The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-07-08
re Ees and lnsslliaeuesr
BEL AIR, MD, JULY 8, 1904.

the owner lay down for nap before
dinner. Whcn she awoke the box WAS
gone.
Queer case" said Croft to Sir James
three hours later. Il laid it to the
maid at first, but have found that she
can prove perfect aliht. Sh" WASH
even in the house 1T the time the box
was taken, nor can | !in! that any
servant was within fifty feet OF l.AhN
SparroW'S room. No one couli have
entered Icy her windows. and OF course
the thief is inside TIE house. We ar"
going to have trouble to locate him or
her. however I've questioned every
servant. and can't say that / suspect
any of them
Tut you can't suspect am OF the
guests" exclaimed Sir James i'll Gun-
stcrnatinn.
Not III the slightest. It's 4 rum 70.
and I've got my work cut out for me-.
Two days later he had still nothing
to report. The servants h:id been Ii;v@'
toned and cross questioned. and Wallets
and maids had been given the third
degree" ana III lrn.yih croft Vas sails
fled Of the innocence OF all the Under
linGS
Then it WYE; some slick thief who
got in despite your Vigilance" re
proachfully observed Si: James.
Il should rather say il was one of
Your twenty-five guests" doggcdly re
piled the agent.
"Hut think of il. man."
".\yc, I'm thinking. Sir James
"Who among them can you possibly
suspect: Why. sir. it's simply mon
strous. Id soomc" pay for tl:e jewels
twice over than to hint that one of my
guests is under suspicion. No. no.
Croft. Its Il queer case, ANA the thief
WAS too much for You. aEi III pay the
loss and hush up the talk"
but | want to remain her" for a
week or ten days" said the agent. Il
confess to being puzzled now. but my
reputation is IT stake. and must Try
and solve the mystery"
He WAS told To remain and 90 his
best. ana that night ~ lie lay in lbs
bed he whispered in his own ears:
Its dollars 10 cents that III" jewels
were taken by Il guest. Now. Whp
would he the soonest suspected ANA
who the last: Let's say Tat Lady
Sparrow stole her own diamonds. Sh"
being Il seeker after E0tCr."ty. That
charge won't hUiI. however. rs Sit"
turned her whole baggage out 10Y in
>pcctiGn and her f:i!MLia:: away when
she discovered her los, WIS Tie s,rnU
Inc thing Now. who is last: Why. Iii
tie Mrs blank. of course. Iii stake all
on her innocence. but I'm going +"
watch her. Her room is five doors
away, and she says she WIS out on III"
lawn from i to = on the afternoon of
the robbery. h'It let us see what can he
turned up"
Detective croft did something in do
ing nothing. He Wouldn't ;r!l Sir
James or any OF the guests his
thoughts. and 10 have fried to watch
the little woman as she lifted about
would have been ridiculous. He there
fore passed most Of his time in the
conservatory wondering where he
could take hold of the case On his
first day lee SAW little Mrs. Blank en-
ter the place twice ans! wander about
and sing 10 herself On the second day
she was In and out three times ON
the third day she Slyly tool; from her
pocket letter which she read with
considerable agitation and, W"n&n-
like, dropped it on the floor as she
went out She returned for il In five
minutes. but Croft had possessed him
self of the contents.
"Wcll?' briskly demanded Sir James
as the agent asked for an interview
that evening
Il think | have found the Jewels"
was the reply.
You think, but don't you know"
Not exactly. have saved the
pleasure for you. Let Us go into the
conservatory and lock the door"
"Wcll:' again Gucgicd Sir JlmcS in
impatient tones.
You have several artificial plants in
tubs. your honor. and this one in par
ticular is so light that even Il woman
cOhi(l ia H. w III NOi lIlNISf li''N' -
out:"
Sir James looked at the agent i'll Il
puzzled way, but seized the plant an,!
lifted it from the tub and then held up
his hands i'll amaZcmcnt. At tho bot
tom of the tub was the missing jewel
box with contents intact
You see" said Croft, in three or
four days more the box would lave
gone home with one of your guests"
Croft" said Sir james as he laiA
his hand on the mans shoulder. You
must know the thicf:'
II do. Sir James"
but don't tell me his name. I'll
send him off with $50 i'll his pocket
and not even read him moral lrr
turc"
Right you are, Sir James" replied
Croft as the ghost Of Il smile stole over
his face, and he winkcd 1t himself.