, 1913-01-02

M . tulhh Vu re u Iud0 Oh
sense. And you're not too young
That's why ! didn't send for Harry
Wardrop. He's too young"
WINGED at that Miss Letitia leaned
forward and put her bony hand on my
knee.
I've been robbed" she announced In
a half whisper.
"lndeedT' ! said. properly thunder
struck. I bad always believed that only
the use of the fourth dimension in
space would enable any one not de-
sired to gain access to the Maitland
house.
"Not the pearls?' I asked.
She answered my question with an.
other.
When you had those pearls ap-
praised for me at the jewelers. last
year. how many were thereY'
Not quite a hundred. l ~think-yes,
n~inety-eight"
Exactly" she corroborated, in trf-
umph. They belonged to my mother.
Margery's mother got some Of them.
That's a good many years ago. young
man. They are worth more than they
were then-a great deal more"
twenty-five thousand dollars" 1 re-
peated. you remember. Miss Letitia,
that l protested vigorously at the time
against your keeping them in the
house,
Miss Letitia ignored this, but before
she went on she repeated again her
catlike bouncing at the door. only to
find the hall empty as before.
Yesterday morning." she said grave
liy, Il got down the box-they have al
ways been kept in the small safe in the
top of my closet. When Jane found a
picture of my niece, Margery Fleming.
In Harry's o I thought 1t likely
there was some truth in the gossip
Jane heard about the two: and, II
there was going to be a wedding, why.
the pearls were to go to Margery any
how. But ! found the door of the safe
unlocked and a little bit open. and ten
of the pearls were goner'
Gomez | echoed. 'If ten, why not
the whole ninety eighth
How do ! know?" she replied, with
asperity. That's what I keep a law.
yer for"
But you need a detective" l cried
81 will not have the police" she per
sisted %infexibly. They viii come
around asking impertinent questions
and telling the newspapers that a fool
tsh old had got what she de-
served"
Then you are going to send them t.
n bank?"
You have less sense than I thought"
she snapped. 81 am going to leave
them where they are and watch. Who.
ever took the ten will be back for
more. mark my words"
81 dom advise it." | said decidedly.
STUFF and nonsensel' the old lady
said, with spirit.
Then what do you want me to do?
! asked Have Bella arrested and her
trunk searched?'
"Her trunk she said sc%ornfully. 81
turned 1t inside out this morning. l
want you to stay here for three or four
nights When ! catch the thief I want
my lawyers right by"
1t ended by my ~consenting, of course.
Miss Letitia was seldom refused. Lit
tie Miss lane lighted me to the door of
the guest room. Her thin gray curls
bobbed as she examined the water
pitcher. saw to the towels and felt the
bed linen for dampness. At the door
she turned around timidly.
"Has-anything happened to disturb
my sister," she asked. "She-has been
almost irritable all day"
"She is worried about her colored
orphans" | evaded. she does not ap-
prove of fireworks for them on the
Fourth of July"
l put out the light and sat down
near the window, with my cigar and
my thoughts | had finished my sec
ond cigar. There was a sound of fun
bling at one of the shutters below.
With Miss Letitia's story of the pearls
fresh In my mind l felt at once that
the thief. finding his ten a prize, had
come back for more.
i found on the mantel a heavy brass
candlestick. and with 1t In my hand l
stepped into the gloom of the hallway
and felt my way to the stairs. l had
Kicked off my shoes, a fact l regretted
later. went into the library, which
was beneath my room, but the sounds
at the window had ceased. l thought
1 heard steps on the walk going to-
ward the front Of the house. ! wheel
ed quickly and started for the dooi
when something struck me a terrific
blow on the nose. | reeled back and
Sat down. dizzy and shocked. 1t was
only when 40 second blow followed the
first that | realized what had occurred.
With my two hands out before me In
the ~blackness | had CROPPED. one hand
on either side Of the open door. which,
Of course. | had struck violently with
my nose. My candlestick had rolled
under the table. and after crawling
around on my hands and knees ] found
Il. For ali her boosted watchfulness