Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-22
CHAPTER III.-contInued.

rouneliy and Carson Investigate.
CHAPTER IIi.--Contlnued.
The big man Strengthened abruptly.
Bacchsate's heels came down and her
hands futtered aloft The catch In
bis voice. Characteristic Of him when
N the presence Of the rich. was brush
A out OF his throat by burst of pro-
fe.sional real. He recognized a situa-
don that enabled him to play inquisi-
car IN q home Of wealth.
sWhere were the jewels stolen
from he asked.
7 don't know" said Mrs. Missioner.
when did you miss them?"
Again the widow recited the incl
dsnt Of the opera box.
who was In the party?"
Mrs. Missioner told him. She did
not mention the Oriental In the next
boz. It did not occur to her.
Isn't there anybody you can think
Of pursued tho big detective. who
could have taken them?"
Nobody who would" answered
Mrs. Missioner.
Did anybody else have the combi-
nation Of the safer"
"Ons." responded Mrs. Missioner.
she answered defensively, like a wit
ness under hostile cross-examination
volunteering nothing. Donnelly SEEM
Cd not to hear her. He was examin-
Ing the safe again. He passed his
hand over the door and its frame
again, turned the handle that shot the
bolts, noted their strength and
smoothness, turned them back. and
wheeled on Mrs. Missioner abruptly.
There's been no forcing here" he
said sagely. Its an inside job"
Mrs. Missioner's eyebrows went up.
~Yes'm," the detective went on. IAN
inside job. Who did you say had the
combination?"
NY secretary--Miss Holcomb.r
-ohi" said Donnelly.. Carson's lips
rounded In mute repetition.
Sands. impatient of the detectives
awkward questioning. shook himself
Ion-like and went to a window. Girls
void swung his foot idly. and smoked
n shorter measure. Ranscome look
81 nsrvously at the inquisitor. then
swung his gaze back to the jewel
trsys. Dorothy listened with wide
eyed interest.
what do you know about this Miss
Ho;oonb?" asked Donnelly, squarine
himself as II for trial Of strength
With the widow and turning out his
tDee farther than ever.
I have known her many years"
sszd Mrs. Missioner quietly, adding
win warmth, "She Is young woman
q high character"
oh. she IL. is she?" returned the
sieuth- And how. may ask. ma'am.
90 you know that?"
4 say. I have known her many
Tears.- said Mrs. Missioner.
Donnelly held whispered consulta-
Ton with his mate. Then he asked II
~ might question the servants.
Certainly. II you think It neces-
sary,- assented the widow. But
shocld warn you that cannot bring
nysef to suspect any of them"
Everybody seems to be above sus-
picion." snapped Donnelly. ITS al
vsys the way. until we begin to get
q tho trail. and then everybody be-
comes suspicious. l think I'll question
ne servants. ma'am. Shall have
IN in here?"
Mrs- Missioner bowed and sent
s'odsett to summon his comrades.
Ono at a time. please" said Don.
neir. The first to enter was the
srusckeeper, staid woman In a
black gown with narrow white ruch-
ns about her withered neck. She
knev nothing Of the jewels save that
ns1am always locked them In the
Afs herself. unless Miss Holcomb
vas there to do It for her.
me answers Of the other servants
were equally straightforward. The
c1t'er. under-butler, chef. second foot
man, pantry-boy, parlor-maid, cham
pf'maids. and kitchen maid. and the |
majestic Blodgett himself were inter-
foes1ed persistently, infinitely, dog.
seoiy. even bullyingly. and In the end
me net result Of what they had to tell
vas zero. That is to say, as far as
nm Missioner and her friends and
- diamond expert we're concerned.
onneily thought otherwise. Carson's
n''nn was q receptive blank.
Are these all the servants?'' asked
ne large detective.
All at present" answered Mrs.
s'ssioner. MY own maid is away "a
save Oh. yes. there's All"
Allie the name of your maid~ :,
NO Ali is~a man-an Indian
reszively.
He 70 a courier-
ponnelly was puzzled.
"nen | travel. he looks after the
usnsporhtion and baggage" Mrs.
missioner explained.
oe,ective stroked his Jaw and
spered with Carson again.
.n 'als advance agent Of yours-this
An--vhere Is her"
nlodEett- called the widow -..nd !
~ hsrss '