The Huttig news., 1912-01-13

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rowed forehead. 1t revealed itself
with the slightest twitch of his facial
muscles as we'll as in the dropping
| line of his mouth. BY some pecui-
arity of the blood his complexion ran
yellow ivory, never varying Its color
under the stress of the strongest emo
tions. 1t required superhuman cour-
age to meet the steady gaze of his
eyes and lie to him. Though some
what abrupt Of manner and speech,
there was something engaging about
him, some subtle magic Of personality
that brought one under the thrall of
| his mir~d. Almost without the utter
anee of a syllable he could bend weak
! natures to his will Only the strong
est persons were able to resist his
domination.
He was one of those strange beings
who live mostly within themselves,
yet there were times when he felt
a des olation of heart a longing for
companionship, for intimate associa-
| ton with his fellow beings On such
occasions, his life seemed To lack
something Of the beauty of other lives,
as If it had been cast In more som
| Der shade He could feel a wave Of
melancholy coming on him, and 10
avoid it's depressing influence, he turn
! ed his mind resoiutely to his work,
feasting on the crime at hand as on
some tempting dish Without knowing
why. the Missioner diamond robbery
! held for him a fascination more pow
erful than that called up by any other
crime within his memory He recog-
niZed surface indications of deep
cunning In the conception and execu-
ton of the theft. His experienced
eye saw that no ignorant or vulgar
mind had engineered the substitution
OF those marvellous diamonds The
pursuit of the criminal fairly spark ed
with exciting possibilities. and Britz
! felt the thrill of the chase even before
he started the pursuit
Britt paced nervonsly up and down
| his room. revolving the incidents sur.
rounding the discovery of the theft
in his mind but he was unable TO pick
elew on which to work Nor did The
occurrences in which Donnellv ard
| Carson participated furnish any prom
Using material
'J'u begin at the very hottom" he
murmured. and work gradually to the
top" He sauntered out Of the house,
walking with the air of one trying 10
| lensthen moments of reflection. In
/ front of the Missioner home he
stopped. surveying the massive store
walls. as If tryirg to figure the posi-
hility of nocturnal intrusion The
front door was Of heavy bronze and
Was swung open by the butler In re-
Spouse to the ringing of the bell
rs Mrs Missioner at home?a asked
Britt
The butler eyed him suspicouslv
who wishes TO see herr" he asked
',Lieutenant Britt, OF Headquarters .
After long delay. he was nsherei
into the same room in which the Incl
dents preceding Miss lIolcomb's ar
rest had occurred
u have come To inquire more mi
nutely into the disappearance OF the
jewels" he explained
Mrs. Missioner's face showed lines
of deep suffering Heavy rings en-
circled her eyes. deep burrows Scared
her forehead
Il am more than anxious to supply
you with all the information in my
| possession" she said. 1T Is meager
| enough, and | almost despair of ever
seeing my jewels again.
Madam no case Is hopeless. Britt
soothed. THE immense value of the
diamonds will make their recovery all
the easier. | feel safe In surmising
that none of them, or only a very few
of them, have been disposed of as yet.
Now, do you recall the last time You
wore the collarstte?"
1T was week ago, at dinner in
my home she replied.
And when before that"
About two weeks before, At
dance in the home of friend"
How long have you owned the col
larette?"
About ten years"
1T was a gift from your husband,
believe" Britt asked.
1T was" the widow answered
Where was it purchased
The Maharanee was bought In In
| ga. me Other stones were gathered
rom time to time. and We're strung
ogether I'm the form Of the collarette
ut TiTanys."
THAT was ten years ago."
1T was
since then. has the collarette been
ont of your possession at any time p
4 recall only one instance" she re-
niied.
When was that" he asked.
About two years ego. sent II 10
iffany's for Tesetting.
The substitution was hardly made
here" he smi ed. ''Yol are Also
lptely SIRE the co'lsrette, with that
me exception, has been in no ore.
.lse'S possession"
Absolutely sure" the widow an
:swered
May | examine the safe." he
| asked.
Through marrifying glass he
studied the steel door OF the coMrart-