The Red Thumb Mark | Page 5

a very peculiar one, inasmuch as the
ridge-pattern on the bulb of the thumb--which is a remarkably distinct
and characteristic one--is crossed by the scar of a deep cut, rendering

identification easy and infallible; that it agrees in every respect with the
thumb-print of Mr. Reuben Hornby, and is, in fact, his thumb-print
beyond any possible doubt."
"Is there any possibility," asked Thorndyke, "that the paper bearing the
thumb-print could have been introduced by any person?"
"No," answered the lawyer. "It is quite impossible. The paper on which
the mark was found was a leaf from Mr. Hornby's memorandum block.
He had pencilled on it some particulars relating to the diamonds, and
laid it on the parcel before he closed up the safe."
"Was anyone present when Mr. Hornby opened the safe in the
morning?" asked Thorndyke.
"No, he was alone," answered the lawyer. "He saw at a glance that the
diamonds were missing, and then he observed the paper with the
thumb-mark on it, on which he closed and locked the safe and sent for
the police."
"Is it not rather odd that the thief did not notice the thumb-mark, since
it was so distinct and conspicuous?"
"No, I think not," answered Mr. Lawley. "The paper was lying face
downwards on the bottom of the safe, and it was only when he picked it
up and turned it over that Mr. Hornby discovered the thumb-print.
Apparently the thief had taken hold of the parcel, with the paper on it,
and the paper had afterwards dropped off and fallen with the marked
surface downwards--probably when the parcel was transferred to the
other hand."
"You mentioned," said Thorndyke, "that the experts at Scotland Yard
have identified this thumb-mark as that of Mr. Reuben Hornby. May I
ask how they came to have the opportunity of making the comparison?"
"Ah!" said Mr. Lawley. "Thereby hangs a very curious tale of
coincidences. The police, of course, when they found that there was so
simple a means of identification as a thumb-mark, wished to take

thumb-prints of all the employees in the works; but this Mr. Hornby
refused to sanction--rather quixotically, as it seems to me--saying that
he would not allow his nephews to be subjected to such an indignity.
Now it was, naturally, these nephews in whom the police were chiefly
interested, seeing that they alone had had the handling of the keys, and
considerable pressure was brought to bear upon Mr. Hornby to have the
thumb-prints taken.
"However, he was obdurate, scouting the idea of any suspicion
attaching to either of the gentlemen in whom he had reposed such
complete confidence and whom he had known all their lives, and so the
matter would probably have remained a mystery but for a very odd
circumstance.
"You may have seen on the bookstalls and in shop windows an
appliance called a 'Thumbograph,' or some such name, consisting of a
small book of blank paper for collecting the thumb-prints of one's
friends, together with an inking pad."
"I have seen those devices of the Evil One," said Thorndyke, "in fact, I
have one, which I bought at Charing Cross Station."
"Well, it seems that some months ago Mrs. Hornby, the wife of John
Hornby, purchased one of these toys--" "As a matter of fact,"
interrupted Reuben, "it was my cousin Walter who bought the thing and
gave it to her."
"Well, that is not material," said Mr. Lawley (though I observed that
Thorndyke made a note of the fact in his book); "at any rate, Mrs.
Hornby became possessed of one of these appliances and proceeded to
fill it with the thumb-prints of her friends, including her two nephews.
Now it happened that the detective in charge of this case called
yesterday at Mr. Hornby's house when the latter was absent from home,
and took the opportunity of urging her to induce her husband to consent
to have the thumb-prints of her nephews taken for the inspection of the
experts at Scotland Yard. He pointed out that the procedure was really
necessary, not only in the interests of justice but in the interests of the
young men themselves, who were regarded with considerable suspicion

by the police, which suspicion would be completely removed if it could
be shown by actual comparison that the thumb-print could not have
been made by either of them. Moreover, it seemed that both the young
men had expressed their willingness to have the test applied, but had
been forbidden by their uncle. Then Mrs. Hornby had a brilliant idea.
She suddenly remembered the 'Thumbograph,' and thinking to set the
question at rest once for all, fetched the little book and showed it to the
detective. It contained the prints of both thumbs of Mr. Reuben (among
others), and, as the detective had