The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-22

terry. AS | stared at 1t l suddenly
noticed that one ear was broken
off.
II was very small bit that was
missing; but II that missing ear
could be found on the library floor
1t would be a pretty fair proof
that Mildred had thrown the
horse.
Getting down on my hands and
kneese in the space between the
desk and the window, | searched,
inch by inch, the thick Persian
rug and was finally rewarded by
discovering the tiny piece Of
bronze | was hunting for.
Comparing it with the other ear
indeed, fitting it to the very
place from which it was broken
| saw there was no doubt that
had succeeded; and though |
could not imagine how the horse
had been replaced on the table, I
could no longer doubt the truth
of Mildren's assertion regarding
it.
Carefully wrapping the broken
ear in bit of tissue paper, | put
it away and devoted my attention
to the inkstand.
The large and elaborate affair
stood in the center of the table.
The inkwell itself was % heavy
cut glass, and was mounted on an
ornate silver standard which was
also penrack.
The longer | Looked at it the
more | felt convinced that nobody
could disturb the ponderous or
nament and restore it again to its
place in the way Mildred told of.
For 1t held as much as small
cupful of jet black ink, and even
though the Persian rug was of an
intricate design in small figures,
yet it was light enough in it's gen.
eral coloring to make ink spots
perceptible.
Helpless in the face of this as
surance, my eye wandered aim
lessly over the articles on the
desk, when toward the righthand
end and not far from the bronze
horse, | spied a second inkstand.
1t was heavy, but not so large
as the other, and had no silver
standard. | opened it and found
1t to be nearly half full of red ink.
looked again atthe rug. The
predominating color was red In
varying shades. Instantly the
thought struck me that II Mildred
had thrown that inkstand and if
there had not been much ink in IL,
the drops on the carpet would be
undesirable because of the SIM
ilarity of color.
Without stopping to inquire
how 1t could be restored intact to
its place, l dropped again to my
knees, and again searched for
traces. The pattern Of the rug
being so complicated and mosaic
like, it was almost impossible to
discover red spots other than
those which belonged there; but
at last, | thought | did find on a
small white figure red blotches
that were not of the Persian dye.
Almost trembling with excite
ment, | procured from a drawer
in the desk a fresh white blot
ter Moistening this, placed it
on the doubtful red spots and
gently pressed it. Then lifting it,
| found that it showed dull red
blurs which had every appearance
of being red ink.
Reserving further experiments
of this nature to be done in the
presence of witnesses, went in
search of Mr.. Hunt. He had not
yet arrived, so | telephoned him
to come as soon as he could.
Hunt soon arrived, and was
more than pleased at what | had
done.
But what good does 1t do?"
said l. Granting that she did
throw them, how did they get
back to the table,"
That is another part of the
problem" said Hunt, "and one
which we need not consider at this
moment. First, think, IL you have
any more of those clean white
blotters, we'll find out the route
travelled by that inkstand.
found plenty Of blotters In
the drawer, and We proved to Mr..
Hunts satisfaction, and to mine,
that the inkstand had reached the
floor about midway between the
desk and the window, that it had
then rolled toward the couch, and
had stopped just under the long
upholstery fringe.
That gives a ray of light" ex-
claimed Hunt, .triumphantly.
What do you mean by that?"
81 can't tell you now" said
Hunt, "for some one is coming.
think, Mr.. King, it will be wiser
to keep these discoveries quiet for
the present"
And so, though | wanted to tell
Mrs. Whiting that / had proved
her sisters statements true, | re-
strained myself because of Hunts
advice.
1t was Thursday morning when
one of the servants told me that
Mr.. Hunt wanted to see me in the
library. l went there at once, and
found the detective in conversa-
ton with clustered Swedish par
lor-maid.
This is Emily" said Hunt.