The Washington times., 1912-09-04

trlc light. Now then for It,
Mr.. Claye's proceedings were very
simple. He examined the lock and key
and shifted at both. He looked rather
more narrowly at the bolt. Then he
took from his waistcoat pocket a screw
driver with very fine point and went
TO work on the screws which held the
belt plate to the door.
Within quite a few minutes every
screw had been loosened to such an ex-
tent that a gentle, continuous push
from outside would have forced them
out and rendered the bolt useless. Yet,
looked at in a casual fashion. the bolt
and its fittings appeared to be intact.
Mr.. Claye put the screw-driver into
his pocket again and turned to the bed.
The coverlet and sheets were folded
down; upon the pillow was opened out
Miss Driscols night-gown. Mr.. Claye
regarded the latter article of female at
tire very attentiVely before he touched
1.-THE wished to impress its exact folds
upon his mind and eye. At last he un-
folded 1t with deft fingers and stretched
out the two sleeves right and left.
She may sleep on the right side; she
may sleep on the Left he said. "I'n
make sure in any case"
He produced a small vial from an
inner pockekt Of his waistcoat, and,
carefully taking out the cork, he
sprinkled a few drops of its contents
on each sleeve of the nightgown, just
above the elbow. He sprinkled few
more on the lace work at the breast: a
few more still on each of the pillows
and along the edge of the sheet where
the sleeper's face might be supposed to
come in contact with 1t.
"A little knowledge of science, unused
Mr.. Claye as he recorked the vial and
returned 1t to his pocket, "is a very
valuable thing
original folds. laid 1t IN the exact spot
where he had found II and appeared
satisfied with his handlwork He bent
down and shifted slightly at the pill
nothing perceiVable in the way of odor
nor was there any stain on the linen:
No one could have said that the bed
had been tampered with.
him. opened the door gently and stepped
quietly back into his own room. Once
ne arrived there. he took nip from his
ssK safa ana "Ped ss ha sSd
He turned out his light and standing
at the slightly open door of his room
listened for the sound OF footsteps on
the stairs at the end of the corridor
Five minutes-ten minutes-a quarter OF
an hour passed away-then he heard
light footsteps and heavy ones-quite a
coming to her room attended by a
chambermaid and by a couple OF por.
ters carrying the missing trunks
Mr.. Claye waited until the porters had
been tipped and had gone away; he
waited until the chambermaid had gone
away with a Goodnight, madam
He waited until he heard Miss Dris
coils kew turn in the lock and Miss
Driscors bolt slip into its socket
Then he uttered a sigh of great salts
faction and went softly downstairs ant
found Mr.. Baxendale studying th'
Graphic in the smoking room.
"Wen?' asked that inQuistive younl
/ played my part to pefection,
cts all right" replied Mr. Claye
"All right, my son. All that you haV
to do now is to retire to your virtuou
couch at precisely II o'clock and I
sleep the sleep Of the good until to
morrow morning. You can leave all tn
rest to me-its now all over but tn
shouting, and we shall win, hand
down."
In her loom. upstairs. Miss Driscol
who was very tired and who was al
ready In bed, felt herself impeIled t
cleep in singularly soft and soothin
fashion.
sun was high in the heavens, and
with the strong light TO wake her. Sh
started up then with wild conscious
ness that something had happened.
She stared about her at the strang
room, at the trunks, at her clothes an
suddenly remembered everything, an
she clutched violently at the thing
which she had fastened round her wais
There was nothing but her unfettere
draperies there.
The steel chain and the green bag an
the diamonds were gone,