"'Lely portrait discovered in pawn-shop. Officer Smith goes North
to-night to return property and claim reward. J. H. BOWEN.'

The other from Pittsburg, in substantially the same language,
reports the finding of the portrait of the 'Red Duchess' in a
private gallery. This fourth picture is also on its way to New York
for identification."

We all looked at one another, Blake the picture of puzzled anger
and disappointment. "Which is the true picture?" asked the chief.
"Mr. Indiman, I should be glad of your opinion."

Indiman, who had been examining the canvas held by Stone, answered
quickly: "Neither of these, and it is more than probable that the
other two are also copies by the same hand. Wonderfully well done,
too, but the study of portraiture is a hobby of mine; I have even
contemplated a monograph on the subject, or, more particularly, a
hand-book to the smaller galleries and private collections. But I
doubt if I ever do it now," he concluded, meditatively.

"The 'Red Duchess'?" persisted the chief.

"Of course, I know it perfectly. I won't bore you with technical
explanations, but on the back of the stretcher is the address of
the American art dealer from whom the original canvas was
purchased. That should be enough."

It was as Indiman said; each of the canvas stretchers carried a
small gummed label, the address of a Fulton Street art-supply shop.