It is said that you must set a thief to catch a thief. But it is also said that there is honour among thieves. Let's get into the story
Everyone thought that Horace Danby was a good, honest citizen. He was about fifty years old and unmarried, and he lived with a housekeeper who worried about his health . In fact , he usually very well and happy except for attacks of hay fever which is a disorder affecting the nose and throat, caused by allergy to pollen of dust in summer
He made locks and was successful enough at his buisness to have two helpers. Yes, Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest.
Fifteen years ago, Horace Danby had served his first and only sentence in a prison library .He he loved rare expensive books so he robbed a safe every year each year he planned carefully just what he would do ,stole enough to last for 12 months and secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.
Now walking in the bright July Sunshine he felt sure that this years robbery was going to be as successful as all others. For two week he had been studying the house at Shortover Grange , looking at its rooms it's electrical wiring, its paths and its garden. This afternoon that too servants who remained in the Grange while the family was in London had gone to the movies. Horace saw them go and he felt happy in spite of a little tickle of hay fever in his nose. He came out from behind the garden wall ,his tools carefully packed in a bag on his back
Therefore about 15000 pounds with of jewels in the Grange safe . If he sold them one by one he expected to get at least 5000 enough to making happy for another year there were three very interesting books coming up for sale in the autumn. Now he would get the money he wanted to buy them.
He had seen the housekeeper hand the key to the kitchen door on a hook outside. He put on a pair of gloves, took the key, and open the door .He was always careful not to leave any fingerprint .
A small dog was lying in the kitchen .It stirred,made a noise ,and moved its tail in a friendly way.
All right ,Sherry ,Horace said as he passed. All you had to do to keep dogs quite was to call them by they are right name and show them love.
The safe was in the drawing room, behind the rather poor painting. Horace wondered for a moment whether he should collect pictures instead of books. But they took up too much room. In a small house, books were better.
There was a great bowl of flowers on the table, and Horace felt his nose tickle . He gave a little sneeze and then put down his bag. He carefully arranged his tools. He had four hours before the servants returned.
The safe was not going to be had to open. After all he had lived with locks and safe all his life.The burglar alarm was poorly built . He went into the hall to cut its wire. He came back and sneezed loudly as the smell of the flowers came into him again.
How foolish people are when they own valuable things, Horace thought. A magzine had described this house, giving a plan of all the rooms and a picture of this room the writer had even mention that the painting hid a safe!
But Horace found that the flowers were hindering him in his work. He burried his face in his handkerchief.
Then he heard a voice say from the doorway .what is it? A cold or hay fever?
Before he could think.Horace said , Hay fever, and found himself sneezing again.
The voice went on , "You can cure it with a special treatment, you know, if you find out just what plant gives you the disease. I think you'd better see a doctor,if you're serious about your work . I heard you from the top of the house just now."
It was a quite , kindly voice , but one with firmness in it. A woman was standing in the doorway,and Sherry was rubbing against her.
She was young,quite pretty and was dressed in red . She walked to the fireplace and straightened the ornaments there .
"Down Sherry , " she said. "Anyone would think I would been away for a month! " she smiled at Horace, and went on , " However, I came back just in time , though I didn't expect to meet a burglar."
Horace had some hope because she seemed to be amused at meeting him. He might avoid trouble if he treated her the right way.He replied, I didn't expect to meet one of the family."
She nodded ." I see what an inconvenience it is for you to meet me. What are you going to do?"
Horace said , "My first thought was to run ."
" Off course, you could do that .But I would telephone the police and tell them all about you . They would get you at once ."
To be continued...