left the Hart estate that night. He followed the trall of the lone
pas- senger to the Victoria Station in London, Here he located the cabby who had taken Martin to his destina- tion. The detective grinned at the thought of a valet calling a cab to take him to his lodgings. It was a touch of regal vanity that was to lead to the detection of the thief.
The cabman
to readily agreed take Inspector Sweeney to the place where he had carried his fare. Yes sir, it was an honour to. wait on anybody connected with Scotland Yard! It proved to be a little place near the outskirts of the city-a sort of broken down village section. The detective tapped on the door and was admitted by a shabbily dressed woman. Sweeney instructed
her to tell Martin that a friend had called to see him. He took a chair in the stuffy little parlour and the next min- ute, John Martin entered, peering curiously at his caller in the semi- darkness,
"What do you want?" he growled. "Lady" con-
Hart's
ruby," reply
with
the
came the
She Discovered the Theft of the Ruby.
It will be his brain over how he should
ceal the gem when he got the un- expected order to instruct the gate suddenness of a bullet from a rifle, keeper not to permit anyone to leave "and I want it right away.' the house.
ed the thief to escape. recalled that he sent a passing ser- vant to warn the lodge keeper not to permit anyone to leave without permission of the inspector.
But one man passed without the permission of anybody and that man was the servant who had been sent to the lodge keeper with the warn- ing message. that; the owner of the
It was
easy as thoughtlessly paved the way for an ruby had
easy escape.
as
19
The unexpectedness of this took Inspector Sweeney did not go in the thief off his guard, and before pursuit of Martin immediately. He he realized what he was doing he her own
remained at the house long enough had confessed the whole business. was
gone!
to do some She gave a scream that
more cross-questioning. But even if he had, not confessed, brought her husband and a few of her guests
And when he left the house he evidence against him was being carried with him an ordinary drink- piled up. to her side. She was hysterical but
contained the remains of stale ale.
Fingerprints on the side ing glass-a plain Sir William was calmness itself. He
tumbler which of the cab were identical with those directed that the festivities go
found on the ale glass and both of It seemed a queer thing to as usual and that, as far as possible,
It was proved that the valet
do these corresponded with those of none of the other guests be informed entered the services of Sir Archibald But at that time the theory of the
had queer to everybody except Sweeney. John Martin. of the loss of the rare gem.
Hunter by skillfully forged letters of science of fingerprints was just com- In the meantime he got into communication
recommendation. He accompanied ing into use by with Scotland Yard and in an hour his master to the house party given tumbler contained the impression of the police. The Inspector Sweeney was in consulta- by the Harts. When his master was four fingers and a thumb. He turn- tion with the master of the house. unexpectedly called away, Martin ed the glass over to the newly-or-
His first move was to direct that contrived to remain behind to
see ganized fingerprint department no one be permitted to leave
what he could steal. His 'opportun- Scotland Yard while he ran out other house without his knowledge.
ity came quicker than he had Sir
ex- threads of the case. William called to a passing servant:
pected. It was in the form of the Sweeney had mapped out a
He was "Go to the lodge gate and tell the unguarded ruby.
puzzling plete plan of campaign before he had not taken into consideration. keeper that no one is to leave the premises without permission of In- spector Sweeney.
"P
the
The man bowed and left the house. After that the detective was given a list of the guests. He found that several of them had brought maids and valets with them. One of these retainers was John Martin, valet to Sir Archibald Hunter. The detective directed that Martin be brought to him. A search of the house failed to reveal him,
"I'm very sorry," said Sir William Hart, "but Sir Archibald left yester- day and I presume his servant went with him."
Late that night Inspector Sweeney ascertained that the midnight train from the nearby station had carried one passenger. The description of the traveler who had left in the dead of the night made the detec- tive smile. He was satisfied that Sir William had un-wittingly help-
Kitty
10-27
half-baked guy la ha with plenty of dough and too many Irons In the fire.
XMAS 1939
NEW YEAR 1940
ADDED ATTRACTION
CABARET
ENTERTAINMENT
at the
Hongkong Hotel
& Peninsula Hotel featuring JUNE WEST
AND
ΚΑΥ
MIGNONE
SIX
of
liam Hart and
The ruby was returned to Sir Wil- John Martin was stitution where he would given a two-year sentence in an in- from temptation.
be free
Even if the gem had not been re-
the thief could have been able covered so quickly, it is doubtful if to dispose of such a conspicuous jewel. com-. That was a detail which the thief
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