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theories were alike； or even much resembled each other； save in one
striking particular； and in that one all the other eleven theories were
absolutely agreed。 That was； that although the rear of my building was
torn out and the only door remained locked； the elephant had not been
removed through the rent； but by some other （undiscovered） outlet。
All agreed that the robbers had made that rent only to mislead the
detectives。 That never would have occurred to me or to any other layman；
perhaps； but it had not deceived the detectives for a moment。 Thus； what
I had supposed was the only thing that had no mystery about it was in
fact the very thing I had gone furthest astray in。 The eleven theories
all named the supposed robbers； but no two named the same robbers； the
total number of suspected persons was thirty…seven。 The various
newspaper accounts all closed with the most important opinion of all
that of Chief Inspector Blunt。 A portion of this statement read as
follows：
The chief knows who the two principals are； namely；〃 Brick〃 Daffy
and 〃Red〃 McFadden。 Ten days before the robbery was achieved he was
already aware that it was to be attempted； and had quietly proceeded
to shadow these two noted villains； but unfortunately on the night
in question their track was lost； and before it could be found again
the bird was flownthat is； the elephant。
Daffy and McFadden are the boldest scoundrels in the profession； the
chief has reasons for believing that they are the men who stole the
stove out of the detective headquarters on a bitter night last
winterin consequence of which the chief and every detective
present were in the hands of the physicians before morning； some
with frozen feet； others with frozen fingers； ears； and other
members。
When I read the first half of that I was more astonished than ever at the
wonderful sagacity of this strange man。 He not only saw everything in
the present with a clear eye； but even the future could not be hidden
from him。 I was soon at his office； and said I could not help wishing he
had had those men arrested； and so prevented the trouble and loss； but
his reply was simple and unanswerable：
〃It is not our province to prevent crime； but to punish it。 We cannot
punish it until it is committed。〃
I remarked that the secrecy with which we had begun had been marred by
the newspapers； not only all our facts but all our plans and purposes had
been revealed； even all the suspected persons had been named； these would
doubtless disguise themselves now； or go into hiding。
〃Let them。 They will find that when I am ready for them my hand will
descend upon them； in their secret places； as unerringly as the hand of
fate。 As to the newspapers； we must keep in with them。 Fame；
reputation； constant public mentionthese are the detective's bread and
butter。 He must publish his facts； else he will be supposed to have
none； he must publish his theory； for nothing is so strange or striking
as a detective's theory； or brings him so much wonderful respect； we must
publish our plans； for these the journals insist upon having； and we
could not deny them without offending。 We must constantly show the
public what we are doing； or they will believe we are doing nothing。
It is much pleasanter to have a newspaper say； 'Inspector Blunt's
ingenious and extraordinary theory is as follows；' than to have it say
some harsh thing； or； worse still； some sarcastic one。〃
〃I see the force of what you say。 But I noticed that in one part of your
remarks in the papers this morning you refused to reveal your opinion
upon a certain minor point。〃
〃Yes； we always do that； it has a good effect。 Besides； I had not formed
any opinion on that point； anyway。〃
I deposited a considerable sum of money with the inspector； to meet
current expenses； and sat down to wait for news。 We were expecting the
telegrams to begin to arrive at any moment now。 Meantime I reread the
newspapers and also our descriptive circular； and observed that our
twenty…five thousand dollars reward seemed to be offered only to
detectives。 I said I thought it ought to be offered to anybody who would
catch the elephant。 The inspector said：
〃It is the detectives who will find the elephant； hence the reward will
go to the right place。 If other people found the animal； it would only
be by watching the detectives and taking advantage of clues and
indications stolen from them； and that would entitle the detectives to
the reward； after all。 The proper office of a reward is to stimulate the
men who deliver up their time and their trained sagacities to this sort
of work； and not to confer benefits upon chance citizens who stumble upon
a capture without having earned the benefits by their own merits and
labors。〃
This was reasonable enough； certainly。 Now the telegraphic machine in
the corner began to click； and the following despatch was the result：
FLOWER STATION； N。 Y。； 7。30 A。M。
Have got a clue。 Found a succession of deep tracks across a farm
near here。 Followed them two miles east without result； think
elephant went west。 Shall now shadow him in that direction。
DARLEY； Detective。
〃Darley's one of the best men on the force；〃 said the inspector。 〃We
shall hear from him again before long。〃
Telegram No。 2 came：
BARKER'S； N。 J。； 7。40 A。M。
Just arrived。 Glass factory broken open here during night； and
eight hundred bottles taken。 Only water in large quantity near here
is five miles distant。 Shall strike for there。 Elephant will be
thirsty。 Bottles were empty。
DARLEY； Detective。
〃That promises well； too；〃 said the inspector。
I told you the creature's appetites would not be bad clues。〃
Telegram No。 3：
TAYLORVILLE； L。 I。 8。15 A。M。
A haystack near here disappeared during night。 Probably eaten。
Have got a clue； and am off。
HUBBARD； Detective。
〃How he does move around！〃 said the inspector 〃I knew we had a difficult
job on hand； but we shall catch him yet。〃
FLOWER STATION； N。 Y。； 9 A。M。
Shadowed the tracks three miles westward。 Large； deep； and ragged。
Have just met a farmer who says they are not elephant…tracks。 Says
they are holes where he dug up saplings for shade…trees when ground
was frozen last winter。 Give me orders how to proceed。
DARLEY； Detective。
〃Aha！ a confederate of the thieves！ The thing； grows warm；〃 said the
inspector。
He dictated the following telegram to Darley：
Arrest the man and force him to name his pals。 Continue to follow
the tracks to the Pacific； if necessary。
Chief BLUNT。
Next telegram：
CONEY POINT； PA。； 8。45 A。M。
Gas office broken open here during night and three month； unpaid gas
bills taken。 Have got a clue and am away。
MURPHY； Detective。
〃Heavens！〃 said the