The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-20

You mean she has never indicated
her preference to you? Come now,
surely in a burst of confidence she
dropped some hint as to her inclina-
tions?'
1t was plain to Britt that Miss Hol-
comb revolted against violating the
intimate condolences of her employer.
To reveal the secrets that had come
to her through association with the
woman who seemingly had turned her
back on her now was so inconsistent
with Miss Holcomb's entire character
that Britz recognized the necessity
of urging his question.
"1 am not asking this out Of any
motive of idle curiosity" he said. 1T
is of vital Importance | should be in
formed of Mrs. Missioner's relations
with Mr. Sands and Mr.. Griswold, as
well as of the opportunity each had
for obtaining the diamonds"
"I am sure neither of them would
or could have taken them" Miss Hol'
comb said
THAT may be perfectly true" re-
piled Britt. 81 do not say either OF
them took the diamonds, but | must
follow every line of inquiry that re-
veals itself to me. Now, isn't it
fact, Miss Holcomb, that Griswold vas
the preferred suitor?"
81 do not think So" she said in
low voice.
You mean she preferred sands?"
YES"
Miss Holcomb, do you know the
history Of the Maharanee diamond"
he suddenly fired.
A quick spark of memory kindled
| her mind, and with the first fash, she
understood the import of his question.
Mrs Missioner told me the history
of the stone" she said 81 believe
there was some scandal connected
with its purchase in India. She told
me that when her husband obtained
| it, there was some talk of 1t having
been stolen from a temple and that
the provincial native government tried
to regain possession of It, Mr.. Mis-
sioner succeeded, however, in retain
ing 1t as part of his collection"
what opportunity did the Indian
servant have of obtaining the neck.
lace?"
None at ALL" she answered hope
lessly, unless he broke into the safe,
and believe that was not DONE
"Mrs Missioner informed me that
on one occasion, when the necklace
was lying on the table, the servant en-
tered the room with box. You were
in the room at the time. Was he
close enough to the table to touch the
necklaceG"
81 remember the incident very
we'll" she replied. "I took the box
from him at the door and he turned
around and went downstairs. l dc
not believe he was within ten feet Of
the table at any time"
81 don't know what to think" Britt
said, after some reflection. Almost
as soon as new clew bobs up, Il
falls down and | have to begin al
over again. have no more questions
to ask to-day"
Fitch accompanied the detective on
OF the prison, begging vainly for som'
word OF encouragement. Britt an
swered his questions with monosyl
tables, as If he feared to commit him
self with regard to the outcome Of hi
investigation. Just before parting
however, Britz said:
Every line that develops in thi
case, you can rest assured, will be fol
lowed to the end So far, nothing ha
been discovered that changes the as
pect Of the case in the slightest de
gree"
The detective walked to Headquar
ters and entered the Office of tn
Chief
Has Donnelly or Carson reporte'
anything new?" he inquired.
Nothing" answered the Chiei
"And you?"
Nothing that throws any light o.
the case"
"Britz." the Chief remarked, a
though delivering some weighty cor
clusion, IL think you're working o
the wrong hypothesis. You seem I
have decided that Miss Holcomb is II
nocent. II you will survey the cas-
as 1t stands, you will have to acknow
edge that absolutely everything in
points to her guilt. do not undel
take to say what her motive was 1
stealing the Jewels, unless 1t was sin
ply the feminine lust for ornaments
! feel certain, also, that she was nc
alone in the crime. My belief is this
she took the necklace out of the SAT-
turned 1t over to DR., Fitch, or som'
one else, to have the duplicate made
and then returned the false Jewels
the safe"
"But where were the paste gem
: made?" inquired Britt.
|, That's for you to find out" snappe
/, the Chief.
/. IL have personally visited ever
> manufacturer of paste gems in tn
J. city and in Philadelphia, Boston, Blu
, falo. and Washington. My men hav
!. been to all the places In the smallC
!. cities. Manufacturers in all the oth'
Z cities of the country have been vi
tied by the local police, and | feel a