The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-12-14

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until I came 10 my own door, ana th,
locked jewel case was beside me all Oh,
time. ! took Il into the house and openec
II. and u was empty.
This 10 a very black mystery. but
think that there must be q hitherto neg
lected talent within me-a talent for De
teotivs research. Already I seem 20 10.
the truth In this distressing affair. buI
my lrnk os experience constrains me "a
ask advice NJ 20 the best method OF pro.
csdurs. First. however. I must state my
theory.
When I was near homo my carriage
stopped ! looked out OF the window and
saw q groom named Michael saAr. who
very dcfercntiaiiy consulted me about IN
srrand upon which had sent him earlier
in the day Does Il not seem possible that
this was feature OF clever plot and
that while Michael engaged my attention
upon one side q confederate came 20 the
opposite window OF the carriage. reached
In. unlocked the box with duplicate key.
locked II again and faded away into the
turmoil OF the cityf
II In true that when had concluded my
interview with Michael happened 10 look
out OF the other window and saw q big
blue policeman standing on the edge Of
the sidewalk across the way. ! distinctly
remember him. and II seems strange that
he should have been unable to see this
crime. committed under his very nose.
Yet policemen are falling more and more
into tho grip Of evil ways, Perhaps this
one is even now dividing my pearls with
Michael and his two accompiices. l cay
"two." for feel sure that my coachman
was In the plot and that the third thief
was also one Of my servants.
You will remember that have very
often used this green plush Jewel case
In carrying jewels back and forth between
my house and the establishment OF Mr..
Henry Roversl. your esteemed uncle. ]
have left tho case empty In my carriage
dozens Of times. and this must have been
remarked by my servants. To procure a
duplicate key-or perhaps another case
precisely similar. 10 be used In a rapid
and dcxterous exchange-would have been
perfectly easy. still OF course, there's
the policeman. But I must stick TO my
theory. 1t Is not possible for me 10 enter
tain any other.
You know how dear this bauble was 10
me. look TO you for help In recovering
Il, and | have mentioned my loss TO no
one else. Please communicate with me as
soon as you have como 10 decision. SIN
cerely yours,
HELENA HAsBRoUcK.
She dispatched this by one OF her
dependents, bright eyed youth Of
dwarflsh stature, but of an excellent
habit OF retlcence. and then she waited
In many kinds of misery for RoyersPs
reply.
An hour passed. She sent again for
the dwarf. lie had returned from his
errand and had gone out again upon
another. She regretted the caution
which had forbidden her to tell him
to report to her Immediately, but she
bad not wished to make him think too
seriously Of his mission. Another hour
away. Mrs. Hasbrouck could
stand suspense no longer. She called
Roversl's by telephone and learned that
Paul had gone out, no one knew when
or why.
II would like to speak with Mr.. Hen
~ Royersi," she said upon sudden
resolve.
Only an exact quotation, not possible
to the present chronicler, could prop
erly reveal the sympathy which Mr..
Roversl felt and expressed when he
learned OF Mrs. Hasbrouck's loss.
"Have you any suspicionsT be asked
NJ last.
"None whatever" she replied.
Mr.. Roversl admitted that the case
was mysterious and deeply distressing
and he begged that 1t might be laid be
fore Mr.. Newell, the astute detective
who guarded the vast treasures Of the