Solving a Mystery

“Mr. Brent, sir.”

“Show him in, John.”

The servant withdrew and ushered in a tall, dark featured, sharp looking man, who bowed as he entered.

“Be seated, sir,” and Mr. Colton pointed to a chair and threw down his paper. “You are Mr. Brent, the detective, I presume—the gentleman I have sent for?”

“I am that gentleman, sir, and completely at your service,” and the sharp looking man seated himself.

“I’ve got some work for you to do, Mr. Brent,” began Mr. Colton, the banker, “and, as you bear an excellent reputation for solving mysteries and hunting down criminals, I’ve no doubt but that you’ll be successful in this case.”

“I hope so, sir,” replied Mr. Brent, in a quiet manner.

“Well, now to tell you what I want solved,” and the banker coughed, drew his chair nearer to the detective, and began in a low tone of voice, while Mr. Brent was all attention.

“You must know, Mr. Brent, that for the past two weeks large sums of money have been missing from my safe, which stands in my reading room, up stairs, the window of which room leads out on a small balcony which overhangs our back garden. Day and night the windows of that room have been securely bolted and locked, and so with the door, save when I am in there reading. In the safe that stands there I have had deposited, for the past two weeks, a large amount of money, all gold, sir; and since the night I put it there it has been abstracted – not altogether, Mr. Brent, but $300 or so at a time. I have striven to unveil the mystery, but failed.”

“Yes,” is all that Mr. Brent remarks, in his quiet way.

“Now, who can be this thief?” Mr. Colton continued. “Who can it be that purloins this money from my safe, which I always find relocked after the money has been taken?”

Mr. Brent is silent; his sharp eyes are bent on the floor; he is in deep thought.

“Who are the… Read More