Semi-weekly herald., 1912-01-15

leading man. "Jim. 90 through hint
Jim only shrugged those fullbach
shoulders whom the burglar attempted
to petrify him with q look. and his
search through the prisoners pockets
was thorough. Mrs. Dslaroche gasped
her delight whom from the captive's
coat the porter drew forth q heavy sil
yer casket. and held It toward her.
rs that your property. madam p
asked the house detective.
Yes. yes" said Mrs. Delaroche. ear
srly. "Oh, dear. am 20 glad he aid
not escape with 1t. What would"
She checked herself hastily.
You must come to me In the morn
Ing, Mr.-Mr- for reward" she add
ed in tones 30 sweetly suggestive of a
golden guerdon that tho detsctive's
eyes glistened.
Thank you. madam. that 10 not nee
essary." he replied psrfunctorily
Let's see what else this fellow has
got"
He and the porter explored the cap.
tivs's pockets further, but found moth,
Ing more in the way of loot Mrs
Delaroche looked hastily through her
desk and dressing table and told the
man apparently nothing else was miss
Ing.
Then" said the house detective, .I
guess there is nothing else for US to
do but to turn this burglar over to the
police. May we use your telephone,
madam"
Mrs. Delaroche gladly nodded assent,
and the sleuth continued:
Jim. call up Headquarters, and
have couple of men sent here to take
this fellow away"
The effect of that command upon
the prisoner startled everyone. Not
only did It cause him to break his sui
len silence. but 1t drew from him
words that made the house detective
involuntarily loose hts hold on the man
and step back, staring. Jim's Jaw fell.
and Mrs. Delaroche gazed Mt the fell
low. wide-eyed
Il can save you that trouble" said
the burglar, You need not telephone
for the Central Once men. am Lieu.
tenant Detective Britt of Headquar.
tersl And these" and he nodded to.
ward the silver casket, are the miss
Ing Missioner diamonds that were
stolen from the richest woman In
America"
Turning to Mrs. Deisroche abruptly.
he said,
Madam. how do you come to be in
possession OF these jewels?"
All the painting loveliness of Mrs.
Delaroche shivered as the sharp ques
ton bored It's way to her inner con
sciousness. II was now her turn to be
silent She looked at the Headauar.
ters man as II he held In his hand her
life. liberty. and whatever chance re
mained to her OF happiness. A CLEAN
Of appeal glowed In her beautiful eyes
for moment. Plainly, II she did not
speak 1t was not for lack of will Her
words were as frozen as the normal
condition OF her thoughts. She put
her hands to her breast and gazed at
the Central ONCE man as piteously as
woman OF her Junoesque charms
could be expected to do. The ingenue
role was impossible to Mrs. Delaroche;
but had 1t not been so. undoubtedly
she would have assumed It in this emer.
gency.
Answer me, madam; this calls for
an immediate explanation You told
this man these Jewels belonged to you.
How does 1t come you have the dia.
monds everybody in New York knows
as the Maharanee necklace of Mrs.
Doris Missioner"
Mrs. Delaroche still struggled family
for speech Her lids quiversd; her eyes
alternately closed and then were fixed
upon the detective. and tremor. be-
ginning at the crown of her adorable
head. moved in waves to her perfect
head fall upon her arms as they
stretched inertly across little table.
There was no smallest streak of pity
In the look Detective Britz bent upon
her, He had dealt with women OF her
type before many times, he told him
sell. and now that he was so near the
heart of the great Missioner mystery,
1t was not his purpose to be Influenced
In the slightest degree by the distress
OF Diana. to say nothing of an Aphro-
dite. Dry sobs choked the woman.
Her eyes strained at ther tendons so
painfully that tears would have been a
divine relief. Whether she was Erieved
or frightened was not SO apparent as
that she was sorsly distressed. Min
utes passed before she lifted her face
and once more looked at the detective.
The house sleuth and his porter had
retreatsd yard or more, and the
erstwhlle pajsma squad. now an as
founded force of Cossacks and Bedouins
In q varied array Of dressing gowns
and bathrobes, looked and listened In
hushed expectancy.
Come, Mrs. Delaroche." said Britz.
sternly. You really must not waste