Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-09-08
CHAPTER III.-Continued.

expert later pronounceS all the StoHSS
substitutes for the originals. Detectives
Donnelly and Carson investigate.
, CHAPTER Ill.-Continued.
Tile big man Strengthened abruptly.
B~acchantc's heels came down and her
hands futtered aloft. The catch IN
his voice, characteristic of him when
In the presence of the rich, was brush
ed out of his throat by a burst OF pro-
fessional zeal. He recognized a situa-
ton that enabled him to play inquisi-
tor in a home of wealth.
Where were the jewels stolen
FROM" he asked.
II don't know" said Mrs. Missioner.
when did you miss them?'
Again the widow recited the incl
dent of the opera box.
who was in the party?"
Mrs. Missioner told him. She did
mo mention the Oriental in the next
box. 1t did not occur to her.
isn't there anybody you can think
,of," pursued the big detective, who
could have taken them?"
Nobody who would" answered
Mrs. Missioner.
did anybody else have the omb
nation of the safe?"
"One," responded Mrs. Missioner.
She answered defensively, like a wit
ness under hostile cross-examination.
volunteering nothing. Donnelly SEEM
ed not to hear her. He vas examin-
ing the safe again. He passed his
hand over the door and it's frame
again, turned the handle that shot the
bolts, noted their strength and
smoothnesB, turned them back, and
wheeled on Mrs. Missioner abruptly.
There's been no forcing here" he
said sagely. TITS an inside job"
Mrs. Missioner's eyebrows went up.
"Yes'm," the detective went on. an
inside job. Who did you say had the
combination"
my secretary-Miss Holcomb.'
Obi" said Donnelly. Carson's lips
rounded in mute repetition.
Sands, impatient of the detectives
awkward questioning. shook himself
lion-like and went to a window. Girls
lwold swung his foot idly. and smoked
In shorter measure. Ranscome look
ed nervously at the inquisitor, then
swung his gaze back to the jewel
trays. Dorothy listened with wide
ieyed interest.
What do you know about this Miss
lHolcomb?" asked Donnelly, squaring
himself as If for a trial of strength
with the widow and turning out his
toes farther than ever
." have known her many years.
ir.Nl A., NElocto~4r r,1{of1v adding
with warmth. she is a young woman
high character"
"Oh, she is. is she?" returned the
And how. may l ask. ma'am.
do you know THAR"
Il say, I have known her many
years. said Mrs. Missioner.
Donnelly held whispered consulta-
!tion with his mate. Then he asked II
he might question the servants.
Certainly, If you think 1t neces-
cary" assented the widow. But l
warn you hat I cannot bring
myself to suspect any of them"
Everybody seems to be above sus-
Dpicion." snapped Donnelly. Its al
ways the way. until we begin to get
ton the trail, and then everybody be-
comes suspicious. l think I'll question
the servants, ma'am. Shall | have
'em in here?"
Mrs. Missioner bowed and sent
iBlodgett to summon his comrades.
"One at a time. please said Don
nelly. The first to enter was the
housekeeper, a staid woman in n
black gown with narrow white ruch-
:as about hher wiHherei neck. She
knew nothing of the jewels ave that
madam always locked them in the
safe herself, unless Miss Holcomb
was there to do 1t for her.
The of the other servants
were equally straightforward. The
under-butler, chef. second foot
man, pantry-boy, parlor-maid, cham
and kitchen maid, and the
majestic B%lodgett himself were inter
persistently. infinitely, dog
even bullyingly, and in the end
the net result of what they had to tell
was zero. That is to say. as far as
Mrs. Missioner and her friends and
the diamond expert were concerned.
IDonnelly thought otherwise. Carson's
mind was a receptive blank.
Are these all the servants?" asked
the large detective.
All at present." answered Mrs.
Missioner. MY own maid is away on
Oh. yes. there's ALI"
"Is Allie the name of your maid?"
"No, Ali is a man-an Indian"
and what's his job?" This ag-
gressively.
sE3e ia a courier"
Donnelly was puzzled.
When / travel, he looks after the
transportation and baggage" Mrs.
explained
The detective stroked his jaw and
with Carson again.
This advance agent OF yours-this
Is he?"
"Blodgett." called the widow, send
|Ai here"