The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1906-01-13

DEPENDENTS.
until I came to my own door, and the
locked Jewel case was beside me all the
time. took it into the house and opened
II. and IL was empty.
This is a very black mystery. but
think that there must be a hitherto neg
lected talent within me-a talent for de-
tective research. Already I seem to see
the truth in this distressing affair, but
my lack of experience constrains me to
ask advice as TO the best method Of pro-
cedure. First. however. 1 must state my
theory
When I was near home my carriage
stopped looked out Of the window and
saw q groom named Michael Saar, who
very deferenuaIly consulted me about an
errand upon which had sent him earlier
in the day. Does IT not seem possible that
this was a feature Of a clever plot and
that while Michael engaged my attention
upon one side a confederate came to the
opposite window of the carriage. reached
in. unlocked the box with a duplicate key,
locked 1t again and faded away into the
turmoil Of the city?
II is true that when 1 had concluded my
interview with Michael l happened TO look
out Of the other window and saw a big
blue policeman standing on the edge OF
the sidewalk across the way. l distinctly
remember him, and IL 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 the grip of evil ways. Perhaps this
one is even now dividing my pearls with
Michael and his two accompIices. 1 say
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 1 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. l
have left the case empty in my carriage
dozens of times, and this must have been.
remarked by my servants. To procure
duplicate key-or perhaps another case
precisely similar. to be used in rapid
and dexterous eXchange-wOuldh have been
perfectly easy. Still. of course, there's
the policeman. But 1 must stick to my
theory. 1t is not possible for me to enter
tain any other.
You know how dear this baUble was to
me. l look TO you for help in recovering
II, and 1 have mentioned my loss to no
one else. Please communicate with me as
soon as you have come to a decision. Sin
cerely yours,
HELENA HASBROUCk.
She dispatched this by one of her
dependents, a bright eyed youth of
dwarfish stature, but of an excellent
habit of reticence, and then she waitel
in many kinds Of misery for ROversfs
reply.
An hour passed. She sent again for
the dwarf. He 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
had not wished to make him think too
seriously Of his mission. Another hour
dragged away. Mrs. HaSbrOuck could
stand suspense no longer. She called
Roversi's by telephone and learned that
Paul had gone out, no one knew when
or why
Il would ike to speak with Mr.. Hen
~ Roversi." she said upon a sudden
resolve.
Only an exact quotation, not possible
70 the present chronicler, could prop
erly reveal the sympathy which Nj
RoverSi felt and expressed when he
learned Of Mrs. Hasbrouck's loss.
Have you any suSp-cions:" he asked
at last.
None whatever" she replied
Mr.. Roversi admitted that the case
was mysterious and deeply distressing.
and he begged that it might be laid be-
fore Mr. Newell, the astute detective
who guarded the vast treasures Of the
store. Mr.. Newell listened without
comment TO Mrs. HaSbrouck's clear and
concise statement Of the facts. His
questions, though their purport was
skillfully yelled, were directed. as the
lady easily perceived. toward the eluci-
daUiOn Of a single element of the case
namely, when and under what circum-
stances was Mrs. Hasbrouck's note de
livered 10 Mr.. Paul ROversi. To this
end aIr. Newell obtained a description
of the messenger. and with that he
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