Graham guardian., 1911-10-20


I doc declares It was not the genuine An
expert later pronounces all the stones
substitutes for the originals. Detectives
Donnelly and Carson Investigate.
CHAPTER lii.--contlnued
The big man Strengthened abruptly,
Bacchants's heels came down and her
hands fluttered aloft. The catch In
his voice, characteristic OF him when
IN the presence Of the rich. was brush
ed3out Of his throat by burst OF pro-
fessional zeal He recognized situa-
ton that enabled him to play inQuisi-
Tor In home Of wealth.
Where were tho jewels stolen
fromi" he asked.
II don't know" said Mrs. Missioner.
when did you miss themf' Y,
4 Again the widow recited the ihci-
dent Of the opera box.
4, who was In the party?"
Mrs. Missioner told him. She did
mot mention the Oriental In the next
box. It did not occur to her.
''Isnt there anybody you can think
o." pursued the big detective, "who
could have taken themf"
Nobody who would" answered
1Grs. Missioner.
ibid anybody else have the combi-
nation Of the safer
''One.' responded Mrs. Missioner.
Ahe answered defenslvely. like fwit-
n0oS under hostile REORGANIZATION,
volunteering nothing. Donnelly seem
"a not to hear her He was exaniin-
he the safe again. He passed his
hand over the door and it, frame
heain, turned the handle that shot the
Bolts. noted their strength and
nmoothness. turned them back. and
wheeled on Mrs. Missioner abruptly.
There's been no forcing here" he
nd sagely. e'It's an inside job"
Mrs. Missioner's eyebrows went mp.
'sYes'm." the detective went on. IAN
hnside Job. Who did you say had the
vpomblnation?" e
my secretary--M Miss Holcomb.s
Y "Ohi" said Donnelly. Carson's lips
sounded in mute repetition.
Sands, impatient Of the detectives
awkward questioning. shook himself
+ nourlike and went to window. Girls
void swung his foot idly. and smoked
n shorter measure. Ranscome look
"a nervoualy at the inQlisitor. then
swung his gaze back to the jewel
trays. Dorothy listened with wide
eyed interest.
4 what do you know about this Miss
Olcomb1s asked Donnelly. sQuartns
himself - n forAa trial Of strength
with the widow and turning out his
toes farther than ever,
II have known her many years"
Baid Mr.. Missioner quietly. adding
with warmth. "She 10 young woman
n high character
"Oh, she Il, 10 she?" returned the
nieuth. *And how. may ! ask. ma'am.
10 you know that7"
! II say. I have known her many
pears. !" said MIRA Missioner.
Donneily held whispered consulta-
bon with his mate. Then he asked II
- might question the servants.
Certainly, II you think It 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 Donnelly. ITS al
ways the way. until we begin to get
on the trail, and then everybody be-
comes suspicious. think III question
the servants. ma'am. Shall ! have
Fem in shere?s
Mrs. Missioner bowed and sent
Blodgett TO summon his comrades.
"One at time. please" said Don
nelly. The first to enter was the
housekeeper. staid woman In q
black gown with narrow white ruch-
ing about her withered neck. She
knew nothing Of the jewels save that
madam always locked them In the
safe herself. unless MISS Holcomb
was there to do 1t for her.
The answers Of the other servants
were equally straightforward. The
butler. under-butler. chef. second foot
man. pantry-boy. parlor-maid, cham
ber-maids, and kitchen maid. and the
majestic Blodgett himself were inter
rogated persistently infinitely. dog
gediy. even bullyingly, and In the end
khe 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,
Donnelly thought otherwise. Carson's
mind was receptive blank.
Are these all the servants?" asked
the large detective.
"All at present" answered Mrs,
missioner. my own maid IL away on
leave. Oh. yes. there's All"
'Is Allie the name of your maid?"
mo. All Is man--an INDIAN
"And what's his job!" This az
gressively.
"He IL courier"
Donnelly was puzzled.
"When travel. he looks after the
transportation and baggage" Mrs
Missioner explained
The detective stroked his jaw and
whispered with Carson again.
This advance agent Of yours--thia
Ali--where IL he?"
''Blodgett." called the widow. send
All here"