The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-08-19

7 taken a woman tt read, woman
more experienced than little Dorothy
March.
Ranscome, ignoring the counterfeits,
stood in absorbed study of the leWei
trays Kaleidoscope contents. Thal
peculiar pallor returned to GrisWold,s
hands. With fingers that bent and
Strengthened ceaselessly, he drum
med his fist
1.-THE robbery is the more fncom.
prehensible,' said Mrs. Missioner
thoughtfully, because Of the extraor-
binary precautions have taken
against burglars. I cannot understand
how the thief got to the necklace.
"Your safe seems strong enough,
Ranscome ventured. Stepping around
the trays, he passed his hand over
the outer door and looked at the
twenty-four steel bolts curiously.
I 'It should be strong" returned Mrs
Missioner 1T was built on the lines
of the great safe in the Gramercy Ma
tional. 1t differs only in size and N
the absence Of 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 like
to see them lying around
Surely they're safe among us" she
answered, graciously including Rams
come with an extra smile. She drew
off her gloves decisively and. rising
as If from folds of conjecture. rang
| for BIodgett II think" she said,
then stopped with her hand on Doro-
thy's shoulder.
Inquiry reached toward her from
four pairs Of eyes.
81 think she went on. miss March
wants some tea, and--I think we all
need something to drink"
It was when Blodgett. tray-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 and
Carson, OF the Central Office, were
gripped in panicky pause. Next
moment, large man with small
head, and another SO aggressively av-
erage as to be nondescript, came in.
Donnelly, the big man, turned out his
| toes as he walked. A charm the size
and shape Of double eagle, bearing
a Bacchante whose pose would have
been indecorous IL 1t had not been
| impossible, swung from his equatorial
waist line. One could tell at glance
he used perfume. One could tell
nothing in many glances about Car
son. There was nothing to tell.
| We've come up here, Mrs. Mis-
sioner," said Donnelly, addressing
Miss March. ito find your diamonds
ooh, thank your murmured the
! widow, sweeping toward him. Il am
Mrs. Missioner. Won't you be seat
! ed ~
huh mo, Miss Missioner
Mrs Missioner mo, thanks answer
ed the slguth with all the airy ease
OF highly embarrassed man.
| just-huh! walk around . little,
thanks just walk around"
Dorothy and Griswold exchanged
glances. Sands stared stolidly at the
sleuths. Mrs. Missioner, with per-
| missive inclination Of her head, began
chatting with Ranseome Even as he
spoke with her, the veteran expert
| coulG not drag his eyes from the
| jewels.
NOV, then, Mis- Missioner" said
| Donnefly briskly. 'Who-huh!-do
you suspect" There seemed to be
| sort Of astigmatism In his breath
ing Carson faced the group with an
expression that said bluntly he sus-
pected everybody.
81 don't suspect anybody" Mrs. Mis-
| sioner replied, resuming her talk with
Ranscome.
| "You notice that-huh!-C ,"
said Donnelly. wheeling on his mate.
| Nobody suspected - huh!" - He
breathed in dialect,
Carson, instantly complainant, ban
ished suspicion from his look.
| A$OWB yoA LAOA q CAV aJo
somebody, 'am-huh!-M Mis-
sioner," Donnelly persisted Some
body suspected in every case. Think
moment. Have to suspect before
you convict, you know Never heard
-huh!-of a case without suspects
eh?''
The "eh was meant to be 1aveiin
| iph+ % 80 wv
consciousness. It fell short.
There Is no one to be suspected
no one can suspect" she said
| Feet at right angles, Bacchante
dancing desperately. as the fob rose
and fell, the large man from the Cen
trail Office moved toward the safe.
Mrs Missioner shuddered at thought
of the peril to her Jewels from his
plate armor soles. Har imploring eye
/ swean brought raadv rasnnnsa frorp