Elusive Isabel, by Jacques Futrelle by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

Philadelphia by express to-day to catch a steamer for Venezuela.” Mr. Grimm nodded.
    “The fact that this gold was in Senor Rodriguez’s possession could not have been known to more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiations throughout have been in strict secrecy,” and Mr. Campbell smiled benignly. “So much! Now, Senor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking that I send a man to the legation at once. The gold was kept there over night; or perhaps I should say that the senor intended to keep it there over night.” Mr. Campbell stared at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: “Miss Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, that is why I am referring the matter to you.”
    “I understand,” said Mr. Grimm.
    And ten minutes later Mr. Grimm presented himself to Senor Rodriguez. The minister from Venezuela, bubbling with excitement, was pacing forth and back across his office, ruffling his gray-black hair with nervous, twining fingers. Mr. Grimm sat down.
    “Senor,” he inquired placidly, “fifty thousand dollars in gold would weigh nearly two hundred pounds, wouldn’t it?”
    Senor Rodriguez stared at him blankly.
    “ Si, Senor ,” he agreed absently. And then, in English: “Yes, I should imagine so.”
    “Well, was all of it stolen, or only a part of it?” Mr. Grimm went on.
    The minister gazed into the listless eyes for a time, then, apparently bewildered, walked forth and back across the room again. Finally he sat down.
    “All of it,” he admitted. “I can’t understand it. No one, not a soul in this house, except myself, knew it was here.”
    “In addition to this weight of, say two hundred pounds, fifty thousand dollars would make considerable bulk,” mused Mr. Grimm. “Very well! Therefore it would appear that the person, or persons, who got it must have gone away from here heavily laden?”
    Senor Rodriguez nodded.
    “And now, Senor,” Mr. Grimm continued, “if you will kindly state the circumstances immediately preceding and following the theft?”
    A slight frown which had been growing upon the smooth brow of the diplomatist was instantly dissipated.
    “The money—fifty thousand dollars in gold coin—was paid to me yesterday afternoon about four o’clock,” he began slowly, in explanation.
    “By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment Company,” supplemented Mr. Grimm. “Yes. Go on.”
    The diplomatist favored the young man with one sharp, inquiring glance, and continued:
    “The gentleman who paid the money remained here from four until nine o’clock while I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I placed it in canvas bags and when he had gone I took these bags from this room into that,” he indicated a closed door to his right, “and personally stowed them away in the safe. I closed and locked the door of the safe myself; I know that it was locked. And that’s all, except this morning the money was gone—every dollar of it.”
    “Safe blown?” inquired Mr. Grimm.
    “No, Senor!” exclaimed the diplomatist with sudden violence. “No, the safe was not blown! It was closed and locked , exactly as I had left it!”
    Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on his little finger.
    “Just as I left it!” Senor Rodriguez repeated excitedly. “Last night after I locked the safe door I tried it to make certain that it was locked. I happened to notice then that the pointer on the dial had stopped precisely at number forty-five. This morning, when I unlocked the safe—and, of course, I didn’t know then that the money had been taken—the pointer was still at number forty-five.”
    He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. Grimm continued to twist the seal ring.
    “It was all like—like some trick on the stage,” the minister went on, “like the magician’s disappearing lady, or—or—! It was as though I had not put the money into the safe at all!”
    “Did you?” inquired Mr. Grimm amiably.
    “Did I?” blazed Senor Rodriguez. “Why, Senor—! I did!” he concluded