The Mystery of the Locked Room

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Richard Hardy is the private secretary to Mr. Harmon, a retired banker. Ruth, Harmon's daughter, and Richard are in love. Francis Gerard, a broker, arrives with bonds of the Belleville Water Company, for which he obtains a check from Harmon, giving him in return a promissory note, and leaving the bonds as security for the loan. Gerard is enamored with Ruth, but she does not encourage him. When Gerard leaves, Hardy proposes, and Ruth gives him a locket containing her picture. While Ruth and her father are playing chess, the butler gives a floor plan of the house to two tough-looking men. Late that night three burglars, who are trying to get into the library of the house, awaken Harmon. The burglars hear the approach of someone, become apprehensive and escape. After a consultation with Harmon, Hardy is granted permission to carry a revolver. Sometime later at a reception, Hardy sees Ruth and Gerard together and his jealousy is aroused. When he and Ruth meet, he tells her that he will kill Gerard. Ruth informs him that he is the only man she loves, and calmly takes the revolver away from him. They embrace, and are caught in that attitude by Harmon, who knows nothing about their engagement, and who flies into a rage. He sends Ruth from the room and locks himself in. Two shots are heard by the guests, and when the door is opened, Harmon is found dead. A part of Hardy's chain and the locket which Ruth had given him is found on the dead man, and on this circumstantial evidence Hardy is arrested, but with his wonderful strength he breaks away, and is not heard from until a week later, when he appears disguised as a cabman. Determining to clear himself, he calls upon Ruth, who believes in his innocence. Meantime, Detective Harrigan, who has taken thumbprints found on various articles in the locked room, tells his assistant that, in his opinion, the man who switched off the light was the murderer, and that the thumbprint, shows that it wasn't Hardy. While checking off the contents of the safe listed in the memorandum book Ruth and Hardy discover that the promissory note and bonds that Hardy gave Harmon are missing. Suddenly they hear a voice in the passageway, and conceal themselves. Although the key is in the lock of the door it is turned somehow from the outside and the butler enters. He goes to the table and picks up the memorandum book and when Hardy grabs him, he tells him that Gerard had offered him $100 for it. Harrigan ascertains that Gerard has in his possession the bonds of the Belleville Water Company, the numbers of which correspond with those entered in the memorandum book. The butler is compelled to send for Gerard, while the detective and the others keep in hiding. Gerard gives the butler the $100 for the memorandum book, and then the detective and Hardy confront him. His thumbprint offers additional evidence of his guilt. Gerard then breaks down and makes a full confession, and explains the mystery of the locked room, which exonerates Hardy.