FATE COMPELS

Though it had fallen from the second floor to the cellar, the old iron safe landed in almost vertical position. The fire of the previous night had destroyed part of the old house, burning to death miserly old Jonathan Aiken and his dog. Jonathan’s grandson, Tom Drewery, arrived home from Philadelphia at 11:30 p.m. just as the fire was brought under control.

The Professor was surprised to find that the small, tidy stacks of loose stamps on the floor had a market value of only about $8,000, for it was generally supposed that the wealthy philatelist’s collection was worth at least $125,000. Aiken’s penchant for keeping his most valuable stamps loose and unalbumed also was common knowledge. “Can’t get close enough to the little beauties if they’re in books,” he frequently said.

Drewery showed that solemnity and restraint befitting the circumstances as he answered Fordney’s questions. That tramp had done a thorough job and would never talk. He had the stamps—and the old man’s fortune! Fire away!

“Was the safe opened before our arrival?” the Professor asked.

“No,” Drewery replied. “It wasn’t touched—and it was under my observation all night. I sat up in the living room.”

Fordney’s eyes took in the young man’s meticulous grooming.

Drewery laughed. “Oh, I bathed and changed clothes,” he said.

“Quite,” murmured the criminologist, noting the man’s unshaven face. “For the present you will be charged with robbery. Later no doubt this will be changed to arson and murder!”

A single clue proved the safe had not been robbed after the fire. What was it? Turn page for solution.