Gentleman Jim For the third time within five minutes the expensive dark blue limousine drove almost noiselessly into Cedar Street and along the elegant villas, each of which radiated an air of luxury and wealth. Behind the wrought-iron railings were wonderful lawns and gardens with exotic flowers. This was the kind of residential area where James Baker preferred to work, James Baker who was better known in professional circles as Gentleman Jim. It was just before eleven o�clock at night. After the fourth drive past, Baker thought that he had found the ideal house for him. There was no light showing and the garage door was open. He parked his car in the next road and then approached the villa of his choice. No would have guessed that the immaculate gentleman in full evening - dress, with an elegant cape, white silk scarf and gloves, was really an excellent burglar. Gentleman Jim was acknowledged in his field, even if, from time to time, he had seen the inside of a number of prisons in Europe. By eighteen minutes past eleven he had succeeded in forcing a door open and stood listening in the hall of the villa he had decided to rob. The place seemed to be as empty as he had hoped it would be. Gentleman Jim got down to work. Systematically he searched every room, beginning with those on the ground floor. His thoroughness was astonishing and his flair for finding the most rewarding drawers, cupboards and secret doors was second to none. Before long his hands were full. He had two necklaces, some cuff links, a platinum brooch and a purse with a great amount of money. With a bored air he dropped the articles into a pocket. Gentleman Jim was after bigger loot than this. Then he came to a room that could have only been a study. And with the assurance of a burglar who knows his craft he at once found the small wall safe, which had a high security lock. As he knew he would find such a lock only where there is something valuable to hide he set to work immediately. Under his big cape he had a whole arsenal of precision instruments. But the minutes ticked by without success and Gentleman Jim grew impatient. Never before had he had to spend so much time on a wretched lock, and he became more and more furious with the person who had designed it. James Baker wiped a few drops of sweat from his forehead, took off his gloves and placed them on a chair. Again and again he tried and finally, long after midnight, he succeeded at last. With a very faint click the levers yielded. Gentleman Jim opened the safe door and gave a cry of delight Before him, on a bed of red velvet, there glittered a number of jewels whose value could hardly be assessed. He sighed with pleasure and helped himself, stowing away the jewels inside his pockets as carefully as if he were handling new laid eggs. Then he froze in his tracks. No doubt, there was someone opening the front door. He slipped the torch into his cape and ran to the window. By the time the owner of the house had reached the study James Baker had long since vanished. Only an open window showed that James Baker had been there. Fifteen minutes later the police were on the spot and within an hour they were able to arrest the daring burglar. He had stopped at a filling station for petrol, and the attendant, who had been listening to the radio, had no difficulty at all recognizing him from the detailed description given by the police. Although James Baker denied everything, the police could easily prove his guilt. One piece of evidence more than any other made everything clear for them. What was the piece of evidence overlooked by Gentleman Jim? Answer: Even an �expert� burglar makes mistakes. Gentleman Jim forgot his gloves. And in his case it was as good leaving a visiting card with his full name and address. Also, if he did not use his gloves he might have left fingerprints on the wall-safe. Back to R U a Good Detective Back to Home Page |