The Washington herald., 1914-01-11

4
Then the man at my side rubbed his
chin between meditative thumb and
forefinger. He was plainly puzzled He
looked at Alice Churchill and at her
brother. and then back at me again.
Then. having once more absently ca
ressed his chin. he swung about and
faced the wondering and silent girl who
sat opposite him.
Excuse me. Miss. but would you mind
answering a question or two?''
| 1t was her brother who spoke before
she had time to answer
Wait, he interposed. Just who are
| you, anyway"
The man. for answer. lifted the lapel
OF his coat and exhibited a silver badge
well. what does that mean?" demand
| ed the quite unimpressed youth
| That I'm an officer"
| What kinda detective?'
YES"
For what. For this placer
| mo, for the Maiden Lane Protective
/ Association"
! well, what's that got to do with u.s.
| The large-oodied man looked at him a
little impatiently.
| you'll understand that when the time
| ccmes," was his retort
Now, young lady," he began again.
swinging back to the puzzled girl. ID
you say you lost necklace in tina,
theater box?"
| The girl nodded.
| Yes. ] must have" she answered.
looking a little frightened.
''And you say IL was stolen from your
1 mo, i didn't say that i had my neck
lace on when i was in the box-botl
Benny and ] know that"
And 1t disappeared?'
| Yes"
"when?"
II noticed it was gone when 1 sat down
| at the table here
The dominating gentleman turned
round to me.
You saw the necklace from the second
| box?' he asked.
| II did" was my answer.
| "And you saw it disappear" he de-
manded.
The Jewel thief with the crumpIed
shirt front tried to break in at this
him with an impatient side swing of the
hand.
when was that" he continued.
what difference does IL make" I
calmly inquired. resenting the peremptor-
mess of his interrogations.
He stopped short and looked up at me.
Then the first ghost OF a smile, a patient
and almost sorrowful SMILE came to his
4 lips.
II
| witnessed this man across the table take
the necklace from the young ladyg'
1T practically amounts to that
That is. you actually detected him
commit this crime?"
II don't think ! said that"
But you assumed he committed this
crime?'
Rather
Just when was IL committed"
L .DurinV what they call a dark change
A, IN the first act-'
You mean the necklace was on be-
\ fore that change. and gone when the
| lights were turned on again.?
| Precisely"
| "And the position and actions OF this
man were suspicious to your
Extremely So"
| "In what way"
| I'm different ways"
| He had crowded suspiciously close to
the wearer of the necklace?
| He had
And his eyes were glued on it during
the early part OF that act?"
"They certlinly were"
| And you watched him.
with almost as much interest as he
! watched the necklace"
And after the dark change, as you
call IL. the lsdy's neck was bare?
1T was.
| You were sure of this
Positively"
And what did this man across the
| tai BILE do?"
hurried out of the theater and made his
escape-or tried to make his escape"
1T embarrassed him, | suppose. to
have you studying him so closely?
He certainly looked embarrassed"
"Of course" admitted MY interrogation.
Then he sighed deeply. almost contented-
ly, after which he sat with contemplative
and pursed-up lips.
II guess I've got this whole snarl
now" he complacently admitted. "All
but one kink-'
What one kink?" demanded Benny
Churchill.
The man at my side did not answer
him. Instead, he rose to his feet.
II want you to come with me-" he
had the effrontery to remark, with a
curt head not in my direction
II much prefer staying here" 1 re-
torted. And for the second time he
smiled his saddened> smile.
''Oh, it's nothing objectionable" he ex-
planned. ''Nobody's going to hurt you.
And Wen be back here in ten minutes"
But, oddly enough, I Dave rooted OBJ
jections TO deserting my guests"
Your guests won't be sorry, / i'm
agine." he replied, as he looked at his
silver turnip of a watch. And we're
losing good time"
Please CO." said Alice Churchill. en-
boldened, apparently by some instructive
conclusion which she could not, or did
not care to explain.
1 also noticed. as 1 rose to my feet,
that / still held the necklace in my
hand. l was little puzzled as to just
what to do with it.
That said the sagacious stranger.
you'd better leave here. Let the young
lady keep II until we get back. And you,
belligerent-lipped jewel thief. you stay
And without bein' rude. you might see
that the young lady and her brother
stay right here with you"
Then he took me companionably by the
arm and led me away.
What's the exact meaning Of all
thisT' I inquired as we threaded our
course out to the cab stand and went
lodging westward along Forty-third
street, in a taxi The rain. j noticed
through the fogged window, was still
falling.
II want you to show me exactly where
the man sat in that box" was his an
swer. And two minutes in the theater
will do it,
''And what good l inquired. lis that
going to do me?'
TT may do you lot Of good. he re-
torted. as he flung open the cab door
Il feel rather CORY for yor II X
doesn't" was my answer as l followed
him out. We had drawn up before des-
olate looking stage door over which