The Yale expositor., 1911-12-14
CHAPTER XVI.
Mutual Explanations.

Mutual Explanations.
1t was breakfast time, and Britt and
Fitch after their exciting night were
hungry enough to eat Hindoo, but
they did not stop to show 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 neaJ
the door, and an interested desk lieu
tenant looked up from his work to
hear the denouement of what Police
Headquarters had come to regard an
the star" case of the year
Britt walked slowly to his own
room, where the scowling Orientals
were penned in a corner, while tho
chief Of the detectives and his two
subordinates were taking well-earned
rest in the heutenant's easy-chairs.
Britt talked to Manning in whispers,
then went to the telephone and called
Mrs. Missioner's house.
Good morning, Mrs. Missioner" he
1900 w ~ 'hO WIZ lilo 10 i<iSubNh
ant Britz-Britz, of Headquarters.
called you up to tell you we had ar-
rested the jewel thieves and-beg par.
don? What did you say-your jewels
have been returned to you? That's
strange. / have one OF them in my
pocket now. How's that? You say yod
have all your jewels? Then whose is
this-the Maharanee? Pardon me, Mrs.
Missioner, | 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, | am talking from
Police misunderstanding are here
now, all the thieves, lot No and lot
No. 2. You say you don't understand ?
Well, tell you, Mrs. Missioner, per-
haps you had better run down here.
Yes, | know it is a great deal to ask,
but | have worked pretty hard to find
your diamonds-yes, day and night.
The Chief thinks it would be better il
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, IL you wish.
Yes, | will await you-then you'll
come? Thank you very much, Mrs.
Missioner. Good-by.
Nov, what do you think of that? p
said Britt 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
says 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 l 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 q
private Of the detective force, and
Britt, with elaborate politeness, bowed
her to 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 Britt, II
may as well tell you at the outset that
the game Is up. We know all about
your connection with this case, and the
best thing for you to do is to tell us
In lypnuy fri
Mr. Griswold. as you have seen, is un.
der arrest. What do you know about
him."
Il shall answer no questions" said
Mrs. Delaroche, until | shall have
had an opportunity to engage coun-
sell"
MIR. Griswold is engaged to marrr
you?"
OF course" she replied with. an in
dignant flush.
Nov, 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 u.s."
What do you mean, sir?"
81 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 ac-
knowledged beauty and of undeniable
charm. OF course, don't undertake
to say for a moment, madam, that her
attractivenes equals yours. Doubtless,
Mr.. Griswold. being an enterprising
young man, has eyes more to her mil
lions than to her looks. Nevertheless,