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

of those marvellous dlamonds. Tne
pursuit of the criminal fairly sparkled
with exciting possibilities, and Britz
felt the thrill Of the chase even before
he started the pursuit.
Britz paced nervously up and down
his room, revolving the Incidents sur
rounding the discovery of the theft
in his mind but he was unable to pick
a clew on which to work Nor did the
occurrences in which Donnelly and
Carson participated furnish any prom
ising material.
''I'll begin at the very bottom" he
n.urn.ured. "and work gradually to the
top" He sauntered out OF the house,
walking with the air of one trying to
lengthen moments of reflection. In
, front Of the Missioner homo he
stopped. surveying the massive stone
walls. as II trying to figure the possi-
bility of nocturnal intrusion. The
front door was of heavy bronze and
was swung open by the butler In re-
sponse to the ringing OF the bell
IT'S Mrs Missioner at homer" asked
Britz
The butler eyed him suspiciously.
"Who wishes to see herr" he asked.
Lieutenant Britz, of Headquarters"
After a long delay, he was ushered
into the same room in which the incl
dents preceding Miss Holcomb's ar
rest had occurred.
81 have come to inquire more mi
nutely into the disappearance Of the
jewels" he explained.
Mrs. Missioner's face showed lines
OF deep suffering. Heavy rings en-
circled her eyes, deep furrows SCARED
her forehead.
"I am more than anxious TO supply
you with all the information in my
possession" she said. 1T is meager
enough, and | almost despair of ever
seeing my jewels again"
Madam, no case is hopeless" Britz
soothed THE immense value of the
diamonds will make their recovery all
the easier. feel safe in surmising
that none Of them, or only very few
of them, have been disposed of as yet.
Now, do you recall the last time you
woro the collarette?"
1T was a week ago, at dinner in
my home" she replied.
"And when before that?"
about two weeks before, Mt a
dance In the home Of friend"
How long have you owned the col
larette?"
p about ten years"
1T was a gift from your husband, I
believer" Britz asked.
Al
Where was It purchased?"
"The Maharanee was bought in In
dia. The other stones we're gathered
from time to time, and were strung
together In the form of the collaretto
ut Tiffany's."
'That was ten years ago?"
1T was"
"Since then, has the collarette been
out of your possession at any timer
"I recall only one instance" she re-
Piled
when was that?" he asked.
about two years ago. sent 1t to
Tiffany's for resetting"
"The substitution was hardly made
there" he smiled. "You are abso
lutely sure the collarette, with thai
one exception, has been in no one
: else's possession"
Absolutely sure" the widow nm
, swered.
May examine the safer" h
asked.
: Through a magnifying glass h
: studied the steel door of the compart
: ment, after which the widow set thu
combination and swung open the safe
The interior was as bare of suspicious
l marks as the exterior.
/, "Donnelly and Carson are right u
this extent. 1t is an inside job" HI
l pronounced.
5 I'VE must ascertain the day OF tn,
. robbery as closely as possible" h
1 said. "Two years ago is too remot
3 time on which to begin work. I'm
: derstand that you called In Mr.. Rams
h come the other night? Has any othe
: expert seen the jewels in the last tw
I years?"
i "No other expert, but Mr.. Ranscom
3 and looked over the collection bt
i fore | went abroad eighteen month
n ago He saw the collarette at tina
r time"
, "Goodl" flashed Britz. "of course
: he said nothing as to the jewels bein
5 paste?"
> Nothing" answered Mrs. Mi
/. sioner.
It "Then II is almost certain that tn
y real jewels We're in your safe then
II pronounced Britz "Since then, VIII
r has been with you when you wore th
k collarette?"
3 "Mr, Griswold and Mr.. Sands wei
IS my escorts to the dinner two weel
ago. They and Miss March also wei
70 my guests at the opera"
s. Now, please tell me exactly. wh
lt was in the room when you put the CO
'r larette on and when you took It o
a. on coming home two weeks ago.
N Britz inquired.
* Miss Holcomb was in the roo
s. when opened the combination of II
n safe. / believe the collarette lay {
Of the table until | was fully dresse
TO Then Mr.. Sands and Mr.. Griswold a