The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-08
Born
 Defecff0e

 and the detective proceeded;
 "A Mir Towner came to me one day to employ me. He had missed a valu- able diamond from a safe he kept in his house. the combination being known to no one but himself, not even to a member of his family. The safe was an old one. with a letter comblna- don. He was about to tell me the word the letters spelled when stopped him wanted to see if could pick the lock myself
 "I went with him to his house, a new one and fitted with a number of mod ern couriyauces Only the safe was old fashioned. l failed to pick the lock. While it was old. it was a very good one. told Mr. Towner that some one except himself must have known the combination but be told me that be had got it from his father on bis deathbed. and his father as- sured him that he alone knew it The son had never revealed it
 "I was absolutely without a clew. The only thing l could do was to take uP my quarters iu the house and look out for a pointer. l was introduced by Mir. Towner as an old friend from Australia and treated as guest No one had seen me working on the lock, Of course. as this would have been fa- ;al to my investigation
 "SIr. Towner was a widower with sev- eral children, the younger being under the care Of a goveness. I soon became suspicious of this young woman, for no other reason than that found she was suspicious of me. often caught her looking at me critically, and as much as to say. You're no friend of Nr Towuer. You're a detective. At any rate these are the words ! supplied from her expression
 The safe stood in a closet on one side of a hail. and my sleeping room was directly opposite. ] could lool at the safe from my bcd. am a very light sleeper: besides I semaIned awake sey- eraI nights du early morning. By my bed kept a long dressing gown and a pair of felt slippers to slip on in ease of need ! did not seep light in my room nor in the halL as this would have defeated my purpose
 -One night ! was awakened by hear Ing a footstcp overhead Some one Is ssdr' ! said T must be ready However ! remained in bed for half an hour then. since no one came to tamper with the safe. got up. put on my gown and slippers and groped softly around he house. It was very dark but ] had taken note of the rooms. doorways. etc.. so got on very we'll Suddenly ! heard the scratch of a match, and di- recty before me stood the governess.
 "'I beg your pardon. I said. q came down for a biscuit When ! cant sleep. usually put something into my stom- ach to start digestion and draw the blood from the brain,
 "'WW you excuse me for saying that I don't believe your story 9 she replied
 she smiled as she spoke. She was a pretty girl and looked an the prettier from a flannel robe she wore trimmed with lace and her hair in a thick braid hanging down Der back. The match was burning out and I was about Go step to an electric button to turu on tle light when she stopped me
 "I am Investigating something she said that is going on in this house that has long puzzled me. If you turn ou the light. you may spoil my chance to discover it this very night
 she was certainly very clever. ] haJ failed to catch her in some theft and she had the presence of mind to avert suspicion by pretending to be on the lookout herself It was plain that the game was mp for the ume.
 "I have no wish to Interfere with your plans I said Tf you'll give me a biscuit Tn go to bed
 Lighting another match, she went to the sideboard for we were in the din Ing room. took out a few biscuits and handed them to me-
 " Please stay here awhile she said. T may want you to confirm a story.
 "'Au right l said; but don't keep me waiting an night
 As ! heard nothing further I con cluded she had gone out There would be no use in following her. as she was thoroughly forewarned What a pity I could not have discovered her with out her discovering me. lay down on a lounge and munched a biscuit Suddenly I felt a hand on my arm.
 "'Come. said a voice which ] knew belonged to the governess.
 "She hurried me upstairs to tf. end of the ball on which was my sleeping room. A light had been turned on since I had gone down, and tiere be- fore the safe knelt Mr Towner. Ho had just opened it and taken out some th.ug-I could not see what it was and closed the safe door.
 "'The rascal" I muttered
 "'Not at all, he's asleep
 eve followed him and saw him un- lock the door of a small jewel vault SO concealed bv a uqnnl that no one Iu fhe house knew of it and place in it the article he had taken from the safe.
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