The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1911-04-15
"Inside Job" be said tersely.
"Y0u mean the seryants?' demanded


you mean the servantsr' demanded
Jim.
Il didn't say 30"
We leaned against the mantelplece
while the detective stared at the safe
you didn't ought to KEEP 'em In the
house," he said severely.
I'VE are aware of that fact-now."
remarked Jim impatiently. give Us
fresh information II you CAM"
II can" snapped Mr. Bump ominous.
". Then his voice went on rapidly.
without pause: There was two men
on the job: they knew the combine
tion, had keys to the cupboard and
cash boz; 1t was 4 cinch for 'em.
gents! One man was tall and fair.
with q scar on bis temple like Mr..
Haswell here. and the other Teller was
the very spit Of yourself. Mr.. Dray.
ton" He smiled impudently into our
astonished faces.
"what do you meanr' sputtered
Jimmy threateningly.
II mean when 1rm Of architects II
pressed for $4,000 and they hold its
worth In trust for relative It's an
easy matter to raise the money and
call In the central ONCE to cook up
robbery yarn" be said brutally. Nov.
gents. I'll give you till tomorrow after
noon to produce that necklace"
The door closed behind his shrinking
form. and Jim and tottered Into op-
posite chairs and stared aghast at each
other.
Fool idea. that, your calling up
headquarters" muttered angrily.
you've got us in no end of a mess"'
"How the devil did he learn we need
ed $1O.OOO:" groaned Jimmy. Must
have snooped around lot on his way
up here"
Its his business to snoop. That's
what you hired him for" I remarked
coldiy.
At dinner that night Jim and were
sunk into an abyss Of melancholy.
Mary was the very spirit Of Joyous
Anticipation. She talked and laughed
and merrily rallied US on our silence.
Afterward she played and sang until
the clock struck II. Then she turned
on the piano bench and rose to her
graceful height.
"Boys." she said tremuiously. "I'm
going upstairs for awhile. I'll meet
you In the library at II o'clock"
In the library we smoked drearily
until the hall clock rang twelve dread
ed chimes.
The door opened slowly. and Mary.
resplendent in white satin, entered.
Jim knelt before the safe and open
ed 1t. Silently he handed me the tin
box. and as silently opened It
MARY. dear. these securities will be
transferred to you tomorrow-today.
mean." said lamely. Their value
now is about $4,000. and you may do
as you please about
Bother the old securities. Peter" in
terrupted Mary. II want the neck
lace"
held the Jewel case in my hand.
Dear" I said. ''can you bear q
shockr'
"what Is 1t. Peterr she half whis.
pered
"Dear. the necklace has disap-
peared!" blurted out suddenly.
"Since wheny' demanded Mary.
I'VE discovered its loss this after
noon-I mean yesterday at 4 o'clock.
II 1t does not show up. Jim and l will
make up Its loss to you"
"Fiddlesticks. Open the caser' COM
manded Mary.
snapped open the cover and there
on its white satin bed lay the diamond
necklace!
"Jover' yelled Jimmy. prancing ex-
citedly about.
"A foolish joke" commented my
wife as ! clasped the necklace around
her graceful neck. She kissed me soft
ly and then reached and drew Jimmy
into the triangular embrace.
"Dears." my wife exclaimed. forget
ting all about the necklace. you've
been in trouble over your stupid busi-
ness. You needn't deny It. heard you
talking one night! You needed just
| $4,000 to set you on your feet-nof
ten thousand borrowed dollars that
would have to be paid back. but that
amount for your very own-and I've
got 1t for your
"Whatv' we roared increduously.
"Yes, sirs," she smiled happily. 1--WE
committed all sorts Of crimes to gain
my ends. and I'm not bit repentant.
although I've been dreadfully afraid
you would find me out-especially yes
terday afternoon-you acted 80 queer.
Now listen. stole the combination
to the safe from Peters desk. and ]
took his key when he was sick two
weeks ago and had duplicate made
Of 1t. 80 that early this week ! took
my necklace and raised $4,000 on it."
She paused dramatically.
II took the money to fathers old
friend. Colonel Muldoon, and asked
him II he wouldn't please invest It 80
IT would be doubled at once. have
heard that everything he touched turn