Manof Chpt 65

Chapter 65

They arrived at Karl Hellstrom's spacious manor house that afternoon. There were police cars all around the property and Drollet led Bruce, not to the house but to the barn, next to the garage. They had emptied it of the car collection and Bruce stood in front of the most diverse collection of vintage cars he had ever seen.

There were Daimlers, Duesenbergs, Bugattis, MGs, Talbots, Bentleys, Packards, and an exotic array of rebuilt cars from many countries going back to the mid twenties. No effort had been spared to rebuild these sleek machines. They were repainted and had chromed motors. They had been meticulously rebuilt with great care. Drollet said that they found sixteen rebuilt cars, four that were partially complete and the frames, parts and plans for 12 others. The collection would be worth a fortune.

One Car Owned by an Egyptian Prince

One had been owned by an Egyptian prince and brought to France years before to serve the family villa at Cap Ferrat. Another had been owned by a wealthy playboy who used it to travel to the French Alps for ski jaunts. There was rumor that the 1931 Duesenberg J had once been owned by Archduke Franz Joseph of Austria.

Thinking that it was the car collection that Bruce had been brought to see, he spent an hour or so sitting in one after the other, examining the engine and shaking his head. All the time a patient Det. Drollet indulged Bruce and walked around with him.

After a while Bruce leaned on an old Bugatti. "It was in a car like this that the famous American dancer, Isadora Duncan was killed. She was strangled when her scarf got caught in the wind and entwined itself in the spokes of a rotating tire. It broke her neck instantly."

"Yes," Drollet added. "It happened in Nice. Frenchmen know the name Isadora well. She spent many years in France. As a matter of fact, she once married Paris Singer the millionaire owner of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He had an estate in Paris."

Bruce smiled when Drollet pronounced Singer as 'Sin-jair'.

"Can you imagine how much this collection must have cost Hellstrom? The sale of art was extremely good to him. Yet, his shop had so few good paintings in it and so few customers when I was there."

Drollet looked straight into Bruce's eyes. "That, my friend, was my feeling exactly. We returned here after the arrest, as we did to all of the suspect's homes. We decided to empty the garage and barn of the entire car collection. If you come inside with me, I'll show you what we discovered."

Bruce Unsure What he Would Find

Bruce was unsure of what he would find and disappointed when Drollet pointed out the totally empty barn and hay loft. The place was spotless but completely empty. There were no tools, farm implements, work benches or furniture.

Drollet walked to the far end of the spacious building. He stopped near a narrow ladder fixed against a wall.

"If you look closely at the ladder you will see that it is not standing on the wall. You can see that the arms don't end at the floor but continue through the boards. That puzzled me so we examined it more carefully and found that the area around the bottom had a hollow sound to it. We pushed a metal file into this tiny hole and, voila, the area popped open. We had activated a spring that to the casual observer would be unseen. The door was big enough to climb onto the ladder that continued about twenty feet below. We descended cautiously with torches. You call them flashlights, I believe. Let's go down together. I'd like to show you what we found."

Bruce followed Drollet. There was just enough space to get through. Once inside, the air was cool and the only light came from the opening above. Drollet adjusted his torch. When Bruce's eyes acclimatized to the light he saw in front of him a set of shelves that ran entirely around the room. They were deep and neatly stacked with rolled fabric that looked like canvass.

Bruce's eye widened and his jaw dropped open. He could feel his legs tremble.

"Is it possible? He exclaimed. "Am I seeing what I think I see , or is it a mirage?'

(Click here for Chapter 66)


	Chapter 65 They arrived at Karl Hellstrom's spacious manor house that afternoon. There were police cars all around the property and Drollet led Bruce, not to the house but to the barn, next to the garage. They had emptied it of the car collection and Bruce stood in front of the most diverse collection of vintage cars he had ever seen. There were Daimlers, Duesenbergs, Bugattis, MGs, Talbots, Bentleys, Packards, and an exotic array of rebuilt cars from many countries going back to the mid twenties. No effort had been spared to rebuild these sleek machines. They were repainted and had chromed motors. They had been meticulously rebuilt with great care. Drollet said that they found sixteen rebuilt cars, four that were partially complete and the frames, parts and plans for 12 others. The collection would be worth a fortune. One Car Owned by an Egyptian Prince One had been owned by an Egyptian prince and brought to France years before to serve the family villa at Cap Ferrat. Another had been owned by a wealthy playboy who used it to travel to the French Alps for ski jaunts. There was rumor that the 1931 Duesenberg J had once been owned by Archduke Franz Joseph of Austria. Thinking that it was the car collection that Bruce had been brought to see, he spent an hour or so sitting in one after the other, examining the engine and shaking his head. All the time a patient Det. Drollet indulged Bruce and walked around with him. After a while Bruce leaned on an old Bugatti. "It was in a car like this that the famous American dancer, Isadora Duncan was killed. She was strangled when her scarf got caught in the wind and entwined itself in the spokes of a rotating tire. It broke her neck instantly." "Yes," Drollet added. "It happened in Nice. Frenchmen know the name Isadora well. She spent many years in France. As a matter of fact, she once married Paris Singer the millionaire owner of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He had an estate in Paris." Bruce smiled when Drollet pronounced Singer as 'Sin-jair'. "Can you imagine how much this collection must have cost Hellstrom? The sale of art was extremely good to him. Yet, his shop had so few good paintings in it and so few customers when I was there." Drollet looked straight into Bruce's eyes. "That, my friend, was my feeling exactly. We returned here after the arrest, as we did to all of the suspect's homes. We decided to empty the garage and barn of the entire car collection. If you come inside with me, I'll show you what we discovered." Bruce Unsure What he Would Find Bruce was unsure of what he would find and disappointed when Drollet pointed out the totally empty barn and hay loft. The place was spotless but completely empty. There were no tools, farm implements, work benches or furniture. Drollet walked to the far end of the spacious building. He stopped near a narrow ladder fixed against a wall. "If you look closely at the ladder you will see that it is not standing on the wall. You can see that the arms don't end at the floor but continue through the boards. That puzzled me so we examined it more carefully and found that the area around the bottom had a hollow sound to it. We pushed a metal file into this tiny hole and, voila, the area popped open. We had activated a spring that to the casual observer would be unseen. The door was big enough to climb onto the ladder that continued about twenty feet below. We descended cautiously with torches. You call them flashlights, I believe. Let's go down together. I'd like to show you what we found." Bruce followed Drollet. There was just enough space to get through. Once inside, the air was cool and the only light came from the opening above. Drollet adjusted his torch. When Bruce's eyes acclimatized to the light he saw in front of him a set of shelves that ran entirely around the room. They were deep and neatly stacked with rolled fabric that looked like canvass. Bruce's eye widened and his jaw dropped open. He could feel his legs tremble. "Is it possible? He exclaimed. "Am I seeing what I think I see , or is it a mirage?' (Click here for Chapter 66)