The Washington herald., 1916-07-02

her appreciation when suddenly the entrance of
the maid interrupted
''Mr. Hadj Rulu is In the library" she an
nounced.
Again Mrs. Wallace stirened. and Mary saw
her hands clench, as though in effort to control
her nervousness. Then, before, she rose
abruptly from her chair, and left the room. Mary
was following when the street door opened, and
there stepped into the hall q man, whose every
movement cried out that he was a plainclothes
detective.
The reason for the detectives presence was
explained by his first words
Mr.. Wallace reports that he has been robbed,
and that far he knows person in this
house knew of the combination of his safe, where
the money placed, except himself. It looks
like inside job Mrs Wallace. What do you
think?"
81 sure the servants are innocenti- said
Mrs. Wallace quickly. II would stake my life
them"
That is generally the kind who will bear
watching" said the detective cynically. who is
the girl who has charge of the cleaning and dust
ing of this room?'
who has been with US all her nfe," answered Mrs.
Wallace
The detective surveyed the maid authorita-
lively and literally barked his questions at her,
though pridng himself the fear and re-
pulsion which the girl exhibited.
What did you do with the combination Of
that safeP" he demanded. I'VE know you took
Tive know you took it from the red book there
on the top shelf, where you watched Mr.. Wallace
hide it Now, give the truth No Hes!"
The maid covered back, ready to burst into
tears, and Mrs. Wallace laid hand encouregingly
on her shoulder. The detective scowled at the
gesture, and renewed his cross amination.
And then suddenly Mary hand steal out
from the curtains of the opposite doorway, behind
which she knew the Hindoo conceaed-s
lean, brown hand, and in it's fingers the
paper, bearing the fatal combination, the paper
which Mrs. Wallace obediently had delivered to
her master in the trance. The next instant the
paper was dropped into apron pocket of the
weeping Hattie. with the action unseen except by
the watching girl in the hall.
If the detective insisted now 9 search
what would be the result? Evidently the officer
had been disappointed in the result of his fusil-
lsde of questions, for suddenly he dismissed the
girl, with attempt to search her. Mary had
just time to dart to the stairs when Hattie ap-
peared in the hall, weeping, and followed to the
upper floor behind her. While talking to her, she
quickly extracted the paper from her pocket
A few minutes later she saw the detective
depart, and hardly waiting until he was out of
the yard, the Hindoo hurried down the hall, and 10
the street. The coast now clear and descend
ing to the lower corridor Mary nodded brightly
to the butler, and followed serenely to the walk.
The Hindoo had vanished, but the girl was not
concerned with her for the present.
At the Royalton she received her answer. To
explain the situation which greeted her on her
turn, however, it is necessary to go back to the
morning and trace the movements of Mona when
the other left to keep her appointment with Mrs.
Wallace.
Mona had watched Hadj Rulu depart his
way to the Wallace home, although the girl Of
course did not know his destination at the
time. She knew only that the Hindoo gone,
that his apartment was apparently unguarded,
and that the coast was clear for intimate in
vestigation of the mysterious premises. Should
she undertake It? Her question answered by
the appearance of Casper Carson, grinning
broadly.
81 passed that Hindoo chap downstsirs," he
announced, "and he stared at me as though he