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Pe of Gaskill's interest in the elusive art thief from the nineteen twenties and thirties, sent hies of the ly compiled, one that had been rejected by over thirty editors in as many years Gaskill could not put it down He was totally absorbed in the ative work by Pelishator on the Specter's last known heist, which took place in London in 1939 The stolen art consisted of a Joshua Reynolds, a pair of Constables, and three Turners Like all the other brilliantly executed thefts by the Specter, the case was never solved and none of the art was recovered Pe as a perfect cri the Specter's identity

For half a century his obsession never diive up the chase Only a few months before his health failed, and he was forced to enter a nursing hoh that enabled him to write the end to his superbly narrated account

A great pity, Gaskill thought, that no editor thought it worth publishing He could think of at least ten faht have been solved if The Thief Who Was Never Caught had been printed and distributed

Gaskill finished the last page an hour before dawn He lay back on his pillow staring at the ceiling, fitting the pieces into neat little slots, until the sun's rays crept above the sill of his bedrooo Suddenly, he felt as if a logja into open water

Gaskill s lottery ticket as he reached for the phone He dialed a number from me for an answer

A very sleepy voice croaked, "Francis Ragsdale here"

"Gaskill"

"Jesus, Dave Why so early?"

"Who's that?" casdale's wife over the receiver

"Dave Gaskill"

"Doesn't he know it's Sunday?"

"Sorry to wake you," said Gaskill, "but I have good news that couldn't wait"

"All right," Ragsdale h a yawn "Let's hear it"

"I can tell you the name of the Specter"

"Who?"