It's a detective story, that begins with an explanation: "In Siam the royal white elephant is very important. It's sacred to kings, and only kings can have a white elephant. And white elephants are more important than the king."
So the king of Siam decided to give a white elephant to the Queen of England, as a gift.
During the trip, the ship stops at the New York's harbour because a doctor would see the white elephant that was sick. Then, after two weeks travelling, the white elephant is stolen.
The white elephant's deliverer came back to New York City and looked for the police force. He was fortunate because the chief of the force, the celebrated Inspector Blunt, was there and decided to help him.
Inspector Blunt took notes about the elephant's eating habits and appearance, and printed photos. Then he sold the information to the newspapers. He also suggested a reward and sent lots of his men to look for the elephant.
After some days, the white elephant was accused killing some people and destroying villages, but the search continued and the reward raised until one hundred thousand dollars.
Then the detective sent and received some notes and made an appoitment with the thieves. The deliverer brought the money to the detective and waited.
When chief Blunt came back, he took the white elephant's deliverer until the building basement, and there was the white elephant, dead.
The white elepant died of hunger, and the deliverer lost his job and he was ruined, but he continued appreciating the detective's work.