Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-11-25

the reason, then. that my mind refused
SO emphatically to grasp this POSSIBLE
ity and settle upon him as the murder
or of Mrs. Jeffrey? cannot tell. !
hated the man. and likewise deeply
distrusted him. but could not. even
after this revelation Of his dupIicity,
connect him in my thoughts with alb
sOlute crime without shock to my in
buttons. Happily my scruples were
not shared by my colleagues. They had
listed him. Here l felt my shoulder
touched, and newspaper was thrust
into my hand by the man who had just
addressed me.
Look down the lost and found col
umn." said he. 1.-The third advertise
ment you will see there came from the
district attorneys office. The next one
was inserted by Mr.. Moore himself"
followed his pointing finger and
read two descriptions Of the filigree
ball. The disproportion In the rewards
offered was apparent. That promised
by Uncle David was calculated to
rouse any mans cupidity and should
have resulted in the bauble's imme-
date return.
'IIe got ahead of the police that
time" I laughed. when did these
advertisements appearT
During the days you werc absent
from Washington"
And how sure are you that he did
not get this jewel back?"
'Oh, we are sure. His continued
anxiety and still active interest prove
this. even if our surveillance had been
less perfect"
And the police have been equally
unsuccessfuly"
Equally"
after every effort?"
EVERY"
"WhO was the man who collected
and carried out those things from the
southwest chamberY
He smiled.
You see him." said he.
1T was your
Myself"
"And you are sure this small ball
was among them"
mo. only know that l have seen
1t somewhere. but that it wasn't among
the articles delivered to Mr.. jeffrey"
How did you carry themT
I'm a hand bag which 1 locked my
SELF"
Before leaving the southwest cham
Der"
YES"
"Then 1t Is still In that room?"
Find It," was his laconic reply.
That night went back to the Moore
house and sought first on the open
floor and then in every possible Granny
for the missing trinket. But failed to
find 1t and was about to acknowledge
myself defeated when my eye fell on
the long brOcaded curtains which had
drawn across the several windows to
hide every CLEAN Of light from the
street. They were almost free from
folds, but shook them well, especially
the one nearest the table, and naturally
with no effect.
Folly" l muttered. yet did not quite
desist. For the great tassels still hung
at the sides and Well, you may call
1t an impossible find or say that If the
baubie was there 1t should have been
discovered in the first search for it.
I will not say no. can only tell you
what happened. When I took one Of
those tassels in my hand 1 thought, as
it twirled under my touch, that saw
something CLEAN in its faded old
threads that did not belong there.
Startled. and vet not thoroughly realiz-
ing that had come upon the object Of
my search, picked ut this thing and
found 1t to be a morsel Of gold chain
that had become entangled in 1t. When
I had pulled It out it showed asmall
golden ball at one end. filigreed over
and astonishingly heavy for its size
and apparent delicacy.
The talisman Of this old family was
found. had but to discover what 1t
held. concealed to understand what had
bafaed Mr.. Moore and made the mys-
terry he ha1 endeavored to penetrate
30 insolvable. And what did I find
inside? Something SO different from
what / expected, something SO trivial
and seemingly harmless, that it was
not until recalled the final words of
Uncle David's memorandum that I
realized its full import and the posi-.
bilities 1t suggested. In itself 1t was
nothing but minute magnifying
glass; but when used In connection
with-what? All. that was just what
Uncle David failed to say, possibly to
know. No; guessing would not answer
must trust to the inspiration Of the
moment, which suggested with almos,
irresistible conviction:
The picture! That inane and seen,inglp
Uorthless drauing Orer the fireplace in
The Coloners Own. whose presence in so
rich room has alraps been mystery,
Why this object should have suggest.
ed itself to me and with such instant
conviction l cannot readily say.