Semi-weekly herald., 1912-02-12


aire."
Mrs. Delaroche's breath came In q
series OF soft gasps--almost in sobs.
A rose film seemed to spread over
her exquisite complexion
The famous detective paused for .
moment and looked accusIngly at her.
When he spoke. It was with HEality.
Mrs. Delaroche. you were Miss
Vincent" he said; you were the Inn
poverished girl artist of the Latin
Quarter. You have been married
since. and now you are a divorcee--
but you were Miss Vincent"
She recovered her poise for mo-
ment and gnzed at him deflantly.
Then her courage broke again. and
she answered:
1T is true. How you have learned
It cannot guess. but-it is true
Doris Missioner. despite the sug.
gestion conveyed In the lieutenant's
revelations. gazed at Millicent Della
roche commiseratingly. Elinor's pity
was more open.
"And now" Britz went on. Mrs.
Delaroche either stole those Jewels in
Paris or In New York. II they wero
stolen In Paris, the authorities of this
city have no Jurisdiction In the case
On the other hand. we can prove tho
necklace was in her possession only
q day or two ago. and II the crime
was committed In this country. wo
win call In the District Attorney" He
turned abruptly toward the woman.
Mrs. Deiaroche," Britt said, 'I do
not believe Mira. Missioner will call
on the French authorities to act, II
the crime was committed In their
jurisdiction. II the Jewels we're taken
here. Mrs. Missioner Will have no
choice In the Natter
She seized at the bait Turning
her nashing eyes on the detective. she
burst forth;
The jewels were stolen in Paris"
A tense silence was broken by
Britt
You'll have te show me-" he
snapped. ITS your last chance to
tell the truth"
II stole the collarette from Mr.. Mis-.
sioner," she admitted. 1T was short.
ly before his death, long time ago,
The plot had all been laid. Griswold
and Prince Kananda got me to do It.
| met Griswold through Mr.. Missioner.
He made love to me. made me believe
he wanted to marry me. Then, one
day, he proposed the plan to seal tho
lewels. 1t almost made me laugh, for
| was already trying TO get them for
the Prince. His plan was to haya
me induce Mr.. Missioner to let me
wear them one night and disappear
with the collarette about my throat.
| had agreed to do this when Girls.
wold'-she cast withering look at
the clubman-"brough me the sub.
stitute. He didn't know, of course,
that l was In the pay OF the Prince,
and didn't inform him OF It. Wen,
one night Mr.. Missioner. after much
urging on my part. took the collarette
from his wife's Jewel box and let me
wear It at little supper party. It was
then | made the substitution
What did you do with tho real
necklace?" Manning interJected
Y kept It," Mrs Dclaroche returned
| with n bland smile. 81 informed the
Prince that / had changed my mind
bout committing the robbery, aud l
old Mr.. Griswold that had been un
| BILE to make the substitution"
But the paste Jewels he had given
you--what did you tell him In regard
10 them?" Britt asked.
Il simply told him had lost them
she replied. "The fact OF the matter
3, fooled both tho Prince and Mr.
| driswold or course, when Mrs, Mis-.
iloner discovered the robbery. Mr.
| 3riswold guessed what | had done.
| md since then he has been urging me
| turn the real Jewels over to him.
| But l WAS determined not to let him
have them until our marriage she
| 1dded in voice laden with the vim.
Hctiveness she felt.
The semicircle OF listeners contract.
ed until Mrs. Missioner, Miss Hol-
comb, Sands, and Fitch were close to
| Britz. The detective, turning to the
others, said:
| Il have had the good fortune to re
cover the Maharanee diamond for you,
Mrs. Missioner, and It remains only to
trace the other jewels of the necklace.
| dare say Prince kananda can tell us
where they are"
| AS | told you over the telephone,
Lieutenant Britz," Mrs. Missioner an
swered, Il have recovered my jewels"
"All7" asked the detective. slightly
astonished.
u
| AL replied the widow. Moreover.
! do not care to prosecute anyone con
nected with their disappearance"
Not the Hindoos who were respon-
sible for their second disappearance
Is 1t possible you do not wish them to
be punished?" Britz expostulatsd.
81 do not" said Mrs. Missioner
quietly. u understand their connec-
tion with the mystery thoroughly. In
spite OF the drastic methods they pur-
sued, l do not blame them. They did
aot seek the lesser stones OF the
aecklacs. In fact. those gems were re-