Joe Morrow, very sleepy, grew conscious of voices coming up from the
porch--the slow drawl of his uncle, Dr. David Stone, and a quicker,
sharper voice. Abruptly the sharper tone scratched at his memory and the
drowsiness was gone. What was Harley Kent doing here? So far as he knew
the man had never visited the house before, and his uncle had never set
foot on the Kent place a quarter of a mile down the road. A word, stark
and clear, came through the bedroom window. Robbery! And suddenly he was
out of bed and slipping into his clothes.
The morning was cool and fresh after the heavy rain of the night. His
uncle stood at the porch railing, sightless eyes turned off across the
valley, a great, tawny German shepherd dog at his side. Harley Kent
crowded the top step, and Joe noticed that the dog sneezed, and grew
restless, and drew back a step.
"Lady, easy." Dr. Stone's hand felt for the dog's head and rubbed a
twitching ear. "When did you say it was discovered, Kent?"
"A little after six o'clock this morning. The maid found a window open
and called me. The wall safe was open, too, and the necklace was gone.
Could I trouble you for a match, Doctor? I've lost my lighter."
The man stepped upon the porch, and the dog sneezed again and retreated.
Dr. Stone brought forth matches, and Harley Kent had to come close to get
them. Joe was vaguely conscious that his uncle's face had become intent.
Harley Kent lit a cigar. "I'm not in the habit of keeping jewels in the
house. Mrs. Kent's been in Europe; her ship docks next Monday. We're to
attend a dinner that night, and I knew she'd want the necklace. I took it
out of a safe deposit box a week ago and brought it home."
Dr. Stone asked a question. "Insured, of course?" "Certainly. Twenty-five
thousand."
The boy sucked in his breath and wondered what twenty-five thousand
dollars would look like piled up in shining half dollars. The Kent
automobile gleamed in front of the house, and a uniformed chauffeur sat
motionless behind the wheel.
"You've notified the police?"
"I tried to, but the storm last night crippled our telephone line. I came
over to use yours."
"Ours is out, too."
Harley Kent made an impatient gesture. "That means I'll have to run into
the village." The cigar came out of his mouth. "It was an inside job,
Doctor. Whoever robbed that safe knew how to get into it. It was opened
by combination."