The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-07

timately, in neighborly way, and had,
in fact, spent the evening there an hour
or Two previously, so he accosted her
without ceremony, and proceeded to feel
her pulse, keeping his eyes fixed upon
her.
You seem to have recovered your
fright, Miss Grace he said in matter
of-fact tone.
eyes, thank you," she replied, with
evident nervousness.
''Where did you put the necklace be-
fore you went to bed?" he inquired, alb
ruptly.
II put til mean I left ton the
dressing e. table with the other things" re-
piled Miss Grace, flushing more becom-
ingly than ever.
DR.. Lake left her side, and strobe over
to the fire. place, where he stood chatting
on the hearth.rug, leaning against the
mantel shelf. A few minutes later the
butler came up to report the result of
the search, which. as before stated, was
futile. A comparative sense of security
being now restored, the gentlemen who
had responded to the cries for held took
their departure, DR.. Lake among them.
The constable fingered behind a minute
or two to partake of the refreshment
which the butler offered him after his
arduous labors. When he left the house
he found the doctor smoking.a cigarette
at the gate, apparently waiting for him.
"Have you searched the garden?" in
quired DR.. Lake, rather impatiently.
"Yes, sir" replied the constable; ''me
and the butler went round"
"Did you find any footsteps beneath
the window through which the man es-
capped? suppose you didn't think to
look, he added sharply, seeing the con-
stable hesitated.
well, sir, it wouldn't be much good,
not in the dark" said the constable,
rather sulkily. 81 am coming round first
thing in the morning
"You have your lantern. Surely the
chance of obtaining an important clew
ought not to be neglected. 1t might rain
before the morning. Let us make
careful search at once" said DR.. Lake in
an authoritative tone, leading the way to
the rear of the house.
The constable followed with an
aggrieved air, evidently resenting this
amateur interference, and his manner
was decidedly insolent as he pointed out
that the gravel path beneath the window
in question showed no footprints. Or.
Lake, however, not the least discon
certed, fell back step or two and looked
up at the house.
after all, it is hardly likely that the
fellow would have dropped from that
height on to hard gravel path" he
said, meditatively. "He must have
, jumped sideways on to chat bed yonder.
Just bring your lantern here minute"
This surmise turned out to be correct.
some shrubs were found to be trampled
down, and there was deep impression
of footmarks, showing where the man
had jumped, with less distinct indication
of his subsequent progress. He appeared
| to have fallen into the midst of the
fowerbed and then to have run across the
lawn, though on the grass all traces Of
him were lost, owing tothe dryness of
the ground.
That's him clear enough, sir" re-.
marked the policeman, more respect
fully.
well, you must point this out to the
inspector in the morning" said DR..
Lake; meanwhile, we had better cover
up the marks, to prevent their being
obliterated by the rain or a predatory
eat."
There seems to be box over there
by the Clubhouse" said the policeman,
after turning the light of his lantern in
various directions.
1.-The very thing. It will cover the
marks and keep them intact till the
morning." said DR.. Lake stepping across
and fetching shallow deal box which
the constable referred to.
| This was carefully placed over the
footprints and was found to protect
them completely. DR.. Lake babe the
constable "Good-Dight! and hurried
home to bed. while the officer, with q
virtuous feeling Of having thoroughly
done his duty, returned to his beat.
The next morning an inspector called,
and inquired into the circumstances of
the robbery. What seemed to strike
him as extraordinary was that the thief
should have gone straight to Miss
Graces room and stolen o jewel which
she bad only possessed few hours. He
was strongly inclined to suspect some of
the servants. for they we're the only
persons who would be likely to know of
the young lady's new treasure, and that
she had il in her room that night. He
cross questioned all OF them, however,
without eliciting anything to justify his
| suspicious, and, on the other hand there
we're the footprints in the garden. which
clearly pointed to the robbery having
been committed by some person from
outside. Miss Grace could throw very
little light on the mystery, having only