The $400,000 in thousand-dollar bills, which he was known to keep in his wall safe, was missing.
The police concluded that the criminal or criminals had concealed the money in the house, perhaps in something brought along for the purpose, expecting to recover it later.
This surmise was founded upon Sir James’s eccentric precautions. A visitor might gain admission to his estate unchallenged. But no one, including the servants, could leave without being challenged by a series of private guards.
On the day Sir James’s possessions were put on auction, Dr. Haledjian joined Sheriff Monahan in the explorer’s museum.
“The sale starts in here,” said the sheriff. “But every stick in the house will be sold today or tomorrow.”
An auctioneer had begun to enumerate for the crowd of buyers the museum’s objects, describing them as Sir James’s favorite momentos of his five trips to the Arctic.
The objects included a group of stuffed animals — two polar bears and a penguin — three stuffed fish, and an assortment of Eskimo clothing, utensils, and weapons.
“The murder has to be in the house,” said the sheriff. “But my men can’t watch all the rooms.”
“Rest at ease,” said Haledjian. He or an accomplice is in this room, ready to make a purchase.”
How Did Haledjian Know?
solution of the Mystery Story Riddle : The Case of the Arctic Explorer
Haledjian realized the criminal had hidden the money in his own prop-the ne thing in the museum which didn’t belong with a collection of North Pole object. The stuffed penguin.
The criminal forgot that penguins live in the South, not the North pole!