t Is"
lie took It out Of his hip pocket--it
Tas Q very large parcel, and the bulge
'uuid have been easy 10 notice II any
ne had got behind him.
Vascoe let out hoarse yell, jumped
IL and wr@ucbed IL 0f4k sqf fafG