The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-12-01
CHAPTER XVI.
Mutual EXPLANATIONS.


hungry enough to eat Hindoo, but
they did not stop to slow considera-
ton to their inner men.
AS he expected Britt found Girls.
void and Mrs. Delaroche in the big
reception room of the Detective Blu
reau with the detectives who had ar.
rested them waiting ponderously near
the door. and an interested desk lieu
tenant looked up from his work to
hear the denouement of Whit Police
Headquarters had come to regard as
the star" case of the year.
B.itz walked slowly to his own
room. where the scnwling Orientals
were penned in a corner. while the
chief of the detectives and his two
subordinates were taking well-earned
rest in the lieutenants easy-chairs.
Britt talked to Manning in whispers.
then went to the telephone and called
Mrs Missioner's house.
Good morning. Mrs. Missioner" he
said over the wire. This is Lieuten-
ant Britz-Britz. of Headquarters. |
called you up to tell you We had ar
rested the jewel thieves and-beg par
uOu Wndl ulu YOU ody yooi JCWSio
have been returned to you? That's
strange. l have one of them in my
pocket now. How's that? You say you
have all your jewels? Then whose is
this-the Maharanee? Pardon me, Mrs.
Missioner, l don't quite understand.
We have the thieves here and the big
gest of the diamonds. What did you
say-you don't want the thieves prose
cuted? Why, really, Mrs. Missioner
yes, of course-yes, l am talking from
Police Headquarters-the are here
No. 2. You say you don't understand?
Well, l tell you. Mrs. Missioner, per
haps you had better run down here
Yes, | know II is a great deal to ask
but l have worked pretty hard to find
your diamonds-yes day and night.
The Chief thinks 1t would be better If
you could arrange to come down. 1t
won't take you long; you need not stay
more than five minutes. oh. but you
don't, know who the thieves are; yes
you have guessed in part-not alto
gether; but think you'd better come
down, Mrs. Missioner; you will be in
terested. am sure. How's that? Bring
Mr.. Sands? BY all means. II you wish
Yes, will await you-then you'll
come? Thank you very much. Mrs.
Missioner. Good-by.
Now, what do you think of that
said Britz to Manning. After all our
work, Mrs. Missioner calmly informs
me that her jewels have been re-
turned to her, and that she does not
wish to prosecute the thieves. She
Gays she Is willing to overlook their
little deviations from the path Of hon
esty, as she is SO glad to re-
cover her Jewels. told her / had the
Maharanee in my pocket. and she in
sisted she had all her gems. What do
you know about that. anyway"
Mrs. Delaroche was brought in by a
private of the detective force. and
Britt, with elaborate politeness, bowed
her to a chair. She was too angry to
acknowledge his courtesy. and she sat
looking at the lieutenant and the
Chief with flashing eyes.
Mrs. Delaroche." said Britz. Il
may as we'll tell you at the outset that
the game is up. We know all about
your COuHtCtlOu Will Ihio SaoC' anu ehS
best thing for you to do is to tell us
everything you know. Your friend,
Mr.. Griswold, as you have seen, is UNI
der arrest What do you know about
him."
II shall answer no questions" said
Mrs. Delaroche, until / shall have
had an opportunity to engage coun-
sell"
MT. Griswold is engaged to marry
your"
OF course" she replied with an in.
dignant flush.
Now, Mrs. Delaroche," Britt re-
piled, I'm going to tell you that you
are the most mistaken lady In Man
haitian Island right now. Griswold Is
not engaged to you; at any rate he
doesn't understand that he is"
What do you mean, sir?"
II mean, madam" answered Britt
that Mr.. Curtis Griswold. though he
engaged himself to marry you, has
been industriously engaged for some
time past In attempting to become en-
gagged to another woman"
Who Is she?"
she is the possessor of many mil
lions" said Britt. "a woman of &C
knowledged beauty and of undeniable
charm. OF course, l don't undertake
10 say for a moment, madam. that her
attractivenes equals yours. Doubtless
Mr.. Griswold. being an enterprisinl
young man. has eyes more to her mil
lions than to her looks. Nevertheless
she is beauty"
He watched closely the effect Of his
words on the high-strung woman facing
him, and saw that he had touched a re
sponsive chord. Her eyes flashed al
IL her very soul vibrated with Jealous
rage Her breath came and went In
short gasps. Her fingers twisted and
UNFINISHED nervously, and she seemed