The Washington times., 1912-09-04

.
SO when she discovered that the un
expected had happnd, that the steel
chain, the green bag, and the precious
diamonds had disappeared, she neither
ran to the bell, tore her hair, nor ut
tered piercing screams-she just sat
up in her bed and faced the situation
with the calmness and fortitude of COM
mon snse.
Miss DrIscoll knew quite well that she
had been robbed. She also knew, quite
as well, that the robbery had been car
ried out in highly ingenious manner.
and that 1t was probably the work of
gang. But how should any gang
know of the existence of the diamonds
or of her possession of them?
No one in this world know that she
had them save MIR. Baxendalc. And
Miss Drisco knew, as one knows a
thing OF absolute knowledge, that MIR.
Baxendale was man of strict probity.
between him and the disappearance OF
the diamonds. The villains who had
appropriated them must be looked for
| elsewhere
She began to think OF other p ,ssible
contingencies; the only notion that
seemed at all sensible was that other
folk than the late Mr.. Finney had
been connected with the mystery of the
diamonds, had not dared at the time
of his sudden demise TO come forward
and claim them, but knowing that they
must have fallen into Miss Driscoll' $
hands, had followed her until they
I hands upon them.
That was the only theory by which
Miss Drtscoll could account for her
loss. She must have been under obser-
walton for some time, she said to her
self, as she sat there in bed staring
lblankly at the blank wall. The thieves
must have followed her all the way
from Castleford to Dublin; have been
near her in the steamer; she might even
have spoken to them. 1t was certain,
at any rate, that they had been in the
hotel with her last night and might
still be there.
the previous night she had locked the
steel chain round the waist of her night
Dress and that 1t was now gone with
all that 1t guarded.
How had 1t goner What means had
the thief or thieves used? Miss Dris-
coll Was puzzled beyond measure when
she put these questions to herself
She suspected that she had been
ness In the head strengthened her in
her suspicion. But how and when? She
thought over her dinner of the pre-
lWlous eveningNt had been served to
her in the coffee.room by a waitress
who did not look like being in conspir-
acy with anybody about anything
she glanced at the water bottle on
her washstand-that might have been
, drugged, but she remembered that she
had not touched It. If she had been
drugged, the drugging had been car
ried out as skillfully as the robbery.
And how had the robbery been car
RED out? How had the thief gained
access to her room and stolen the dia-
monds from her very person. !.
Miss Driscoll left her bed asd went
over TO the door. She examined the
iock-the key was turned. She exam
ined the bolt-the bolt was shot home in
the socket She examined the boltplate
II was tightly fastened to the door az
screws could fasten It, She went over
to the window-ths lower sash. in ac-
cordance with her invariable custom
, had been raised by her own hands wher
she went to bed. and so far as she could
judge 1t had not been touched.
The window was some height from
the ground; outside 1t was a very mar.
row ledge on which 1t was apparently
, impossible for man to stand. 1t seem.
ed to be unbelievable that anybody
,, could have entered the room by the
window.
t AS for the door. there 1t was as she
, had left it the night before-ntact. How
the room had been entered was a mys'
terry: That II had been entered was alb.
solutely certain.
Miss Driscoll moved over to the
dressing table. where she had left hei
watch and several rings, together witt
: her purse. which contained about 81
pounds in notes and gold. Watch. ring
and purse all Law where she had lef
them. 1t was plain that the thief had
cared little for small things so long al
ne secured the grnd Prize.
3 As her eyes strayed mechanical!
t from one thing to another Miss Driscol
' suddenly perceived that the hands o
l the watch indicated the hour of nine
E structed the chambermaid to call he
} at 7 o'clock.
How was 1t that her order had no
l been obeyed7 She had meant to catcl
1 the o'clock train--that was now ou
' Of the question. She crossed the room
and put her finger on the button of tn
} electric bell. As she did so. knocl
/ sounded on the door, followed by
/ second and third, each louder thai
the other.
Miss Driscoll opened the door J
5 chambermaid. little uneasy of manner
r entered the room, bearing a can Of no
water and a pair of boots.
l Thought" said Miss Driscoll, "tha
/ asked you to call me at O'Clock p
II did, ma'am," answered the girl
! II knocked at 7 o'clock and again a
e s. loudly, and couldn't get any answe
s from you"
II must have slept soundly." observe,
Miss Driscoll. IF the manageress 1
: disengaged" she said. as the chamber
4 maid was leaving the room. II wis
4 you would ask her to come to my room
=: | for a few minutes"
I Yes, ma am" answered the girl. Sh
j glanced rather timidy at Miss Driscoll
mo, no." said Miss Driscol -
merely wish to see the manageress."
When that person arrived Miss Dris
coll had arrayed herself in her dressing
e gown and slippers. She pointed her Wis
e itor to a chair, seated herself on tn
edge of the bed and went straight t
= business.
. II wished to speak to you on a matte
= of Importance" said Miss Driscoll. ''
= | have been robbed"
A Continuation of This Story VIII
O He Found In TOmOrrOw's