The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-17

PART ONE.
vE left Our Mutual Girl sleep
Ah ing the sleep of the young
Wv and happy while midnight
thief, a dog acting at the
direction of a criminal intelligence, was
carrying away the cameo necklace
which her aunt has just bestowed upon
her for a birthday present And SO
now. with the license which Is the
common property of the historian and
the camera, we leap nimbly forward to
the middle of the following forenoon
and find Margaret and Mrs. knicker-
booker home on Fifth avenue
AS yet the girl is unaware of her loss.
Under ordinary conditions her first i'm
pulse upon arising would have been 10
take out her precious necklace and link
Il about her throat and take II of, and
let the shining, shimmerins string slip
through her fingers again and again.
But. as it befalls, this Is no ordinary
day. and the prospect of what Is in
store for her has made her forget tenn
porarilv even her birthday gift.
By special appointment she and her
aunt were to have called at 10 o'clock
upon one of the busiest men in New
York. and one Of the most noted
Robert Chambers. perhaps the most
popular novelist in America and GER
tainIy the most skillful and gifted
writer of fiction dealing with society
folk.
But instead Of viewing his studio-or.
rather, his workroom. since that is the
name by which this unaffected genius
prefers TO call the place where he pro-
duces his novels and short stories-the
two women did not leave home. Mar
garet. never tired of the shifting pic
lures Of street life. had been watching,
wide eyed, from her window the pass
ing scenes. She expected soon TO drink
In the displays in the gay shop windows
and the costumes Of the women shop
pers.
Margaret, while waiting to go out.
paused for a peep at her canoes. A
minute or two later Mrs. Knickerbocker
| is startled by an alarmed, mortified
cutlery. Forgetting the poise of calm
ness, which is a part of her. the good
lady runs up the stairs. At the door
Of her niece's suite she meets Margaret
all transformed by distress and shock,
holding up both her hands and ex-
| claiming that the white satin case in
which the necklace had been stored
| away the night before is gone. Then
Kid Joseph enters. In his hands he
carries the case. which he has found
outside Margarct's window.
If Mrs. knickerbocker Is certain al
any one thing on earth it is the honesty
of her servants. Naturally. her firs,
thought is to notify the police. She runs
to the telephone. but Margaret halts he,
as she is in the act OF lifting the re.
ceiyer from the hook Even in the
midst of her grief the girls sharp ewes
have detected something which her
aunt did not notice. This something Is
the smeary imprint OF a grimy thumb
mans thumb. 10 judge by its size
upon the smooth white covering OF the
rified jewel case Already plan is
forming within her nimbIe young brain
Don't call the police" she begs her
aunt: please don't do that except as
last resort. If | can ] want to solve
this robbery myself Besides. aunt1e
think Of the publicity if this case is
put into the hands OF the regular au-
thorities-the newspaper stories, the Wis.
its from the reporters. and all that"
This last eXerts a direct appeal upor