Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-10-23
CHAPTER X.
No Matter Who the Thief May Be.

CHAP EH \.
No Matter Who the Thief May Be.
"Mr. Delorme," said Moreaux-the
two men faced each other across the
library table in that small room which
was called the dem asked for this
short talk with you when telephoned
two hours ago because l had an i'm
portant question to ask you-one
which may prove to be Of grave i'm
portance."
Every well, Birge. But surely you
don't have to request interviews with
me. Nobody is more welcome at my
house than you are. The latch-string
is always out to you"
II know that, sir, and thank you
heartily for it."
what is the all-important ques-
tion?"
Before asking 1t will preface it
by short statement"
well? Well? Go ahead"
81 have felt very much concerned
about the disappearance Of those
jewels of Lorna's; more so than you
have, l imagine. At all events, /
promised Lorna that would do my
utmost to have them restored to her."
THAT is very kind of you, Birge.
Lorna prizes such things highly-and,
incidentally, she thinks that you are
about the salt of the earth"
"In order to keep my promise to
her I have, in one way and another,
engaged the services Of several 9th
ers."
Detectives, I suppose? I'm sorry.
I did not wish to have the affair
noised abroad"
"Detectives-and some others who
are not exactly detectives, and 1t will
not be noised abroad, Mr.. Delorme."
II am glad of that. Please go on"
Inquiry, deduction, thought, care
full analysis, and some abstract in
vestigation in different quarters have
collectively convinced me that 1t will
not be difficult matter to recover the
lost articles. The question is this
Do you want those lost jewels re-
turned, without regard to the identity
OF the person who took them?"
Most certainly / do"
mo matter who the the thief
may prove to be-"
1.-THE answer is the same, Birge."
do you recall our conversation at
the breakfast table this morning?"
Every bit of 1t, word for word"
II fu IN on
ahead with a free hand, without fear
or favor, no matter upon whom the
burden of guilt may fall?"
"You have. But, for Heavens
sake, why all this mystery? If you
know where the jewels are and who
took them, why don't you out with it
and tell me?"
81 DON'T know-yet."
ooh, l see. You are surmising -
guessing"
"But / have got three guesses, Mr..
Delorme, according to the old style
Of playing the game. And one of them
is sure to win. And whichever one
wins, or, rather, no matter which one
OF the three may win, the resultant
consequence will be-let us say-un-
pleasant"
"You insinuate, Birge, that some
body whom l know and know well,
Is the guilty person."
at is more than an insinuation, sir.
It is statement"
"Why don't you tell me the names
OF all three of your 'guesses'?"
"For the specific reason that such a
course would be decided injustice to
the two who are innocent"
Il had not thought of that. Well,
go ahead in your own way, Birge. No
matter who the guilty party may be,
l have no sympathy for him, or her,
as the case may develop. The one who
is guilty should be exposed; IL not
publicly, then, at least, to the few who
ought to know about It,"
"very good, SIR" Moreaux left his
chair, helped himself to a fresh cigar
from the open box on the table, light
ed 1t, shook hands with Mr.. Delorme,
who had also risen, crossed to the
door, then turned about and said
"Oh, by the way, are you attending
the Netherlands Society dinner to-
morrow night?"
Eyes. Aren't you? You're a mem
ber."
"Oh, shall doubtless be there
unless something happens in the
meantime to prevent"
BLESS me! You talk as II you
were man of business, and I never
knew anybody who had more leisure
on his hands. Do you know, Birge"--