Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-03-27


placed the watch locked, but to my
surprise ything-her trunk, bureau
drawers. suitcase, alligator skin bag.
glove and jewel boxes+an were open.
At first this induced me to believe that
1 was on the wrong track, but a mo-
ment's reflection told me. that was
on the right one. If the watch was in
her possession and her room was
searched during her absence to lock
her receptacles would avail nothing
and might indicate that she had some
thing to hide.
However, 1 searched every nook and
corner, looked into the toes of her
shoes and felt of her clothes. No
watch did find. Hearing some one
in the hall. l stood for a moment with
my hand on the doorknob. The foot
steps passed down the staircase, and
there was perfect stiffness.
I heard the faint ticking of watch.
But where? Had not searched
everywhere and found no watch. not
even one rightfully belonging to Sarah
Tucker? I walked toward the center
Of the room and stood listening. had
lost the ticking, and it was some time
before could pick It up again, and
when did 1 failed to locate it. There
is no direction to sound, though the
nearer one approaches it the louder it
Is. moved toward the door where
I had first heard the ticking. but If
there was any increase or diminution
failed to detect it. At the other end
Of the room was an open fireplace
with a crate between the two win
dows. 1 moved toward one of the
windows and stood by it. / fancied
the ticking to be more distinct.
moved slowly to the other window,
stopping to listen after every step. and
when was before the fireplace the
ticking seemed louder than at any
other time.
realized that. as the children say
in their hiding games. I was getting
warm" put my ear to the fire.
place. and the ticking was louder
I thrust my hand up the chimney and
felt its sides. Presently I clutched q
watch. 1t was hanging to nail. I
took it out from its hiding place and
saw that it was lady's watch. and
l did not doubt that it was Cecile's.
Hurrying to my room, I washed the
SCOT of my arm and changed my dress.
for the sleeve was blackened, then
walked the floor to calm myself that
might form plan for turning the
obloquy of the theft from innocent
George Chace to the real thief. Sarah
Tucker. The stolen article now being
in my hands. If discovered with it the
charge would fall upon me. 1t flashed
upon me to put the watch back in the
chimney. Fortunately none of the
guests had come in and had plenty Of
time to do so. Then wrote in dis
gu1sed hand on a bit Of paper, listen
at the fireplace of Miss fuckers room,"
and, slipping into our hosts chamber.
left It on his dresser, where he would
not fail to see it as soon as he went
there. He had taken q party out in
an automobile and came in before the
other groups. As soon as he entered
he went to his room to dress for din
ner. was on the watch, and in few
minutes after his arrival l heard him
60 to Miss fuckers room. When he
came out saw that he grasped some
thing in his hand. At dinner saw by
his face that something momentous
was on his mind. But he controlled its
repression so. successfully that alone
noticed it. When be arose from the
table he announced that he would like
to see as all in the drawing room. Aft
er we had assembled there he said:
a great injustice has been done to
George Chace. The stolen watch has
come to light under circumstances to
Indicate that he vas made the victim