Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-13

yer and copper disappear mysteri-
ously."
Perhaps not mysteriously," sug.
gested Christopher. you mentioned
having engaged new servants one
Of them may be an expert thief.
"Of course that was our first idea
said the girl. eBut 1t would be impos-
sibIe for the most expert thief, even
a conjurer, to pull women's rings
from their fingers, unfasten clasps
Of pearl dog collars, take OFT brooches
and bracelets or belts with gold
buckles, and remove studs from shirt
fronts or sleeve links from cuffs.
without the knowledge of the persons
wearing the things
Eyes. that would be Impossible,
Christopher admitted.
well, that is what happens at WOOD
House every day. and has been hap
pening for the last fortnight. People
cit at the table and apparently every
thing goes on in the most orderly way,
vet at the end Of the meal their valu.
ables are gone want you to watch,
10 set your wits to work TO find out
the mystery. OF course. you must
leave your valuables In care 81 the
landlord here, You'll motor over this
evening, won't you. and say yon Wish
t.. have a room?"
with pleasure" said Christopher.
"And I'll do my best to help"
Thanks for taking an interest.
Then I'll 60 now. | shall just ne able
TO ride home In time for dinner.
."But there are questions still which
IA better ask YOU said Christopher;
aas we're not to have any privats com
munIcatlon at Wood House Hew
many indoor servants have your :,
Three housemalds. one dear old
thing who has been with us Tor years,
and two young girls lately got in---one
from London, one from our own
nelghborhood; o butler we've had
since can remember. two new ftvt-
men from London. and an 'o'l cook-
housekeeper, who has had two assist
ants since we opened as an hotel
That's all. except a stray creature or
two about the kitchen. mnat ten
YOU, too, that with the new servants
we had the best OF references
and the thefts always occur Mt
r,cals?" asked Christopher.i
Always at meals. and. therefore,
{. could happen nEly In .hrss roonis.
said Sidney CHESTER: ''thc Dig dining
hnsl and two small rooms wrtch we've
ret apart as private sitting rooris.
Sometimes those who stay with us
likr to eat thars. X they como IN pi,r.
tiea OF three or four; but tine dining
hail Ii the most BEAUTIFUL room In the
ac,isc and people admire Il 81 MICA
that they often prefer Il 70 any other
pirce."
"somathing will have to be DONE"
said ristopher--puzzled. but anx-
lous to be encouraging. Have YOU
mo guest who has been with you sew
eral weeks?"
mo ~,r' returned, half re-
Iuctantly. as II she guessed his reason
for putting this question. "lt's--a
Il young man."
s"yes, a young man."
How long has he been in the
house r.
Several weeks. He's painting a
picture, using the Kings room. as we
call II, for a blackground--the room
Charles ii had when an ancestor Of
ours was hiding him and would dart
down into a secret place underneath
whenever dangerous visitor arrived"
"Oh, an artistf"
Not professional, He
Cant you remember how long he
has been with you2"
Between three weeks and fort
night The girl blushed. her white
face lovely In Its sudden flush OF color.
/ II see what's In your mind. But
there's nothing In that, l assure you.
The merest coincidence, You don't
| look as II you were ready to believe
me, but you will when j tell you that
it's Sir Walter Raven. the man I'm en-
gagged to marry e
HE hasn't been able to throw any
| light on the problem
mo. though he's tried In every
way
Does he know you've sent for me7'
II haven't told him, because II
would seem al II ! couldn't trust him
to get to the bottom OF the mystery,
! You see, though he's tremendously
CLEVER he isn't that sort OF man. Now,
have you asked me everything"
mot yet" answered Christopher,
selfishly less sorry 10 detain her than
he would have been had she been
middle-aged and plain. u want ia
know what servants are in the rooms
where these robberies occur?"
.aThe butler. Nelson, In the dining
hail. ID one OF the footmen II the meal
Il being served in 2 private sitting
room"
Only those, except the guests?'S
Since the mystery began I've some
4 times been there to watch and super
intend. and one OF my cousins, either
Morley or his wife, And In the dining
hall Sir Walter Raven In kind enough
to keep an eye on what goes ON. while
appearing to be engaged with hi
luncheon or dinner"
yet the robberies take place JUS
the same under your very eyes?"
"Ye. That Is the mysterious part
The whole thing Is like dream. Blu
you will see for yourself. Only, as
said, take care not to have anything
about you which they---whoever
whatever they are--can steal"
She gave him her hand, and HI
shook 1t reassuringly; then, II beinl
understood that, as 1t was- late, h
would dine at the inn and arrive u
Wood House after o, she left him
Five minutes later. standing at tn
window, he saw her ride off on a-fin'
hunter.
1 AS he ate chops and drank 4 glas
Iof ale. Christopher considered wha
he had heard OF the mystery. and dit
not know what to think Of It.
i The road from the Sandboy AM
Il Owl. through Ringhurst and on 4
Wood House, was beautiful. Christie
pher had passed over It before. and
coming to the gateway and lodge o
the place he sought he remembers,
having remarked both. though he ha,
n not then known the name OF the es
tate. N
II He steered Scarlet Runner between
tall stone gateposts topped with ston
n Hons supporting shields. acknowl
II edged a salutation from IAN elderl,
! man at the door Of the law black AM