The Raymer enterprise., 1911-08-10

Inc SUN anu lowering IeilOW came
forward to the end OF his masters
desk.
Rudolf. take your guest list and
check of the large, plump women"
He drew out the sheet, ran down
the names, and. as he came to toe
last, Rand asked:
Now. how many?"
Eighteen, sir"
How man. of those eighteen are
blond women turning gray"
Rudolf considered a moment.
Three. sir"
How many OF the guests have left
the house? Any OF the three?"
Nearly all of the guests are at.
tending upon the vaudeville program.
including these three ladies', sir"
Rand held up the bracelet.
Now. Rudolf, which OF the three
wore this bracelet"
Rudolfs eyes questioningly sought
his masters face, which remained
downcast and unchanged.
Madame Julie"
Stop, you fool. Not another word"
roared the ambassador, with a sud
den change of manner. leaping to his
feet and clapping his hand over the
startled servants mouth.
Rand was leaning forward. the pu.
pills Of his eyes reduced to pin points,
and shining brightly.
Then Count Bella. Moulkna. realizing
the undignihed and unfortunate ap-
pearance OF his outburst. drew back
and sank down In his chair, rubbing
his face fereely with his hands. till
SIS mustache and hair. disarranged.
gave him wild, animalistlc look
that could have been achieved In no
other way. Slowly he recovered him.
self. rose, and said coIdly and with
all the dignity he could summon:
Gentlemen. this investigation has
reached point where YOU must drop
1t. Mr.. Rand, your incislyeness is
more than marvellous. You will re.
ceiye my check for five thousand by
messenger In an hour. regret TO be
under the necessity OF bidding you
good afternoon.
Rand, with a slight, sardonic smile,
bowed deeply and responded with
equal hauteur We were retiring,
when the ambassador cIapped hrs
hands to his temples, then smote his
palms together, and began to laugh.
Gentlemen, gentlemen. one mo.
ment! Forgive my abruptness. have
made n mistake. Pray resume your
seats"
He had become most gracious 10 an
instant, and hastened to say.
Mr. Rand, am soreIy absent.
minded. The lady whose name pre-.
vented your hearing In full was here
with me clandestinely this afternoon,
and wore that bracelet for the first
time. Only at the mention Of her did
! remember seeing 1t. must con.
fess 10 having had a small affair with
her. one breath o! which would ruin
me, had the papers after she left.
She cannot be responsible for their
disappearance. We had a rather dra.
matte interview, as she wished II TO
be our last. and paid little attention
to that bracelet. though, as look at
II, feel sure there was a tiny oval
locket pendant from it, which is al.
most certain to have contained my
picture. Also am now positive that
she. toying with the bracelet, dropped
It here on my desk. ! found It there
on the cabinet thirty feet away"
Rand. at this fact. leaped from his
seat and strobe to the cabinet. He
turned his lens over the top. then on
the mantel behind It, and caught up
n polished silver topographer's tracer
with a broad. fiat handle. As he held
II to the light, ! saw his little smile
OF triumph. As usual. II vanished
instantly, and he returned to his seat.
Your papers were taken within the
last two hours. my dear sir. probably
by the same person who prled the
locket from the bracelet with this ira.
GER See the little scratch and the
trace OF the soft gold" He held 1t up
carefully between his two index fin.
gers. Also the person We seek seems
to be blackma!ler as well as spy"
Pray tell me, Mr. Rand" said the
how you made the mar.
velous selection OF the owner OF the
bracelet"
VERY simply. II Is large brace.
let. yet the end links between each OF
the fence work bars are so worn by
wearing well down on the wrist. with
consequent strain on the end links.
that Its wearer must have been a
large, plump woman. Then. on the In.
side, under the leaves. was section
OF naturally blond hair. with signs
OF approaching loss OF color. II was
merely a process OF elimination"