The Huttig news. (Huttig, Ark.) 1907-1955, 1911-12-09


scattering the string of rare and costly
gems ali over the floor Curtis Griswold
and BruAton Sands, two society men,
both of whom love Mrs Missioner gather
up some of the diamonds, but the gem
or the collection. the celebrated Mahar-
anee is missing. Griswoid steps on the
apparent missing diamond and il brushes
under his heel A Hindeo comes from an
ADJOINING box, and picking up flake of
the crushed gem proaeunces it a fraud.
not the genuine Maharanee- but-paste.
CHAPTER 1.-The entire party proceed
to the elegant mansion of Mrs. Missioner
Where she takes them to a room having
safe conta ming other diamonds She
afterwards sends for a Mr. Rascome, an
expert. who pronounces the stones all
copies. substitations. of the original gems.
Mrs Mics'oner's eyebrows went up.
Eyes M" the detective went on, AN
inside job Who did you say had the
combination"
MY secretary-Miss Ho!eomb.'
oh" said Donnelly. Carson's lips
rounded in mute repetition.
Sands, impatient of the detectives
awkward questioning. shook himself
lon-like and went to a window. Girls
void swung his foot idly. and smoked
In shorter measure. Ranscome look
ed nervously at the inquisitor, then
swung his gaze back to the jewel
trays. Dorothy listened with wide
eyed interest.
What do you know about this Miss
Ho1comb?" asked Donnelly, squaring
himself as II for a trial OF strength
with the widow and turning out his
toes farther than ever.
Il have known her many years,
said MIS- Missioner quietly, adding
with warmth, She is young woman
of high character"
"Oh, she is, is she?" returned the
sleuth. And how, may l ask, ma'am,
do you know that?"
L say, have known her many
years" said Mrs Missioner.
Donnelly held whispered consulta-
ton with his mate. Then he asked If
he might question the servants.
Certainly, If you think it neces-
sary," assented the widow. But /
should warn you that | cannot bring
myself to suspect any of them
Everybody seems to be above sus-
picion," snapped Donnelly. It's al
ways the way. until we begin to get
On the trail, and then everybody be-
romes suspicious. l think III question
the servants. ma am. Shall ! have
EN- in here?"
Mrs. Missioner bowed and sent
Blodgett to summon his comrades.
"One at time, please" said Don
nelly. The first TO enter was the
housekeeper, a staid woman in
black gown with narrow white ruch-
Ing about her withered neck She
Knew nothing of the jewels save that
madam always locked them in the
slfe herself unless Miss Hocomb
was there to do ii for her.
The answers of the other servants
were equally straightforward. The
butler, under-hutler, chef. second foot
nan. pantry-boy, parlor-maid. cham,
her-maids. and kitchen maid, and the
majestic Rlodgett himself were inter
rogated persstently. minute'y, dog
Fadly. even hullyingly. and in the end
the net result of what they had TO tell
WAS zero That is to say, as far as
Mrs Missioner and her friends and
the diamond expert were concerned,
Eonnelly thought otherwise. Carson's
mind was a receptive blank
Are these all the servants?" asked
the large detective.
All at present" answered Mrs.
Missioner MY own maid Is away on
leave Oh. yes. there's All
rs Allie the name of your maid?"
"No. Ali is man-an Indian
And what's his job?" This ag-
gressively.
He is courier"
Donnelly was puzzled
when | travel he looks after the
transportation and baggage" Mrs.
Missioner explained
The detective stroked his jaw and
whispered with Carson again.
This advance agent of yours-this
Ali-where is he9'
"R'odgett," called the widow, send
All here
The presence faded into the per
spective of the passage ard in few
minutes materialized on the TIRES
hold alone
All lS not III Tue HouSe, HIduSln,
: the footman reported.
Ask Miss Holcomb If she sent
him anywhere
What tribe does this Indian belong
to-" Donnelly inquired Importantly.
"Choctaw? Cherokee? Sioux? Maybe
he's an Apache?"
Mrs Missioner smiled It was not
an unpleasant smile. but II Jared an
unconscious "Huhl" out of the de-
tective. All the others save the seri-
GUS Ranseome smiled too. and Girls
void laughed aloud
He isn't that kind of an Indian. ..
Sands enlightened the sleuth He's
a native Of India-a tIindeo."
'Of course" rumbled the Central
Office man, indignantly. Il know that
What | want to know is what kind of
n Hindoo?'
Il should say he was a Sepoy.' re-
marked Griswold. There was ma
licious CLEAN in his eyes.
"Sepoy- huh" Dennelly turned to
Carson What do YOU know about
bof bo J,