DOI Artikel:
Kerfoot, John B., The Cloak-Room Mystery
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30587#0042
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THE CLOAK-ROOM MYSTERY.
" IT’S all very, well to talk,” said Bronson, “but it seems to me that
the time has come to do something.”
Now Davies had just proposed that a camera should be set up
in a dark corner of the coat-room with a flashlamp attached, the
whole connected by wires with two copper cents carefully disposed in an
overcoat pocket. The thief, in seizing the pennies, would close the circuit,
release the shutter, explode the fiash, and automatically record himself in
flagrante dilictu, or, as Davies put it, " with the goods on.”
Halford had advocated baiting a trap with a poisoned quarter, on the
ground that anyone who would steal small change would probably bite it to
see if it were good. Both of them appeared hurt at the reception accorded
their suggestions.
"Well," said Halford, finally, " suppose you do something." And
there was silence in the assembly-rooms of the Springfield Photographic
Association.
It was a dull afternoon in January and the sun , after coming out long
enough to tempt these three credulous individuals to the club-rooms, had
again retired, leaving them with nothing to do but to fall back upon the
topic which had become the staple of club discussion. This topic had begun
as a joke and had ended by becoming an obsession. At first merely sup-
planting the weather as a conversational hors-d'œuvre, it now eclipsed the
intrigues of club politics and overshadowed esoteric Art. It was known
colloquially as " The Cloak-room Mystery.”
Several minutes slipped by while the three members sat brooding, each,
as it were, making mental exposures of faint ideas in a dull light. Suddenly,
Bronson jumped to his feet.
" By Jove ! ” he said, " I've got it! ”
Two days later the same men were seated in the same chairs with a
careful and elaborate assumption of unconcern. Davies, whose knowledge
of German consisted of an early nursery course in " Nicht come heraus bv
der Deutchman's house,” was absorbed in the latest copy of the Photo-
graphische Gesellschaft. Holford and Bronson were engaged in a desultory
game of chess, having, after half an hour's play, reached the third move in a
queen's gambit. The wintry sunshinewas bright and alluring, promising
visitors a-plenty.
Suddenly a key grated inthe lock, the hall-door opened, and Cross, the
chairman of the house-committee, entered the room, crossed it and dis-
appeared behind the cloak-room door. The three heads came to a simul-
taneous attention, and Holford's finger rose warningly to his lips. Silently
his watch came out and a characteristic contraction of his index-finger started
the split-second-hand on its estimating march. Thirty-five seconds later
Cross emerged with a package in his hand and turned toward the workrooms
28
" IT’S all very, well to talk,” said Bronson, “but it seems to me that
the time has come to do something.”
Now Davies had just proposed that a camera should be set up
in a dark corner of the coat-room with a flashlamp attached, the
whole connected by wires with two copper cents carefully disposed in an
overcoat pocket. The thief, in seizing the pennies, would close the circuit,
release the shutter, explode the fiash, and automatically record himself in
flagrante dilictu, or, as Davies put it, " with the goods on.”
Halford had advocated baiting a trap with a poisoned quarter, on the
ground that anyone who would steal small change would probably bite it to
see if it were good. Both of them appeared hurt at the reception accorded
their suggestions.
"Well," said Halford, finally, " suppose you do something." And
there was silence in the assembly-rooms of the Springfield Photographic
Association.
It was a dull afternoon in January and the sun , after coming out long
enough to tempt these three credulous individuals to the club-rooms, had
again retired, leaving them with nothing to do but to fall back upon the
topic which had become the staple of club discussion. This topic had begun
as a joke and had ended by becoming an obsession. At first merely sup-
planting the weather as a conversational hors-d'œuvre, it now eclipsed the
intrigues of club politics and overshadowed esoteric Art. It was known
colloquially as " The Cloak-room Mystery.”
Several minutes slipped by while the three members sat brooding, each,
as it were, making mental exposures of faint ideas in a dull light. Suddenly,
Bronson jumped to his feet.
" By Jove ! ” he said, " I've got it! ”
Two days later the same men were seated in the same chairs with a
careful and elaborate assumption of unconcern. Davies, whose knowledge
of German consisted of an early nursery course in " Nicht come heraus bv
der Deutchman's house,” was absorbed in the latest copy of the Photo-
graphische Gesellschaft. Holford and Bronson were engaged in a desultory
game of chess, having, after half an hour's play, reached the third move in a
queen's gambit. The wintry sunshinewas bright and alluring, promising
visitors a-plenty.
Suddenly a key grated inthe lock, the hall-door opened, and Cross, the
chairman of the house-committee, entered the room, crossed it and dis-
appeared behind the cloak-room door. The three heads came to a simul-
taneous attention, and Holford's finger rose warningly to his lips. Silently
his watch came out and a characteristic contraction of his index-finger started
the split-second-hand on its estimating march. Thirty-five seconds later
Cross emerged with a package in his hand and turned toward the workrooms
28
