Semi-weekly herald., 1911-09-04

1shed suspicion from his look.
NOW. you know. there's always
somebody. ma'am-huh!-Mis Mis-
sioner." Donnelly persisted. Some
body suspected in every case. Thinh
moment Have to suspect before
you convict. you know. Never heard
-huh!-of a case without suspects
eh?'
The 'eh" was meant to be . javelis
hurled straight At the widows innel
consciousness. II fell short
There is no one to be suspected
no one can suspect" she said.
! Feet at right angles. Bacchants
dancing desperately as the fob rose
and fell. the large man from the Cen
tral Once moved toward the safe
Mrs. Missioner shuddered at though,
OF the peril to her Jewels from his
plate armor soles. Her imploring eye
sweep brought ready response from
Sands and Griswold. and in q seconds
fraction they were piling the trays
on chairs and tables. Ranscome, help
ing. handled the morocco cases with
loving touch.
Donnelly stopped short at sight Of
the gems In the trays. An interroga
tive snort vibrated somewhere inside
him. but found no oral expression. He
passed on to the safe. With a master
full grasp. he swung the great door ia
and fro.
Wen soon know" he said reassur
ingly, who to-huh!-yes who ts
suspect. Carson,"
The echo crossed the room with
whispering tread. Both detectives be
gan an examination OF the door. Eyes
close to the daintily tinted steel, they
dragged their combined gaze along It's
front from top to bottom. from side
to side, Then they shifted their eyes
to the thick edge Of the door. and
their scrutiny bored It's way past bolt
after bolt until 1t switched to the
inner panel That done. they exam.
ined the rectangIe into which the big
door fitted IA thoroughly
The big man Strengthened abruptly.
Bacchante's heels came down and her
hands nuttered aloft. The catch In
his voice. characteristic of him when
In the presence OF the rich. was brush.
ed out of HIS throat by burst of pro
fessional zeal. He recognized a situa.
ton that enabled him to play inquisi.
tor in 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
not 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 comSi-
nation of the safs?"
"One," responded Mrs. Missioner.
She answered defensively, like a wit.
ness under hostile cross examipa alton,
volunteering nothing. Donnelly seem
ed not to hear her, He was examin-
ing the safe again. He passed his
hand over the door and its frame
again. turned the handle that shot the
bolts, noted their strength and
smoothness. turned them back. and
wheeled on Mrs. Missioner abruptly.
There's been no forcing here" he
said scgely. Its 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 Holconib.
"Oh!" said Donnelly. Carson's lips
rounded in mute repetition.
Sands, impatient of the detectives
awkward questioning. shook himself
lion-like and went to window. Girls
void 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
eyed interest.
What do you know about this Miss
Hoicomb?" asked Donnelly. squarins
himself as II for trial Of strength
with the widow and turning out his
toes farther than ever.
Il have known her many years,
said Mrs. Missioner quietly. adding
with warmth, She ia young woman
Of high character" Z
"Oh, she is. is she?" returned the
sleuth. "And how, may l ask. maam,
do you know that?'
IL say. have known her many
years." said Mrs. Missioner
Donnelly held whispered consulta-
ton with his mate. Then he asked If
he might question the servants.
Certainly. If you think 1t neces-
sary," assented the widow. But
should warn you that | cannot bring
myself to suspect any of them"
Everybody seems to be above sus-
picion," snapped Donneliy. ITS al
ways the way. until we begin to get
on the trail. and then everybody be-
comes suspicious. think I'll question
the servants. ma'am. Shall l have
EN- In here?''
Mrs. Missioner bowed and sent
Blodgett to summon his comrades.
"One at a time. please" said Don
nelly. The first to enter was the
housekeeper. a staid woman in a
black gown with narrow white ruch-
Ing about her withered neck. She
knew nothing Of the jewels save that