Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-29

ever do-why, you have my jewels in
the bank herep'
"W-whatl' Was she really mad?
How long we sat gazing at each other I
do not know. "Indeedp' I got out at
length. "You su1ely-Mme. Otterburn,
I cannot appreciate jokes of this order!"
"Jokes?" She had swayed to her feet.
"Jokes?" she whispered again. "Mr.
Henry! I put them into your own hands
in your own house."
Certainly you did. And you called
at my house an hour after midnight, on
the same day, and took them away
again."
~ called at your house again and
Mr.. Henry, explain yourself, do! I was
never at your house but the once in my
life. l gave you the case and took your
own receipt. Really, this is too ri.
dicuIousl"
"Mme. Otterburn, think! 1t was
about 1 O'Clock. You rang the bell
twice. You seemed to be in trouble
your husband, you simply said, had told
you to get back the jewels. Igave them
to you, and you left the house before I
could get my hat. You don't remember
that"
"I've been robbedr" She put out a
shaking hand. "Mr. Henry, as heaven
hears me, I have not touched that case
since l put it into your hands. l did
have words with my husband that night
when he came home, but for you to say
Il 60 straight to the police. Please al
low me to pass!"
MADAME, m moment!" ! was
gathering my wits. I must not let her
60 off im%petuously like that. "Will you
wait-just three days? If in three days
nothing t%ranspires, I'll call in the first
detective in London at our own expense.
Madame, you must. 1t there is any
mystery behind this, it is the most ex-
traordinary one that ever say the light.
Will you promise that?"
She did eventually, and walked out
to her carriage like a person thoroughly
dazed.
Those three days went by-how |
could never say. l had done nothing.
Was merely waiting in an agony of sus-
pense. And then on the third evening
I received a telegram. 1t was from ma
dame. "Come here instantly"
1 stood in a sweat of hesitation for
awhile, and then took a cab direct to
the office Of a we'll known private de-
tective. BY the merest chance he was
in. Five minutes later the pair of US
were bowling along toward madame's
house and-what?
A maid, looking scared, showed us
up at once to madame's boudoir. There
lay madame on a couch, and there was
a stencil Of eau de cologne, and a doctor,
stopping wei her, held up a finger in
warning, but madame had seen me.
She sprang up, with almost a scream,
and held something out.
The jewel case!
"Mr. Henry! Mr.. Henry 1t was
there in my duchesse drawer under
some rubbish, and it was not there three
hours ago. See, they have not been
touched. Butch, heavens!-it was
not there three hours ago! Mr.. Henry,
come here! l never called for them-l
never did in this world"
I took the case mechanically. Yes,
there we're the pearls and opals safe
enough-and the diamonds, above all.
The one thing that seemed clear now
was that madame's mind had gone.
What else?
"Er-let me see those" 1t was the
detectives quiet voice at my shoulder.
"H'ml / suppose the lady knows that
these stones are only the very best
paste?
cts false" came madame's husky
whisper. "It's'- she broke off.
The door behind had opened and a
small, dark, pale man stood staring in
the opening.
Before we could think or he could
urn a husky whisper Kissed across the
room and made us all start.
"Ah.hv'i it said, and her finger reach
ed out at him. "You-you dare to
move. Otterburn, you got the case from
Mr.. Henry. You know how it war got,
how it was put back there"
"Don't be a fool" be said, leaning
toward his wife. "The case-you got it
yourself. Oh, yon may stare. l saw you
with my own eyes. You never walked
in your sleep, did you?"
"There's MI. Marsh. He'll tell you
that he has known about madame's in.
somnia for years. Her brain impels her
to do outrageous things in her sleep,
but she'll always deny it,"
"Quite So" The doctor, looking
round from the couch, was the first to
speak. II know Mrs. Otterburn too. If
I may say SO, this gentleman here says
we'll, he states that the real stones
have been extracted. Perhaps that can
be explained away too"
He halted, looking around. No one
smiled. No spoke. OF a sudden he
snatched a small packet from his vest
pocket and flung it toward the couch.
"All right, then, there's her real
precious stones. Now she can say and