Semi-weekly herald., 1911-09-04
Copyright. 1910 by Moffat. Yard d Company
CHAPTER Ill.

A Searching Examination.
When the millionaire. stopped talk.
ing over the telephone, he turned to
the widow with an air of finality.
Il have taken 1t on myself" he told
her. ito inform the Detective Bureau
This is no time for Sherlocking
There'l be couple Of detectives
here in half an hour"
Mrs. Missioner looked at him ad.
miringly. But her eyes turned to
Griswold with light 1t would have
taken woman to read, woman
more experienced than little Dorothy
March.
Ranscome, ignoring the counterfeits
stood In absorbed study of the jewel
trays Kaleidoscope contents. That
peculiar pallor returned to Griswold's
hands. With fingers that bent and
Strengthened ceaselessly. he drum.
med his fist
The robbery is the more incom-
prehensible," said Mrs Missioner
thoughtfully. because of the extraor-
dinary precautions have taken
against burglars. I 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.
ut should be strong returned Mrs
Missioner. at was built on the lines
of the great safe in the Gramercy Ma
tional. 1t 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 pock
cts, stood gazing at the bolts. Girls
void. smoking quietly in the ingle-
nook. mustered show of interest in
the safe from time to time. but al
ways his glance returned to the gilt
tering trays.
Il wish you'd put those away.
Doris" said Griswold suddenly. with
all this mystery In the air, 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
off her gloves declsively and, rising
as II from folds of conjecture, rang
for Blodgett Il think" she said.
thy's shoulder.
Inquiry reached toward her from
four pairs Of eyes.
Il think" she went on, Miss March
wants some tea, and-I think we all
need something to drink"
1t 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-
ucemen in. heard heavy breathing
outside the door. where Donnelly and
Carson, of the Central ONCE, were
gripped in a panicky pause. Next
moment, large man with small
head, and 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 indecorous If 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 tho
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. Wen
just-huh!-walk around a little.
thanks-just walk around" Carson.
neutral echo of his colleagues words.
did walk around. Donnelly, as II.
having announced the action, he had
done his share. stood still
Dorothy and Griswold exchanged
glances. Sands stared stolidly at the
sleuths, Mrs. Missioner, with per-
missive inclination of her head. began
chatting with Ranscoms Even as he
spoke with her, the veteran expert
could not drag his eyes from the
Jewels.
Now. then. Mis- Missioner" said
Donnelly briskly "Who-huh!-do
you suspect?" There seemed to be
q sort Of astigmatism In his breath
ing. Carson faced the group with an
expression that said bluntly he sus-
pected everybody.
81 don't suspect anybody" Mrs Mis-
sioner replied. resuming her talk with
Ranscome.
You notice at-huh!-Carsong
said Donnelly. wheeling on his mate.
MYH T.H lSMN