Semi-weekly herald., 1911-08-28

from II, the others checking tray BY
tray until the last stone was account.
cd for. tho last save the wonderful
Maharanes diamond.
The big stone gone" mused Sands
Then. Doris" and there was conv,c-
ton In his tones, as he gathered up
the jewels scattered on the table.
these others are false. too"
"Oh. do you think so?" asked Doro.
thy. her fingers interlacing In re-
pressed hysteria.
Sure Of IT," said Sands. holding
one OF the suspected gems to the
light. I'm not an expert. but I
haven't the slightest doubt"
Lot me SEQ them." Griswold inter.
posed. He scrutinized three or four
for more than = minute. They look
genuine enough to me-" He offered
them to Miss March. whose fingers
did not unlock to take them.
I'VE can be certain very quickly"
said Mrs. Missioner. She was study.
ing Griswold's whitening fingers
steady enough. but deadly white. II
was a peculiarity of the man that he
turned pale only In his hands. 'T will
send for a jeweler."
MY dear! At this hour7" came In
Dorothy's child treble.
Mrs. Missioner smiled In a way that
said there were jewelers. Of no small
Importance in commercial circles who
would be glad to answer n summons
from her at any hour-that It was not
in vain she was known to dealers as
one Of the most liberal collectors in
the world. She turned to a rosewood
desk and took up telephone.
"Gramercy. s-7-4-8." she called
THE Efinghams-Mr. Ranscome
please.-This is Mrs. Missioner. Mr..
Ranscome.-Yes. I am at home
Can you come UP for a few minutes?
Thank you," and as she returned
the receiver to the hook, she explain.
ed "Ranscome is tho Oldest expert
in New York"
while we are about It," said Sands
slowly, we may as well call head
quarters" He reached for the tele
phone. but his hand was stayed by
Dorothy's fiuttering fingers.
"Oh, Bruxton." she said, please
don't call the police" and as his eye
brows went up, she added, 81 am 30
frightened"
81 wouldn't be hasty, Sands" said
Griswold. THE newspapers follow
the sleuths. you know"
I'm not think of the newspapers"
replied Mrs. Missioner, but maybe
we'd better walt for Mr.. Ranscome.
You see." and there was perplexity
in the glance that swept the group
this is no ordinary theft"
Not a burglary, you think" asked
Griswold quickly. He had lighted his
cigarette. and. leaning back In a coy
corner of the inglenook. was smoking
with little abrupt puffs that con.
trasted with the ease of his position
He studied the widow covertly
through weaving wreaths.
IF burglar could reach this room,
must reorganize my household" she
murmured. She was gazing into the
flames. Her shoulders dropped. and
Sands. noticing her weariness.
switched of the lights. The rainbow
sparkle OF the jewel trays varied fan
tastically the pattern OF the rug on
which they lay. but the background Of
dusk rested hef
And there is no one you suspect ?"
There is no one In the house can
suspect"
you are to be congratulated" Girls
wold commented. with a smile dis
creetly divided between sincerity and
satire. And. of course. having such
an impeccable household"
IF I were you. Doris" Sands broke
In impatiently. I'D send for the po-
lice at once" His slow logic had car
ried him to the fact that even now
the thief might be on the road to es-
cape. Little Miss March glanced at
him admiringly. Swift or slow of wit,
the man OF action appeals.
Il think Mr.. Sands is right, Mrs
Missioner" she said softly 1T fright
ened me at first, but Bruxton knows"
Advise me-" said the widow, her
satin slipper tap-tap-tapping the fen.
der Of FURNISHED brass. 81 am not
jesting when I say I am in the hands
OF my friends. All this is more than
puzzling"
~Puzzling." echoed Dorothy. ITS
a mystery-and it's all very dreadful,
too" Sands looked at her, smiling.
There was eloquence In those rare
smiles of his, much more than In his
speech. Not without cause did Wall
Street know him as Silent" Sands.
why not a private detective?"
Griswold suggested. 1T is the best
way to recover stolen property"
Mr.. Ranscome, madam"
A footman OF conventional pattern
stood on the threshold as II on a
pedestal and looked at Mrs Missioner
from a carven face.
Let him come up. Blodgett," she
responded. The carvsn features
blurred into the background. A round
little man with the face OF dreamer
and the eyes OF a student entered, al.
most on his toes. Mrs. Missioner
greeted him pleasantly. and as she
pressed the button that nlled the
room with light again. she presented
him to her friends. Mr.. Ranscome." +"
she added, is an expert of experts" :"
Briefly the widow recounted the ac-
cident In the opera box, the discovery
OF the supposed Maharanee dia,
mond's worthlessness, and her sus'
picion as to the other stones OF her