The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-11-24

taken 0 woman 70 read. woman
more experienced than little Dorothy
March.
Ranscome. ignoring thu counterfelts
stood In absorbed study of the jewel
trays Kaleidoscope contents. Tha'
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 incom'
prehensible," said Mrs. Missioner
thoughtfully, because of the extraor'
binary precautions l have taken
against burglars. cannot understand
how the thief got to the necklace"
"Your safe seems strong enough"
Ranscome ventnred. Stepping around
the trays, he passed his hand over
the outer door and looked at the
twenty.four steel bolts curiously.
1T 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 IN
the absence Of a time lock-"
Ranscome. staring at the safe, shook
his head. Sands walked over to him
and. thrusting both hands in his peck.
cts. stood gazing at the bolts.
Il wish you'd put those away,
Doris" said Griswold suddenly. with
all this mystery in the air. l 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
of her gloves decisively and, rising
as If from folds Of conjecture. rang
for Blodgett. II think" she said.
then stopped with her hand on Doro-
thy's shoulder.
Inquiry reached toward her from
four pairs Of eyes.
II 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, a large man with a small
head, anu another so aggressively Az.
erage as to be nondescript, came in.
Donnelly. he 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 II 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 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. !"
"Oh. thank you!" murmured the
widow. sweeping toward him. II am
Mrs. Missioner. Won't you be seat.
ed!"
"Why,-huh!-no, Miss Missioner
Mrs. Missioner-no, thanks!" answer
ed the sleuth, with all the airy ease
Of highly embarrassed man. well
just--huh!-walk around little,
thanks-just walk around"
Dorothy and Griswold exchanged
glances. Sands stared stolidly at the
sleuths. Mrs. Missioner, with q per
missive, inclination Of her head, began
chatting with Ranscome. Even as b
tspcks ~att1her; neAe veteran expert
could not drag hil eyes from the
jewels.
Nov. then, Mis- Miss.cuer," SAID
Donnelly briskly. "Who-huh!-do
you suspect?" There seemed to be
a sort Of astigEatism in his breath.
ing. Carson faced the group with an
expression that said bluntly he sus'
pected everybody.
II don't suspect anybody" Mrs. Mis-.
sioner replied. resuming her talk with
Ranscome.
"You notice that-huh!-Carson?"
said Donnelly. wheeling on his mate.
Nobody suspected - huh!" - He
breathed in dialect.
Carson, instantly complainant. 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
moment. Have to suspect before
you convict, you know. Never heard
-huh!-of q case without suspects
eh?"
The "eh" was meant to be a javelin
hurled straight at the widows inner
consciousness. It fell short.
There is no one to be suspected
no one l can suspect" she said.
Feet at right angles. Bacchaxte
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 bio
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 with
loving touch.
Donnelly stopped short at sight Of
the gems in the trays. An interroga
tive snort vibrated somewhere Inside