Semi-weekly herald., 1911-09-25

been stolen from a temple and that
the provincial native government tried
to regain possession of 1t. Mr.. Mis-
sioner succeeded. however. In retain
Ing It as part OF his collection"
What opportunity did the Indian
servant have OF obtaining the neck
lace?"
None at all.' she answered hope
lessly, unless he broke into the safe.
and believe that was not done"
Mrs. Missioner informed me that
on one occasion. when the necklace
was lying on the table. the servant en-
tered the room with box. You were
in the room at the time. Was he
close enough to the table to touch the
necklace?"
81 remember the incident very
we'll" she replied. II took the box
from him at the door and he turned
around and went downstairs. do
not believe he was within ten feet of
the table st any time"
Il don't know what to think" Britt
said, after some reflection Almost
as soon rs new clew bobs up, II
falls down and | have to begin all
over again. have NJ more questions
TO ask TO-DAY
Fitch accompanied the detective out
OF tho prison. begging vainly for some
word OF encouragement. Britt an.
swered his questions with monosyl
lables, as If he feared to commit him.
utf rd h. he ..fh hta
investigation, Just before parting,
however. Britz said;
Every limo that develops In this
case, you can rest assured, viii be fol-
lowed to the end. So far, nothing has
been discovered that changes the as
pect of the case in the slightest de-
gree
The detective walked to Headquar.
ters and entered the office of the
Chief.
Has DonnCily or Carson reported
anything new" he inquired.
Nothing" answered the Chief.
"And your
Nothing that throws any light on
the case"
Britt" the Chief remarked, as
though delivering some weighty con
clusion, Il think you're working ON
the wrong hypothesis. You seem to
have decided that Miss Holcomb is In
nocent II you will survey the case
as it stands. you will have to acknowl.
edge that absolutely everything in It
points to her guilt. | do not under
take to say what her motive was In
stealing the jewels, unless 1t was sim.
ply the feminine lust for ornaments
l feel cert1in, also, that she was not
alone in the crime. My belief is that
she took the necklace out OF the safe
turned II over to DR.. Fitch, or some
one else, to have the duplicate made
and then returned the false jewels tt
the safe"
But where were the paste gems
made?" inquired Britt.
That's for you to find out" snapped
the Chief
Il have personally visited ever,
manufacturer OF paste gems in this
city and in Philadelphia. Boston, Buf
falo, and Washington. My men hav'
been to all the places in the smalle
cities. Manufacturers in all the othe
cities of the country have been vii
lied by the local police, and | feel al
so,uteiy sure that the duplicates wer
not made In this country. Logan I
on the way to Paris now. and unit
We hear from him | don't think WI
are safe In venturlng any opinion a
TO the identity OF the thief. am re
ceiving daily reports of the move
ments of Sands, 0giswold. the butler
and the Indian servant, but they show
nothing"
why do you think Logan will dis
cover anything? Has the real neck
lace ever been abroad?'
Mrs. Missioner had it with her OIL
the other side, but don't know tina
1t ever left her possession"
The Chiefs lips coiled into al
amused smile.
kind o looks as II you're on ths
wrong scent" he baited.
wait till we hear from Paris.
Britt returned.
AS the detective left the office, h,
could not help a feeling OF depression
at the slow progress OF events. AS yet
the intricacies of the mystery wer'
vaguely outlined In his mind He saw
them as a floating mist heavy with
possibilities but charged with delusiv,
signs Of beckoning trails that he In
stinctively knew led TO nowhere. ii,
was still treading lightly the maze
OF the case. One false step might b'
fatal, and he preferred to remain II
a crouching attitude OF watchfulness
ready to spring from cover at thu
proper moment.
Much as he deplored his enforced
inactivity, he nevertheless had faitl
In the final outcome. A quick menta
survey OF the case convinced him tina
the first necessity was to find thu
maker of the paste stones. Whoeve
made the duplicate Maharanee woul'
surely recall having done SO. Their
were few Europeon firms that coul,
have made the stone. 1t was doubtful
whether any American manufacture
could have turned out substitute I,
fool the eyes OF Mrs. Missioner. evei
for a night 1t Is hard enough to ge
the compact brilliance Of the diamon'
In small paste gem; Infinitely NOR
difficult is It to manufa cture a coun
-. Irft. tt,n