Semi-weekly herald., 1912-02-05


In the first place. Grfswold planned
to get the Jewels q long time ago--a
couple Of years, fancy. He didn't
content himself with mere planning.
He did a lot OF work while he was
waiting for his opportunity. He
knew the value Of the Missioner neck
lace. Of course, especially the value
of the big Maharanee diamond that
was its central stone. As nearly A.
can make out his scheme. be hoped To
steal the collarette and dispose Of It
months before II should he missed By
Mrs. Missioner. The only way to do
that. OF course. was to substitute an
imitation for the genuine article.
Naturally, too. the initiation had to be
made without Mrs. Missioner's knowl-
edge, and the man he meant to have
make II had to have either the orig
inal az a copy OF very accurate
drawing 1t was beyond all possibil-
ity that Griswold could get the neck
lace into HIS possession long enough
to have a bogus collarette made. Mrs,
Missioner In spite OF her many mil
lions, and like all other women OF
wealth. guarded her Jewels closely.
She may intrust her government
bonds and other negotiable securities
to attorneys or banks. but she keeps
her Jewels under her own eyes. None
of us knows Just how much she
thought Of Griswold: but the chances
are that. even II she had been en-
gagged to him. abe wouldn't have let
him have possession OF tho Maharsnee
necklace for any Length OF time. My
experience is that these rich New
Workers. don't believe In throwing
temptation in one another's way.
anyhow, not at any risk to them
selves"
"Your powers OF deduction are truly
marvellous. Britz." said Manning with
a short laugh. in which Britt thought
he heard faint note of mockery.
Now, let's don't do any kidding,
Chief Britz rejoined with Just
shade Of acid In his voice. This Ii
a pretty serious case. and I've been
up few nights without any too much
sleep I'm not on the witness stand
now, recollect, and don't feel as II
I'd got to parcel out my words when
I'm. talking to friends" There was
the least little lift OF his eyebrows as
he uttered the last word.
Manning laughed again-apologetic
ally this time. and the lieutenant.
once more unrufied. continued:
so Griswold had to make sketches
and diagrams OF the widows necklace
Even that couldn't have been easy. for
l guess he had to use his pencil when
Mrs. Missioner wasn't in the room
1t isn't likely she gave him many op-
portunitiss of being alone with the
Jewels she priced above all the others
in her collection. You sec, when her
husband gave her that necklace and
told her about the Maharanee dia-
mond, he made up a pretty little fairy
story that probably gave the big stone
much greater value In her eyes than
II she'd really known the truth. Wom-
en-" said Britz solemnly. are funny.
They are about the funniest things In
this little old world OF ours-particu-
larly when II comes to jewels and
gowns. with the jewels leading by 4
city block"
Fitch. in his capacity A. lover.
became somewhat restivs under the
detectives cynical summing up k
the sex. and relieved hfmself with the
remark:
"If women are any funnier than
men, I'd like you to show me how.
Your experience is all very well, lieu
tenant: but I've seen them in their lit
tie white cots in hospitals-both
kinds; and | have seen them on the
operating table, and | can tell you
the woman has yet to be born that
can do as many fool stunts A. the
average mani" After this burst u
romance-born frankness he subsidel.
We'll. we wont quarrel about the
sex. DOCTOR" said Britz. though j
must say don't like to hear you get.
ting on these suffragette sentiments.
Anyway. It's safe to assume Mrs. Mis-
sioner didn't let Curtis Griswold have
time to drape that necklace Of hers
sketch It. He made those drawings sy
FITS and starts and 1t must have taken
him a good many weeks to nnisA
them"
Unless he drew the necklace from
memory" suggested Manning.
That sounds too easy" Iritz 70
turned. He'd have to have 4 memory
like a daylight film to carry all the
different sizes and shapes Of those
jewels in his mind-to say nothing of
their FIRE. The fact 10. the drawings
he made were not only accurate to
the smallest degree Of outline, but the
Iuster OF every stone seems to have
been reproduced with skill that would
keep 'em guessing at the Academy OF
Design. I tell you. Curtis Griswold 10
an artist IN more ways than onel"
Pausing = little. Britz went on:
And that's what he did: he made
the drawings at first hand, and prob
ably colored them in the same way.
Then he took them over to Paris and
farmed out the contract among sew
eral firms. taking care to split mp the
drawings so that no ono manufacturer
of paste jewels might know they were
reproductions Of the famous MaharG
nee necklace. Logan traced all the
drawings In gay Pares. and sent them
to me. Here they are" He took sew
eral small sheets Of cardboard from
an inner pocket and spread them on
his desk.
..Thera'. .omsthfnr untasfnr from