‘You say that as your butler called for help, a stranger, by the name of Dudley, was passing the house and rushed in?’
‘That’s right,’ Owings corroborated, as the two men sat in Fordney’s study. ‘It was rather late last Friday evening before I was ready to leave town for the week-end, and as Stuben, the butler, wasn’t feeling well, I told him to stay upstairs and that I would lock up when I left.
‘I had some diamonds in the safe, so he said he wouldn’t leave the house until I returned,’ continued Owings.
‘About eleven that night, he heard a humming noise and, having the diamonds in mind, ran downstairs to investigate. Finding the wall safe open and the jewels gone, he let out a scream for help.
‘Stuben has been with me for years, Professor, and I have implicit faith in him.’
‘Did Dudley see anyone leave?’ asked Fordney.
‘No; the robber or robbers must have left by the back door, as Dudley was right in front of the house when he heard Stuben’s call for help,’ replied Owings. ‘Both men say the room smelled of cigarette smoke, so the burglars must have just left.’
‘Was the back door unlocked?’ inquired the Professor.
‘No, it was closed. It has a device which locks it automatically from the outside when it’s pulled to.’
‘Well, you’d better swear out a warrant for your butler and Dudley,’ said Fordney. ‘I’m sure they know where your diamonds are. Long service, you know, isn’t necessarily a pledge of loyalty.’