The Yale expositor., 1911-08-17
CHAPTER IlI.-Continued.

The big man Strengthened abruptly.
Bacchante's heels came down and her
hands fluttered aloft. The catch in
his voice, characteristic Of him when
I'm the presence Of the rich, was brush
ed out Of his throat by burst Of pro-
sessional zeal. He recognized situa-
fion that enabled him to play inquisi-
Tor In a home of wealth.
where were the jewels stolen
FROM" he asked.
Il 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 CAental 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 combi-
nation Of the safer"
"One," responded Mrs. Missioner.
She answered defensively, like a wit
ness under hostile cross-eXamination,
volunteering nothing. Donnelly seem
ed not to hear her. He was eXamin-
lng 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 sagely. ''It's an inside job"
Mrs. Missioner's eyebrows went up.
'Yes'm," the detective went on. IAN
inside Job. Who did you say had the
combination"
MY secretary-Miss Holcomb.'
"Oh!" said Donnelly. Carson's lips
rounded in mute repetition.
( Sands, impatient of the detectives
awkward questioning, shook himself
tion-like and went to window. Girls
wold 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
himself as II for a 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 is a young woman
q high character"
~Oh, she Is, is she?" returned the
xleuth. "And how, may l ask, ma'am,
DO you know that?"
Il say. have known her many
gears" said Mrs. Missioner
Donnelly held whispered consulta-
don with his mate. Then he asked II
be might question the servants.
Certainly, If you think it neces-
sary," assented the widow. "But |
Ghould warn you that cannot bring
myself to suspect any Of them"
Everybody seems to be above sus-
pacion," snapped Donnelly. IT'S al
ways the way, until we begin to get
On tho trail, and then everybody be-
comes suspicious. think I'll question
the servants. ma'am. Shall / have
'em I'm here?"
Mrs. Missioner bowed and sent
Blodgett to summon his comrades.
~One at a time, please" said Don
molly. The first to enter was the
housekeeper, q staid woman In a
black gown with narrow white ruch-
ing about her wthered neck. She
knew nothing of the jewels save that
madam always locked them in the
cafe herself, unless Miss Holcomb
WIS there to do it 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
rugated persistently, infinitely, dog
gedly. even bullyingly, and in the end
the 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 a receptive blank.
Are these all the servants?" asked
the large detective.
'All at present" answered Mrs.
Missioner. my own maid is away on
leave. Oh, yes, there's All"
lis Allie the name of your maid?"
mo, Ali is a man-an Indian
"And what's his job?" This ag
gressively.
HE is n courier"
Donnelly was puzzled.
When I travel, he looks after the
TRANSFORMATION and baggage" Mrs
Missioner explained.
The detective stroked his Jaw and
whispered with Carson again.
This advance agent OF yours-this
AH-where is he?"
co1laH fha UfdOw "aeD6