Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-08
.,..se Z ;.
! *ABit of Amateur
! Detective Work
!: By a Young Girl Who Used
: Feminine Instinct
!: By EDITH D. MARTIN
: Copyright by American Press Asso-
o;, 1011
By EDITH D. MARTIN
Copyright by American Press Asso
citation, 1911.
Observation-Disclosures

4 gay winter house party was as
sembled in the country home OF Ed
ward Giddings. \ couple OF dozen
young people spent their time there
during the day, some sleighing-for
there was snow@on the ground-some
skating. while others in the house
were fitting before the great open
fircplaces. of which there were sew
eral. In the evening there was bridge
whist and five hundred and dancing.
There were three young persons
present whose relations were natural.
" somewhat strained-George Chace.
Edna Hilliard and Sarah Tucker.
Chace had been engaged to Sarah
Tucker, but had broken with her to
engage himself to Edna Hilliard. Miss
Tucker did not appear to be much
troubled over her jilting and was car
ring On mild affair with Evan Walk
c.. Some OF our party-for | was a
rueSt-thou"ht it was George who had
been Tilted instead of Sarah. AT any
rate, of the three concerned in the
transition from enc girl to another. he
seen el the ;roSt uneasy. | had known
linn from hC-hood. he often having
carried my books for me to and from
school. and had shown me other at
tcntions. Edna fIiiliard knew slight
" and th"ucht very well of her. As
10 Sarah Tucker | dis,il;ed her.
Il seemed 10 NE that George was
~hatween two fires. He was just one
of tho~e fellows to get into trouble
with girls and very likely to make a
2tsailiance--eood natured, impulsive
reckless. There had been times when
I could have drawn proposal from
him. but was not sure but that he
would he sorry the next day for what
he had done. Nevertheless despite his
faults. admit that | was very fond
If him.
One evening we were playing romp'
ing game III the 'irawing room-blind
mans buff-an1 Or" OF the girls. Cecile
Stanford. who WAS b'indfolded. caught
George Cllace. and the handkerchief
was transferred from her eyes to his,
| noticed s"on after this that his old
fame. Sarah Tucker. was caperlng
about in f:rnt nf him, occasionally. by
sounds permitting him to know her To-
cation. III this way he followed her
or she drew him-l didn't know winch
into il corner formed by projecting
f-aDlarc where for moment they dis
aDDcarcd fr"n ulr view. Sarah was
caught. and they reappeared. George
nuilin~ TIE handkerchief from his eyes
White Sarah was blindfo!ded Ceclle
Stanford noti,e,l that her watch that
had been claSncd to her corsage was
missing. The game was stopped, ano
we all proceeded to hunt for the lost
tiroenierp. It was not found. Giddings
looked very much put out. He shut
the doors and said:
"SomatLiny is wrong here. would
gladly buy Miss Stanford another
wat, Il if il would obliterate the mat
ter. but il wouldn't. That l have q
thief among my friends is painfully eV'
ident.. Some one in this room has the
watch. Garner and Miss Ellsworth
are in the billiard room playing a
game and consequently cannot be sus
pe"ted. propose that they be brought
in and asked 10 search every one OF
u.s."
The plan was carried out. The watch
was not found. but valuable scarf
pin belonging to one of the men was
discovered il George Chace's coat
pocket. This fixed the identity of the
thief to the satisfaction of most OF
those concerned. George acted as any
one would act under the circumstances
lie turned 'ale.
10 you Intend to arrest meT he
asked Of the host.
"Ccrtainly net. This affair is DaC
encu.h without making it subject FOL
tie newspapers"
Nithou. another word George turned
aud walked cut Of the room. His
fan, ee did net follow him. In half an
hour he came down stairs with bis
ovcrcoat on his arm and his hat in his
hanl. was the only person who went
ont to say rooGby to him. Even Miss
Hi.iard fai.pd TO do so.
"Neep mp your courage. George
saiG. "Iou've been made victim OF
.l,,i rnrnoin horn and see