Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-06-30
| DETECTIVES STORY.

James Blayne was a little out of temper.
For more than n fortnight he had unsuc-
cessfully devoted all the observations and
opportunity ut his command to discover
the whereabouts Of Lady Merton's jewels,
and Of the man or woman who had stolen
them.
James Blayne was q promising young
member of the detective force, on the ook-
out for the lucky step that should lift him
above the level of his compeers, and when
the Merton robbery was entrusted to his
care he thought he had got his chance at
last.
It certainly was a rather interesting
case.
About three weeks before the day on
which we record Mr.. Blayne's loss Of tenn
per, pretty Lady Merton, as might have
been gathered subsequently from the
newspaper reports, was spending a soli-
tary evening in her house in Brook street.
Sir Robert was dining with an old friend
some little way out of town, and not re-
turning till morning, my lady had in
tended going to the play with some
friends. But late In the afternoon she al.
tered her plans, dispatched O note beg
ging to be excused on account OF q severe
headache from joining the party, and
with curious feminine idea of comfort
and indulgence. told her maid that she
would not go down stairs again, but
would have some dinner ION a tray" in
her boudoir at 7.9O. At ton o'clock she
rang her bedroom bell, dismissed her
maid, requiring nothing more that night.
Before leaving, the maid asked If she
should go to the jewelers. the next morn
ing early, as had been arranged, to take
there for repair diamond brooch Of her
MISTRESS. YES" adding, as the maid
opened the jewel case to take out the
brooch, "Oh, leave it till the morning"
The box was relocked and the key put in
its usual place in one Of the dressing table
drawers. The butler stated that at 10 80
the house was shut up, and every one went
to bed.
The next morning Lady Merton, finding
her headache no better, kept her room
darkened till after ten o'clock, when some
tea was brought to her by her maid. The
latter then went to the jewel case for the
broken brooch, and finding the box un-
locked, with the key lying near, hastily
opened 1t, and cried out her discovery Of
the robbery to her mistress.
This was the story that in twenty-four
hours was known to most newspaper
readers in the country. and this was the
trying Mr.. James Blayne's temper. Again
and again he reviewed the few heads Of the
case.
On July as, Lady Merton went to bed be-
tween 10 and 10 30 p. m. The jewels were
then in their places, and she, seeing the
box opened, told her maid not to disturb
them till the morning. The maid locked
the box, replaced the key in drawer and
shortly went to her own room, fastening
the door-this last fact being attested by
the housemaids, who slept in an outer
room. Tho butler swore to turning out
| the lights and 'shuttinR-up" at 10 80. Lady
Merton slept little and restlessly till - 80,
when she got up and stirred the f1re-this
fact attested by the cook, who Steps in the
room above and was aroused by the sound
| Of the poker. At ten the next morning
the jewels were missing, and the jewel
| case stood in the dressing room within
| and only approachable through Lady Mer.
| toms bedroom.
Robbery from without Blayne rejected
after due examination, as an impossibillty
From within, by man, well nigh impos.
sible. owing to the position Of the jewe
case and to Lady Merton's restless state
during the night. 1t seemed case Of chez
la femme, and Blayne had sought cease
lessly; chiefly among the women of the
house, Of course, though here also the
great difficulty Of crossing Lady Merton's
bedroom unperceived by her was with hin
more strongly in their favor than their ex
cellent characters from their employers
The lady's maid seemed his only chanc,
1 bb, O1 COURSE, SUS was Iul1y Will
the situation In all its senses; and he
football, which he proved to be light and t,
| which, Of course, Lady Merton was &C
customed would disturb her less than an!
Of any other visitor. But the lady, Will
suggesting no other solution to the prob
lem, rejected this last theory with som
indignation, declaring that she had the ut
most confidence In her maid, and that sh
had scarcely closed her eyes before mid
i nfrrhk hn
pronounced 1t an impossibility for tn
lady's maid to have crossed their room ur
noticed.
So Mr.. Blayne was little out Of tempe
! with his tagging luck, and he decided t
got two or three days leave, and the
having rested his riddle a bit, to star
afresh at reading it. Thus he found hin
self on the afternoon Of August 1s-his n
quest for leave OF absence having bee
: granted-talking to pretty, neat loolxin
girl in a small senni-detached villa on th
| outskirts of the new and fashionabl
watering-place, Stonelay.
81 $50 you've been getting on pretty wei
eh, Nelly?" he asked.
20, yes, Jen, very. The air here seem
= to be quite setting me up. 80 fancy ha
" been working q bit too hard, though q
. ways said 1t was mothers nonsense. L
u true its rather dull here, but then I ofte
, go into Stonelay and have q look at II
t' smart visitors; so even II aunt Sarah
snappy at times, I don't mind. She's kir
enough, really"
"She couldn't have got any one else
bring her here, so she ought to be.
the beastly water puts an edge on ter
per like herI Yes, expect it's pretty du
alone with her. Poor Nellie"
30, don't mind; and we've got ne
neighbQr."
"old Mrs.--what's manner you told I
Of. goneP"
II "No. She's got a new lodger-a man
ID good looking rather. She brought him
one day to tea, and we meet him now al
then on the road. But he doesn't go o
much"
"Oh, hiding on some count Is he
asked Jem rather snappishly Of the pref
dressmaker.
"Nonsense Jemi ha isn't hiding He