Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-15

more experienced than nttie Dorothy
March.
Ranscome. ignoring the counterfeita
stood in absorbed study of the jewel
trays Kaleidoscope contents. Thai
peculiar pallor returned to Griswold's
hands With fingers that bent and
Strengthened ceaselessly. he drum
med his fist 81
The robbery is the more incom-
prehensible," said Mrs. Missioner
thoughtfully, because Of the extraor>
binary precautions have taken
against burglars. 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.
TT should be strong" returned Mrs
Missioner. 1T was built on the lines
of the great safe In the Gramercy Ma
tional. II differs only in size and IN
the absence of 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
IT wish you'd put those away.
Doris" said Griswold suddenly. with
all this mystery IN the air. don't Ike
to see them lying around"
Surely they're safe among u.s." she
answered. graciously including Rams
come with an extra smile. She drew
OF her, gloves decisively and, rising
as II from folds of conjecture, rang
for Blodgett. IT think" she said.
then stopped with her hand on Doro
thy's shoulder.
Inquiry reached toward her from
four pairs Of eyes.
'T 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 20
licemen In, heard heavy breathing
outside the door. where Donnelly and
Carson, Of the Central Once, were
gripped In a panicky pause. Next
moment, q large man with a small
head. ane 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
q Bacchante whose pose would have
been indeccrous II It 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 mp here, Mrs. Mis-
sioner." said Donnelly, addressing
Miss March. "to find your diamonds"
"Oh. thank you'll" murmured the
widow, sweeping toward him. Il am
Mrs. Missioner. Won't you be seat
ed?"
"Why,-huh!-no, Miss Missioner
Mrs. Missioner-no. thanksl" answer
ed the sleuth. with all the airy ease
OF highly embarrassed man. We'll
just-huhl-walk around . little.
thanks-sust 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 he
spoke with her. the veteran expert
could not drag his eyes from the
Jewels.
Nov. then, Mis- Misss0ser." said
Donnelly briskly. "Who-huh.-de
you suspect?" There seemed to be
sort Of astignatism in his breath
ing. Carson faced the group with ar
expression that said bluntly he sus
pected everybody.
Il don't suspect anybody" Mrs. Mis-
sioner replied. resuming her talk viii
Ranscome.
"You notice that-huhi-Carson ?
said Donnelly. wheeling on his mate
Nobody suspected = huhi" = HI
breathed In dialect
Carson, instantly complainant, ban
ished suspicion from his look.
Nov. you know, there's Away
somebody, ma'am-huhl-Mis' Mis-
! sioner," Donnelly persisted. Some
body suspected in every case. Thinl
a moment Have to suspect befor'
you convict, you know. Never hear
-huh!-of q case without suspects
eh?"
The "eh" was meant to be javelil
l hurled straight at the widows inne
!. consciousness. t. fell short
There is no one to be suspected
no one can suspect" she said.
Feet at right angles. Bacchazt
dancing desperately az the fob ros
: and fell, the large man from the Ger
}. trail once moved toward the SAT-
!, Mrs. Missioner shnddered at though
:? of the peril to her jewels from hi
plate armcr soles. Her imploring ey'
d sweep brought ready response froI
E Sands and Griswold. and In second
). fraction they were piling the tray
I, on chairs and tables. Ranscome, he'll
r Ing. handled the morocco cases wit
g loving touch.
Donnelly stopped short at sight
d the gems in the trays An interrog
tive snort vibrated somewhere insit
It him. but found no oral expression 4
q passed on to the SAFE With maste
'e full grasp. he swung the great door
and fro.