Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-09

to the safety deposit vault time after time,
and each time she had deposited something
in the box. If am not mistaken, the vari-
Gus stolen jewels, including the emerald
bracelet that was stolen from Miss Sargent
before YOU opened your summer place here,
are in that vault, and the box is held in the
name of the Due de Trouvile. | think that
is direct evidence. You're a lawyer, Mr..
Crowninsheld. Am | right?"
IF the jewels are in the vault John
spread his hands, indicating that that was
all there was to be said.
"The thieving, SO far as this house was
concerned, came to a climax when it became
generally known that a detective, this man
Adams. was coming here Thomas con-
tinued. "The Duke here, Mrs. Cutler, and
their accomphceS undertook then to make
the big haul. 1t was Miss Codmans good
fortune he turned to me and bowed slight
", ito prevent the accomplishment of that
haul and incidentally it was my misfortune
to cause her to break her arm. 1t was |
who flashed the light in your face and called
you by name the night you went headlong
down the stairs" he apologized. Il had
followed you in the dark under the impress
sion that you were Mrs Cutler, and when
flashed the light in your face it was with the
purpose of taking prisoner. Instead of
Mrs. Cutler, however, came upon you and
you fell. I'm sorry"
ooh, don't mention it, gasped excited
ly. at is of no consequence at all. Then
another thought came to me. "And you
didn't suspect me of the thefts?'
He smiled and shook his head. "Nor Mr..
Abbott he added gratuitously. "Our in
surance people keep pretty close record of
family jewels of every kind, and we knew
from the very beginning that Mr. Abbott
owned the jewels the police found there
"We were going to prove it, too, John
put in. THAT was SO simple we didn't have
to worry about it.
Why hadn't he told us? Think of the
heart burnings and petty suspicious he could
have prevented!
"As | say, | knew these things; but it
wasn't wise to tell Them Thomas contin-
ued. "In the first place, as long as the real
thieves imagined some one else was under
suspicion, 1t was easier to keep watch on
them. | followed that line of reasoning
throughout. Everything else was compare
lively simple after that extraordinary session
at dinner again he smiled, "where everyone
told the schemes they had for hiding their
jewels. If had had any doubts at all, they
were dissipated then. The persons who
heard those statements we're only the guests
in the house and three servants,-Burrows
the butler, myself and another footman 1t
narrowed things down. incidentally, it made
the final haul simple for the thieves
"Then," | put in, @if you did not suspect
Mr.. Abbott at any time, why was it you
YOU followed him across the lawn the night
| fell down stairs?"
Everyone looked at me in establishment;
but | don't know that anyone understood
Thomas.
Il was making assurance doubly sure"
he replied. Il saw Mr.. Abbott as he landed
from his boat, and, naturally curious as to
what he was going to do, | kept an eye on
him. He did nothing but stand for long
time and stare at d window above, and"
ayes. understand, | interrupted. 1--WE
all of us do
"Then he went away Thomas added.
"The thieves were at work then in the gal
lery; but didn know it. If by any chance
| had reentered the house by the back door
instead of the front door after Mr.. Winthrop
went away, should have caught them going
out As it was | came in the front door, and
so it came about that flashed the light in
your face"
THAT seemed to be all of it. Mrs Hazard
and sat looking at each other with our
mouths mutually open, and simultaneously
we closed them. John said nothing; Hap
sat pounding one clenched fist into the palm
of his other hand and prinninp-T don't