[Where did the elaborate story fall down?]
27
A Suave Gunman
‘Can you describe this fellow?’ asked Professor Fordney of Henry Taylor, manager of the National Theater.
‘Yes. He was a tall, well-dressed, good-looking chap. Wore a panama hat, turned-down brim, blue coat, smart blue tie, natty white flannels with silver belt-buckle, black-and-white sport shoes, and had a general air of culture and refinement.’
‘Just what did he do?’
‘As I was counting the receipts, he came into the office, gun in hand, and commanded me to get up from the desk and move over by that table.
‘After putting the money in a brief-case he carried, he took out a cigarette and asked me to light it for him, still covering me, of course.
‘Then he gagged me and tied me to the chair, after which he opened the door, looked cautiously about, came back and, with a quiet “sorry” and a warning, turned and left. As he passed through the door, he unbuttoned his coat and slipped the revolver into his back pocket. The show was just letting out, so I suppose he mingled with the crowd and escaped,’ Taylor concluded.
‘Are you insured against this loss of eight thousand dollars?’ inquired Fordney.
‘Yes.’