Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-02-06

"The key? Oh, no! I think not; no."
"Do you remember anything out Of
the common happening anything
whatever, no matter how trivial-on
the day Mrs. Heath lost her bracelet?'
"No, really, I don't. I can't remem-
Der at ALL"
"Thank you," said Hewitt hastily;
"thank you. Now the morning room,
Sir James,"
In the morning room Hewitt stayed
but a few seconds, doing little more
than casually glance out of the win
dows. In the room above he took a
little longer time. 1t was a comfortable
room, but with rather effeminate in
dications about it's contents. Little
pieces of draped silk work hung about
the furniture, and Japanese silk fans
decorated the mantelpiece. Near the
window was a cage containing a gray
parrot, and the writing table was dec
grated with two vases of flowers.
Hewitt stared thoughtfully out of
the window and then, still deep in
thought, ratified at the wires of the
cage with a quill toothpick and played
a moment with the parrot. Then, look
ing up at the window again, he said,
"That is Mr.. Lloyd, isn't it, coming
back in a hy?"
eyes, l think so. Is there anything
else you would care to see here?"
mo, thank you," Hewitt replied; 81
don't think there is"
They vent down to the smoking
room, and Sir James went away to
speak to his secretary. When he re-
turned Hewitt said quietly: 81 think,
Sir james, think that 1 shall be able
to give you your thief presently. l
should like to know now whether you
are determined to prosecutor"
"Why, bless me, of COURSE" Sir
James replied, with surprise. cit
doesn't rest With me, you know. The
property belongs to my friends. And
even if they were disposed to let the
thing slide I shouldn't allow it. 1
couldn't after they had been robbed in
my house."
"Of course, of course! Then, if 7
can, I should like to send a message to
l. w u ny oOhiCJOIy DCllCSIly u doI>
worthy, not a servant. Could anybody
gow
"Weli, there's Lloyd, although he's
only just back from his journey: But
if it's important he'll go"
"It is important. The fact is we
must have a policeman or two here this
evening, and I'd like Mr.. Lloyd to fetch
them without telling anybody else"
Sir James rang, and in response to
his message Mr.. Lloyd appeared. While
Sir James gave his secretary his in
structions Hewitt strolled to the door
of the smoking room and intercepted
the latter as he came out.
"Im sorry to give you this trouble,
Mr.. Lloyd" he said, "but 1 must stay
here myself for a little, and somebody
who can be trusted must go. Will you
just bring back a police constable with
you, OF, rather, two? Two would be
better. That is all that is wanted.
You won't let the servants know, will
you? OF course there will be q fe-
male searcher at the Twyford police
station. All, of course. Well, you
needn't bring her, you know. That
sort Of thing is done at the station"
And, chatting thus confidentially, Mar
tin Hewitt saw him off.
When Hewitt returned to the smok-
ing room, Sir James said suddenly:
'Why, bless my soul, Mr.. Hewitt, we
haven't fed you! I'm awfully sorry.
We came in rather late for lunch, you
know. There's no dinner till Z, so
you'd better let me give you something
now
"Thank you, Sir James," Hewitt re-
piled. II won't take much. A few bis
cults perhaps or something of that
sort. And, by the bye, if you don't
mind, 1 rather think 1 should like to
take it alone. Perhaps 1 can go into
Mr.. Lloyd's room for half an hour or
so. I don't think he'll mind, and it's
pretty comfortable"
Certainly, if you like. I'll tell them
to send you whatever they've got"
"Thank you very much. Perhaps
they'll also send me a lump of sugar
and a walnut. It's-it's just a little
fad Of mine"
"A-what? A lump of sugar and a
walnutw Sir James stopped for a
moment, with his hand on the bell
rope. ooh, certainly, if you'd like it;
certainly" he added and stared after
this detective of curious tastes as he
left the room.
When the vehicle bringing back the
secretary and the policemen drew up
on the drive. Martin Hewitt left the
room on the first floor and proceeded
downstairs. On the landing he met
Sir James Norris and Mrs. Cazenove,
who stared with establishment on per-
ceiving that the detective carried in
his hand the parrot cage.
81 think our business is about
brought to a head now" Hewitt re-
marked on the stairs. Here are the
police officers from Twyford." The
men were standing in the hall with
Mr.. Lloyd, who on catching sight of
the cage in Hewitt's hand paled sud-
denly.
This is the person who win be