Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-02-24

Inspector. am so excited at the idea
Of getting my jewels back. Isn't Mr..
Quest Il wonderful man."
Hes q clever chap. all right" the
Inspector admitted. "All the same.
I'm rather sorry he wasn't able to lay
hands on the thief"
That's your point of view. Of
course" Mrs. Rheinholdt remarked. 81
can think OF nothing but having my
diamonds back. l feel | ought to SO
and thank the professor for recon-
mending Mr.. Quest"
The Inspector made no reply. Mrs.
Rheinholdt was suddenly aware that
she was becoming a little tactless.
"Of course. she sighed. 1T Is dis.
appointing not to be able to lay your
hands upon the thief. That is where
I suppose you must find the Interior
ence Of an amateur like Mr.. Quest a
little troublesome sometimes. He gets
back the property, which is what the
private individual wants. but he
doesn't secure the thief, which is, of
course. the real end of the case from
your point of view"
It's 4 queer affair about these jew
els" the inspector remarked. Quest
hasn't told me the whole story yet.
Here We are on the stroke of time
The a drew up outside Quests
house. The inspector assisted his
companion to alight and rang the bell
at the front door. There was a ome
what prolonged pause. He rang again.
Never knew this to happen BEFORE"
he remarked. That sort of secretary
valet of Mr.. Quest's-Ross Brown l
think he calls hints always on the
spot" They waited for some time.
there was still no answer to their sum-
mons. The inspector placed his ear to
the keyhole. There was not a sound
to be heard. He drew back, a little
puzzled. At that moment his atten-
ton was caught by the fluttering of a
little piece of white material caught in
the door. He pulled it out. 1t was q
fragment of white embroidery, and on
it were several small stains. The in
spector looked at them and looked at
his fingers. His face grew suddenly
grave.
Seems to me-" he muttered, that
there has been some trouble here. I
shall have to take a liberty. If you'll
excuse me. Mrs. Rheinholdt, I think it
would be better if you waited in the
cor until cnpI o,,f pCr womb
You don't think the jewels have
been stolen again." she gasped.
The inspector made no reply. He
had drawn from his pocket a little
pass key and was fitting it into the
lock. Tho door swung open. Once
nor they were both conscious of that
peculiar silence, which seemed to have
in it some unnamable quality. He
moved to the foot of the stairs and
shouted:
Hello! Anyone there"
There was no reply. He opened the
doors Of the two rooms on the right
hand side. where Quest, when he was
engaged in any widespread affair, kept
a stenographer and a telegraph oper-
ator. Both rooms were empty. Then
he turned towards Quests study on
the left-hand side. French was q man
of iron nerve. No power on earth
could have kept back the cry which
broke from his lips.
A few feet away from the door was
stretched the body Of the secretary
valet. On the other side of the room,
lying as though she had slipped from
the sofa, her head fallen on one side
in hideous fashion, was the body OF
Miss Quigg, the Salvation Army young
oma French set his teeth and
drew back the curtains. In the clear
err light the disorder Of the room was
fully revealed. There had been a ter
rible struggle. Between whom? How?
There was suddenly a piercing
shrek. The inspector turned quickly
around. Mrs. Rheinholdt, who had dis
regarded his advice, was standing on
the threshold.
Inspector" she cried. What has
happened? Oh, my Cod"
She covered her face with her
hands. French gripped her by the
arm. At that moment there was the
sound Of an automobile stopping out
side.
Keep quiet for a moment" the in
spector whispered in her car. Pull
yourself together, madam. Go to the
other end Of the room. Don't look.
Stay there for a few moments and
then get home as quick as you can"
She obeyed him mutely. pressing
her hands to her eyes, shivering in
every limb. French, stood back inside
the room. He heard the front door
open. he heard Quests voice outside.
"Where the devil r you, Ross?"
There was no reply.
The door was pushed open. Quest
entered, followed by the professor and
Craig. The inspector stood watching
their faces. Quest came to q stand