Submitted by Sally Kneser on April 8, 2007 - 8:09pm.
"Professor Gorakski?"
"Speaking."
"This is Kaplan, president of Kaplan & Borman Insurance company. Would you make an investigation for us? Good. The Sommerfeld Manufacturing company, who recently took out a large amount of fire insurance with us, have entered an enormous claim--a large stock of men's suits. We haven't anything on them, so far, but I'm suspicious! Will you handle it? That's splendid."
"I'll be at your office at ten in the morning," Gorakski assured him before hanging up the receiver.
Next day, Caroline Bliss, president of the Sommerfeld Manufacturing company, took the professor to the large room where she said the suits had been stored. The criminologist carefully examined the charred remains of material. Bliss stood nervously by while Gorakski looked for some evidence of incendiary origin. There was no mistaking the relief on the president's face when none was found. But the professor was not through--by no means. He had just begun!
He asked if there were any materials left of the suits that had been burned, and samples were soon produced. It didn't take a microscopic comparison to know they were the same.
Bliss clasped Gorakski's hand in parting and assured him of her whole-hearted support in clearing up the matter.
* * * *
"Well, Kaplan," greeted the professor while settling himself comfortably in the insurance man's office. "Would you be disappointed if I told you I didn't find a SINGLE THING TO PROVE FRAUD?"
"Why...naturally...I..."
"Well, you won't have to pay this claim," chuckled the great criminologist. "It's what I didn't find that conclusively proves fraud!"
WHAT DID HE MEAN?