Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-10-01

had apparently been opened with the
point Of : pencil and then sealed again.
thought that he was entirely too in
quisitive.
I then bundled up and, going to the
street, entered . carriage in waiting,
and was soon in Mrs. Harris drawing
room.
When she entered asked her to give
mo the full particulars, which she did
by saying: II knew it was very care
less, but I left the diamond earrings
on the table in the hall last night,
| wrapped in my handkerchief, and this
morning the handkerchief was found
on the door, but the diamonds were
gone.'
Are you sure rnat YOU lett them
there?" l asked.
"Yes, certain" she SAID.
"How did you happen to do SOP" in
CURED.
ut was just this way" she answered,
"As got from the carriage last night
after the theater caught one Of the
earrings in the lace OF my sleeve. and
couldn't unfasten it until I came into
the light of the hall, and, to loosen it,
had to take it from my ear. When it
was out thought would take out the
other one, which did. Then wrapped
them both in my handkerchief and laid
it on the table beside my fan. When \
retired forgot about the diamonds, and
now they are gone"
"Who saw you place them there2" I
asked.
mo one"
''Who was first in the hall this morn
ing?"
Either William, the man sent for
you, or Mary. who sweeps on this door.
But dear me! I never would suspect
either of them," she answered.
''Yet they may be able to give infor-
nation that will aid me. Send up Will
iam." said.
don't believe that 1 had so much
confidence in William as Mrs. Harris
had.
| When William came allowed him to
stand for moment before spoke, and
he appeared to be very lily at ease.
Then asked: "Was Mary the first one
in the front hall this morning?'
II think she was," he said, ':for l saw
her there sweeping when came down.
But, I tell you, she never stole any
thing
was little surprised at his answer,
| for I had about concluded that he would
| want me to think that Mary had taken
the jewels.
''Have you searched for the dia-
| monds?" 1 asked.
Indeed, We all did, and poor Mary
has been crying her eyes out because
she might be suspected.'
,, ''Send her here" said.
Mary came, and it was quite apparent
| that she had been crying; but have
had considerable experience with wom-
ems tears. She said that when she
| went to sweep the hall she found the
handkerchief on the floor, but saw
| nothing of the diamonds: and that she
! was still sweeping when William passed
her on his way to clear the snow from
7 the front walk.
concluded that Mary knew nothing
about the diamonds. but was not quite
SO sure of William.
did William go to the table?' I in
quired-
No" she said. He walked apast
it, on his way to the door,"
did he pick up the handkerchief for
you?''
mo, he did not. had picked it up
before he came. He didn't pick up any
thing. And it he had picked up the dia-
monds he would have said sou
The girl was evidently shrewd enough
to see the purpose of my questions And
| her very shrewdness aroused my sus-
picion-
Nov, Mary" said, do you say that
William passed through the hall with
out stoppiag?"
| ''No, DON'T" she answered, and
noticed little color come to her cheeks
what did he stop for?" asked
perhaps because he wanted to-" she
answered. snappishly.
| "Mary," said Mrs. Harris, 'you must
answer the question. If William
stopped in the hall this morning you
must tell the gentleman what for
''Then, if you must know. he stopped
to kiss me-" With this she ran out Of
| the room.
Inow understood the relationship be-
tween the two servants, and why each
thought the other incapable of stealing.
| also saw motive for William want
ing the money that the earrings might
| bring him. and felt that it would be diff
| fcult to either recover the diamonds or
discover evidence enough to convict the
thief
The hrst thing was to put an assistant
On the track of William and to pump the
pawn-shops. He might have visited one
on his way to my Office. l told Mrs.
Harris that would return by car, and
that she might soon expect to see me
again.
| William showed me to the door.
After he had closed it behind me stood
a moment on the step and glanced at
| the front of the house. As I did so
caught sight of woman's head at a
window in the house next door. When
she saw me looking toward her she
I