“Only through this transaction,” she replied hastily. “I wish to heaven I had never heard of him.”
The telephone rang insistently.
“Mrs. Moulton,” said Kennedy, as he returned the receiver to the hook, “it may interest you to know that the burglar alarm company has just called me up about the same case. If I had need of an added incentive, which I hope you will believe I have not, that might furnish it. I will do my best,” he repeated.
“Thank you—a thousand times,” she cried fervently, and, had I been Craig, I think I should have needed no more thanks than the look she gave him as he accompanied her to the door of our apartment.
It was still early and the eager crowds were pushing their way to business through the narrow network of downtown streets as Kennedy and I entered a large office on lower Broadway in the heart of the jewelry trade and financial district.
“One of the most amazing robberies that has ever been attempted has been reported to us this morning,” announced James McLear, manager of the Hale Electric Protection, adding with a look half of anxiety, half of skepticism, “that is, if it is true.”
McLear was a stocky man, of powerful build and voice and a general appearance of having been once well connected with the city detective force before an attractive offer had taken him into this position of great responsibility.
“Herman Schloss, one of the best known of Maiden Lane jewelers,” he continued, “has been robbed of goods worth two or three hundred thousand dollars—and in spite of every modern protection. So that you will get it clearly, let me show you what we do here.”
He ushered us into a large room, on the walls of which were hundreds of little indicators. From the front they looked like rows of little square compartments, tier on tier, about the size of ordinary post office boxes. Closer examination showed that each was equipped with a delicate needle arranged to oscillate backward and forward upon the very minutest interference with the electric current. Under the boxes, each of which bore a number, was a series of drops and buzzers numbered to correspond with the boxes.
“In nearly every office in Maiden Lane where gems and valuable jewelry are stored,” explained McLear, “this electrical system of ours is installed. When the safes are closed at night and the doors swung together, a current of electricity is constantly shooting around the safes, conducted by cleverly concealed wires. These wires are picked up by a cable system which finds its way to this central office. Once here, the wires are safeguarded in such manner that foreign currents from other wires or from lightning cannot disturb the system.”