Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-09-01

peculiar pallor returned TO Otis WON .
hands. With fingers that Dent anu
Strengthened ceaselessly, he drum
med his fist.
The robbery Is the more incorn-
prehensible." said Mrs. Missioner
thoughtfully, because OF the eXtraoF-
binary precautions | have taken
against burglars. | cannot understand
how the thief got to the necklace.
Your safe seems strong enough
Ranscome ventured. Stepping arounu
the trays, he passed his hand Over
the outer door and looked at the
twenty-four steel bolts curiOusly.
at should be strong" returned Mrs
Missioner. ut was built on the lines
Of the great safe in the Teamercy Ma
tional. It differs only in size u III
the absence of a time lock-
Ranscome. staring at the safe, shook
hts head. Sands walked over to him
and, thrusting both hands in his pocK-
cts, stood gazing at the bolts.
81 wish you'd put those away
Doris" said Griswold suddenly, with
all this mystery in the air. don't ike
to see them lying around.
surely they're safe among us, she
answered. graCiously including Rams
come with an extra smile. She Dire"
off her gloves decisively and, rising
as If from folds Of conjecture, rang
for BlOdgett. Il think" she said
then stopped with her hand on Doro-
thy's shoulder.
J-,,;r,, r,,chnI +nwar1 har from
four pairs of eyes.
81 think" she went on, Miss March
wants some tea, and think we all
need something to drink"
1t was when BIodgett, t~ray-laden,
was tinkling his way to the library
that the detectives arrived. The
hostess and her guests, the footman
having been hidden to show the pO-
licemen in, heard heavy breathing
outside the door, where DOnnelly ana
Carson, of the Central Office, were
gripped in a paniCky pause. Next
moment, a large man with a small
head. and another so aggressiyely ay-
erage as to be a ~nOndesCript, came In.
| DOnnelly, the big man, turned out his
toes as he walked. A charm the size
and shape of a double eagle, bearing
a B~acchante whose pose would have
been indecOrous If 1t had not been
IMPOSSIBLE, swung from his equatorial
waist line. One could tell at a glance
he used perfume. One could tell
nothing in many chances about Car
son. There was nothing to tell.
We've come up here, Mrs. Mis-
sioner." said D~OnneIly, addressing
Miss March. ito find your diamonds"
ooh, thank you" murmured the
widow, sweeping toward him. 81 am
Mrs. Missioner. Won't O be seat
ed?"
"Why.-huh!-no, Miss Missioner
Mrs. Missioner-no, thanks!" answer
ed the sleuth, with all the airy ease
Of a highly embarrassed man. Wen
just-huh,-walk around a little,
thanks-just walk around"
Dorothy and Griswold exchanged
glances. Sands stared stolidly at the
sleuths. Mrs. Missioner, with a per
missive inclination of her head, began
chatting with Ranscome. Even as he
spoke with her, the veteran expert
could not drag his eyes from the
jewels.
Now. then, Mis- Missioner" said
Donnelly briskly. "WhO-huhi-dC
YOU s~uspect?" There seemed to be
a sort Of astigmatism in his breath
ing. Carson faced the group with an
expression that said bluntly he sus,
pected everybody.
Il don't suspect anybody" Mrs. Mis-
sioner replied, resuming her talk with
RanscOme.
you notice that-huh!-Carson? p
said Donnelly. wheeling on his mate.
Nobody suspected - huh" - He
breathed in dialect.
Carson, instantly oomplaisant, ban
ished 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. Think
a moment. Have to suspect before
you convict, you know. Never heard
-huh!-of a case without suspects
eh?"
The "eh" was meant to be a ~jave!in
hurled straight at the widows Inner
CONSCIOUSNESS IL icll Sholl
There is no one to be suspected
no one | can suspect" b said.
Feet at right angles, Baochante
dancing desperately as the fob rose
and fell, the large man from the Cen
trail Office moved toward h safe
Mrs. Missioner s~huddered at thought
OF the peril to her jewels from his
plate armor soles. Her imploring eye
sweep brought ready response from
Sands and GrisWOld, and In a seconds
fraction they were piling the trays
on chairs and tables. Ranscome, help
ing. handled the morocco cases witt
loving touch.
Donnelly stopped short at sight o.
the gems in the trays. An lnterroga
tive snort vibrated somewhere inside
him. but found no oral expression. Ht
passed on to the safe. With a master
full grasp, he swung h great door II
and fro.
Well soon know" he said reassur
ingly, who to-huh!-yes, who tt
suspect. Carson!
The echo crossed the room witt
whispering tread. Both detectives be
gan an examination Of the door. Eye!
close to- the daintily tinted steel, the,
dragged their combined gaze along 1t!
front from top to bottom. from Side
to side. Then they shifted their eye:
70 tho thick edge of the door, anC