Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-26

ing.
 One o'clock came at last and hur ried out and took the elevated uptown as the quickest way of getting there It was just 1:20 when l opened my door. With little shiver of apprehen. sion I inserted the key in the lock of the closet and threw back the bolt Godfrey walked out on the instant He was smiling, but pale with fatigue
 ''If you've got such thing as nip of brandy anywhere about, Lester," he said. sinking into the nearest chair, "I'd be infinitely obliged for it. I feel rather shaky in the knees"
 l brimmed a glass for him, and he set 1t down empty, with sigh of sat. isfacti0n.
 That's better. Do you know, l thought for time toward the last that l was going to collapse. One little crack is scarcely ventilation enough for an active pair of lungs. However, I was repaid"
 You wereT
 "Yes," and he smiled at my impa- tience. ''I'll tell you the story and see what you make of 1t. First came the chambermaid, who performed her du- ties with neatness and dispatch. Then O dreary half hour passed. I had about come to the conclusion that might have spared my pains when caught the sound of key in the lock of the outer door. l heard the door open and close, and an instant later our friend Tremaine appeared within my range of vision" tEF s
 "Trennaine!' Texcfaimed. "Then he had Thompson's keyw
 "Yes," agreed Godfrey. But my story's only begun. Tremaine took a look through the rooms to assure him. self that there was no one here. He tried the closet door. but didn't seem surprised or suspicious when he found It locked. Then he went back to the outer room, dropped on his hands and knees and began to search"
 For the diamond?"
 "So I thought at first. I couldn't see him for Q little while, but presently I perceived that he wasn't searching over the body of the carpet, but around It's edges. He seemed to be looking for place where 1t was loose. for he went very slowly from tack to tack. Once I thought he had found 1t for he came to a place where tack was wanting and ran his hand under eagerly. But In a moment he brought 1t out again empty"
 "So 1t couldn't have been the dia- mond." l remarked In perplexity.
 "No. 1t couldn't have been the dia- mond," assented Godfrey. hls eyes shin- ing. But Tremaine wasn't done yet Really, he'd make an admirable detec- tive. admired his methods. though they also gave me a clew to what he was looking for. He placed a chair just here, before this desk, just oppo- site the bedroom door. You'll remem- Der that Thompson also had a table and chair similarly placed"
 "Yes. 1 remember"
 Then he sat down in the chair and began a minute scrutiny of the walls. First that one youder. He went over 1t inch by inch until he came to the speaking tube. Then be sprang up and opened 1t and pecred inside. even hold ing a lighted match in. Let us sec" and Godfrey also examined the tube. "Irs empty.-
 "Yes,- said. Tive used 1t once or twice. and it works all right"
 Well, Tremaine wasn't satisfied with that. He ran his hands along the top ledees of the doors. mounted . chair and peered above the wfndows. examined every nook and cranny. At last he gave it up. replaced things just as he had found them. glanced at his watch and went away. Now. what vas be looking forT
 cudgelei my brain.
 T don't know" said T can't i'm agine-
 let ne help you said Godfrey. his eyes shining still more brightly. T had time to think it all out In the eioeet there. Tn the 1rst place. he looke1 oniy in the outer room. in the second placa be was plainly looking for something that had becn purposely concealed: In the third place. when he examined the room be plactj his chair just where Mss Croydon had sst."
 A fash of Hg,It burst upon me
 The cllppsnr- I cried The ciippsnzs- Just chat I haven't the least doubt of IL And thst explains another thing which seemed very pus- riIns- It eIpi1ins why Ms Croydon vas so anrious to reuf this scit-
 But how dd be and out about fhemT I ssked st last
 T thfnk sh<y costain scne secrst ef hfs. and heis eo0cs1ded sbe hssnt eot tben be>sD sbe hsssr prudBced th<8 sui,st Nh An6 be's Fensuned ceP. recfIy h sYps1ng snnt H s1s hno11 - -fhe7 sns nu1 1ngs n111m 0gm