The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-07
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his surprise. He said
well, suppose you've got the
goods on him--or hor7"
'T have and l haven't" the detec-
tive answered. "While only one per
son stole the diamonds, there's been
whole troop of potential thieves
after the stones. They've been work
ing at cross-purposes, with the natural
result that they played unconsclously
into the hands OF the one all Of them
trusted"
Fitch and Manning eyed each other
qulzzically. Britz had worked hard
on the case and had succeeded when
success seemed impossible. II he
wished to indulge In slightly enig-
matlcal preamble, surely II was not
asking too much to humor him.
Britz gnawed a black cigar, unllght-
ed, and whirled about two or three
times before he took UP the thread Of
his recital again.
ITS a long story" no resumed. ut
took a lot Of pieclng to put It to-
gether, but it's as plain now as a pic
ture puzzle when all the cut-outs fit.
In the first place, Grlswold planned
to get the jewels a 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 as
can make out his scheme, he hoped to
steal the collarette and dispose OF It
months before II should be missed by
Mrs. Missioner. The only way to do
that. of course was to substitute an
imitation for the genuine article.
Naturally. too. the imitation 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 as a copy or very accurate
drawing. II 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 Grlswold; but tho chances
are that, even II she had been en-
gagged to him. she wouldn't have let
him have possession of the Maharanee
necklace for any length OF time. My
experience is that these rich New
Yorkers 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." seid Manning with
a short laugh, in which Britz thought
he heard a faint note OF mockery.
"Now. let's don't do any kidding,
Chief" Brltz rejoined with Just n
shade OF acid in his voice. This Is
n 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 10 friends" There was
the least little lift of his eyebrows as
he uttered tho last word. -
Manning laughed again-apologetic
ally this time, and the lieutenant,
once more unruf1ed, continued:
80 Griswold had to make sketches
and diagrams OF tie Widows necklace.
Even that couldn't have been easy, for
guess he had 10 use his pencil when
Mrs. Missioner wasn't in the room.
It isn't likely she gave him many op-
portunities Of being alone with the
Jewels she priced above all the others
In her collection. You see, when her
husband gave her that necklace and
told her about the Maharanee dia.
mond, he made up n 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 1t comes to jewels and
gowns, with the Jewels leading by
city block"
Fitch. in his capacity az o lover.
became somewhat restive under the
detectives cynical summing up OF
the sex, and relieved himself with the
remark;
IF women are any funnier than
r;en, I'd like you to show me how.
Iour experience is all very well. lieu
tenant; but I've seen them in their lit
tie white cots in hospltals-both
kinds; ami have seen them on tho
operating table. and can tell you
the woman has yet to be born that
can do as many fool stunts as the
average mani" After this burst Of
romance-born frankness he subsidized.
well. we won't quarrel about the
sex, DOCTOR said Britz, though
must say don't Hike TO hear you get
ting of 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
on an art model when he started In 10