The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-03

though. Make him speak"
But that task was beyond the house
detectives powers. irresponsible
though his mind might be as com
pared with the citys sleuth's and blue
coats, he hardly felt justified In en-
ploying the most medieval forms OF
torture to accomplish that purpose.
Seemingly, nothing short of the boot,
the thumbscrew and the Iron Maiden
would drag a word from the captive.
He maintained his sullen silence, al
though It might be said he broke s. in
way, for the furious looks he cast
at the pajama squad were almost audi
BILE. Those looks caused several OF
the squads doughty heroes suddenly
to realize the unconventionality Of
their attire, and to send them preclp-
iitously in search Of dressing gowns.
One or two of them remained, how
ever, and the house detective, who, in
hotels as frostily patrician as the
Renaissance, did not often have an
opportunity to hold the center Of the
stage, was fairly well content with
his audience.
Now. then, youl" he said, brusque-
ly addressing the prisoner, speak up.
What were you doing here7"
He got my jewelsl" cried Mrs. Del
aroche.
The prisoner turned one OF his sui
len looks upon her, but, conscious that
she was robed as dalntily as the most
fastidious society actress in the Du
Barryest Of bedroom scenes could be,
her equanimity was not so vulnerable
as that Of the deserters from the pa
jana squad.
"He took the whole case OF Jewels
from under my pillow" she continued,
addressing the house detective. "They
must be in his possession still, unless
he dropped thom while he was running
away"
I'VE will soon find out" said the
leading man. Jim. go through hint"
Jim only shrugged those fullback
shoulders when the burglar attempted
to petrify him with a look, and his
search through the prisoners pockets
was thorough. Mrs. Delaroche gasped
her delight when from the captive's
coat the porter drew forth heavy sill
yer casket, and held It toward her.
rs that your property, madam"
asked the house detective.
"Yes, yes" said Mrs. Delaroche, Gag.
erly. "Oh, dear, l am so glad he did
not escape with It. What would"
She checked herself hastily.
you must come to me in the morn
Ing, Mr.-Mr.- for a reward" she add
ed in tones 80 sweetly suggestive Of a
golden guerdon that the detectives
eyes glistened.
Thank you, madam, that is not nee
essary," he replied perfunctorily.
Let's see what else this fellow has
got"
He and the porter explored the cap
tive'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, 81
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. Deleroche gladly nodded assent,
and the sleuth continued
Jim, call up Headquarters, and
have a couple Of men sent here to take
this fellow away"
The effect of that command upon
the prisoner startled everyone. Not
only did II cause him TO break his sui
len silence, but II drew from him
words that made the house detective
involuntarily loose HIS hold on the man
and step back, staring. Jim's Jaw fell,
and Mrs. Delaroche gazed at the fell
low, wide-eyed.
'I can save you that trouble" said
the burglar. "You need not telephone
for the Central Office men. am Lieu
tenant Detective Britz 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. DeIaroche abruptly.
he said:
Madam, how do you come to be in
possession of these iewels?"
All the painting loveliness OF Mrs.
Delaroche shivered as the sharp ques-
tion bored it's way to her inner con.
sciousness. II was now her turn to be
silent. She looked at the Headuuar.
ters man as II he held in his hand her
life. liberty. and whatever chance re,
manned to her of happiness. A CLEAN
OF appeal glowed In her beautiful eyes
for moment. Plainly, If she did not
speak II 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
a woman OF her Junoesque charms
could be expected to do. The lngenue
role was impossible to Mrs. Delaroohe:
but had 1t not been so, undoubtedly
she would have assumed II in this emer.
gency.
Answer me, madam; this calls for
an Immediate explanation. You told
this man these jewels belonged to you.
How does It come you have the dla-