The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-09-25

of their occupants. There were three
rooms which communicated, and those
three were occupied by the colonel, his
wife and little Mrs. Hope. The door
between the rooms of the colonel and
Mrs. Hope was bolted on her side and
had been for years. This door caught
! the eye of the detective, and after an
examination of the bolt he said:
''This bolt has been worked within
three or four days, as any locksmith
will tell you, and this door has also
been opened"
"Do you know what you are saying?"
sternly demanded the colonel
81 do, sir. You carry the key of the
safe in your pocket. To get that key
some one has entered your room by
this door at night"
"But Mrs. Hopes effects have been
searched along with the rest"
"Her effects yes. She has the jewel
ry on her person. Let your wife search
her."
The colonel was furious and his wife
indignant. They would answer for lit
tie Mrs Hope as for themselves.
81 can do no more" answered the de-
tective. zone of your guests is the
robber, and it is the guest occupying
this room. If you will call her up here,
l believe can break her down in ten
| minutes"
After long hesitation little Mrs. Hope
was called up. She came smilingly,
and no pair Of eyes ever revealed
greater innocence. A layman would
have sooner suspected toddling babe.
"Now, them" began the detective,
you are the robber. You took Mrs.
Whites jewelry, and you robbed the
colonel's safe. You got the key from
his trousers by opening this door. You
have the jewelry on your person"
For the space of 80 seconds the baby
faced woman regarded him with won
der, Indignation, fear and anguish.
Then she gasped for breath and sank
down In her tracks.
Search her," said the detective as he
left the room. Ten minutes later he
was called in. The little woman lay
weeping on the sofa, and the missing
jew Gil w az SP1Cd0 O0I OA IAO L1O1Cs 10
"God help usp' said the colonel as he
looked from the officer to the recovered
treasure and back.
1--WE must help ourselves" replied
the man as he looked at the woman
with pity in his eyes. MRS. Saun-
ders, your maid must go. You must
fix the price with her. She must get
away as soon as possible and the plum
der must be found in her room later on.
She will get safe away"
Three hours later the jewelry was
found" in the maids room, and every
body else was cleared of suspicion and
made happy. The maid had been gone
two hours, and the detective doubted
whether she could be found in big Lon
don, though of course he would use ev-
cry effort. Little Mrs. Hope was i'll for
a day or two under the nervous excite
ment and so had a good excuse for
leaving Rose Hill. So far as / know
not one of the guests suspected her.
Indeed as the maid had left written
confession before she bolted how could
any one else be suspected? This being
the case, you may wonder how got
hold of the inside facts in the case.
Well, that's a matter of no concern as
long as l have given you the full par
ticulars. Perhaps the colonel trusted
me further than he did the others. AS
for little Mrs. Hope, it was want Of
money probably that induced her to
turn robber, but have always tried to
make myself believe that she couldn't
have realized what she was doing.