The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-10-02
The Melville Court Burglary
BY Herbert Jameson.
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My instructions reached me over the
telephone.
''Hullo! Are you there? That you,
Phillips?"
"Yes!"
Mrs Warrington Stout's jewels
have been stolen. Probably only
common or garden burglary, but as the
Stouts have wired for special man
to go down and investigate you'd bet
ter take over the job. Know their
country placer"
"Grantham, isn't it?"
= "Yes! Melville Court, about a mile
from Grantham Station. You'll eaten
the next train, and report as soon as
possible"
Tonight, if l get back in time"
That's all, then. Goodby!"
"Goodby.'
The Warrington Stouts were known
to me-from the society columns OF
numerous daily and weekly papers
Worthy and estimable people they
might be, but the FASHION in which
they were persistently paragraph
ed, although it only created mild
feeling of disgust in an obscure person
like myself, must have made certain
other less advertised members OF So
ciety than themselves exceedingly Jeai-
GUS. Their leap into prominence had
probably been too sudden to last.
caught the 2.30 p. m. from Kings
Cross to Grantham.
Among other literature with which
to beguile the two hours journey !
had purchased ''P. A. P" ("Principal-
ly About People.") When ! opened 1t
found that it contained an autob1o-
graphical article by Mr.. Warrington
Strout, who was described as the hus-
band of one of society's leaders. This
description was, needless to say, edi-
torial In three columns of verbose
and occasionally 1lliterate pomposity,
Mr.. Warrington Stout only, referred
to his wife once. He could hardly
have mentioned the family jewels
without bringing her in.
kicked the opposite seat q was
alone in the carriage) in what, l felt,
was righteous indignation, and was al
most choked by the dust. Why, oh,
why do people do these silly things in
print? That paragraph in Warning
ton Stout's article was simply an open
invitation to the burglarihg commun-
ity to enter Melville Court address
given) and lay hands on the jewels.
For in these days Bill Skies is an edu-
Gated gentleman, who gets half his
ideas from the daily papers and the
other half from the magazine stories.
After reading that article / felt my
interest in the work OF this particular
investigation wane. If only might be
allowed to kick Warrington Stout on
my arrival l fancied l might enter on
the inquiry with requisite zest.
Mrs. Warrington Stout in an elabor-
ate dress and still more elaborate
manner, alone received me.
ooh, you've come. My husband is
out riding. He cannot do without his
usual afternoon exercise, but he'll be
back shortly. Meanwhile, I'll tell you
the whole story"
She proceeded to give me at great
length an account that can be sum-
med up in a very few sentences.
The previous night, 1t seemed, she
had been alone, her husband crossing
the Channel on his way home from
Paris. She slept soundIy until inst
as daylight broke, noise in the room
suddenly awoke her, and she opened
her eyes to see a mans back vanishing
through the window. One glance at
the dressing table showed her that her
jewel box, with all it's contents, was
gone. She screamed violently, pealed
the bell and aroused the whole house
hold. The grounds were instantly
searched, but, although footmarks
were found on the bed below the win
dow, the thief had evidently got safe.
ly away with his booty.
Mrs. Warrington Stout here made a
pause.
"And is that all, MADAME"
Dear me, no! l was waiting. ex-
.pecting that~yo would take notes 4
still more startling discovery was
speedily made. That day new butler
had come in After the burglary he
was nowhere to be found, and his bed
had not been slept in"
"You have arrived at the obvious
conclusion-he stole the jewels?"
"That is the only possible solution"
"Yet you did not actually recognize
his back as he disappeared through the
Window"
Il was not sufficiently acquainted
with his appearance to be quite certain
on that point You see, he only arrived
here yesterday afternoon. My hus-