The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-17

&aA eNoNANA NhN AN~--~-1
ruffled and listening to what the other
was saying.
"Lizette," said the mistress, Il have
been calling you for some time"
Yes, madame. I didn't hear you,
madame"
Mrs. Darlington returned TO her !
room, followed by Lizette. As soon as
they were alone together the mistress
said:
"LiZette, Of course what goes on be-
tween you and Blanca does not neces-
sarily concern me. but ! don't want |
any mystery in my house. Though !
want Blanca for practice in speaking
Italian. l VIII send her away at once
II she is interfering In any way with
my domestic arrangements.
"She does not interfere, madame,
was the almost inaudible reply.
Mrs. Darlington was puzzled. She
said no more. but Kept up good deal
Of thinking about this strange status
between the two maids Had it been
between Lizette and the butler she
would not have been surprised. for
! concealed love is a common mystery.
But the lady could not understand any
relationship between two girls that
needed to be kept secret.
One evening when Mrs. Darlington
was dressing for a function calling for
her most respondent adornments she
sent Lizette for her jewels. They
] were kept in a safe set into the wall.
Mrs. Darlington and Lizette were the
only two persons who knew this COM
bination. Lizette went to the safe,
opened 1t, but when she looked In the
box containing the jewels they were
not there
Mrs. Darlington. hearing something
fall and Lizette not returning with the
Jewels, went into the hallway and saw
the girl lying In heap before the safe.
Running to her, she picked up Lizette,
who at the same time came to herself
and looked with terrible distress at
the empty jewel box lying on the floor
beside her. Mrs. Darlington took In
the situation at once
The lady on this occasion exhibited
great presence Of mind She closed
the safe door and turned the combina-
ton to lock 1t. Then she raised
Lizette and supported her, taking the
jewel box with her, to her own room
and. locking the door, placed her on
lounge. No suspicion Of Lizette was
entertained, for she had evidently met
with a surprise She said that she
had never given the combination Of
the safe to any one.
| Mrs. Darlington went TO telephone
booth and rang up detective agency,
giving the chief brief statement Of
the case. He advised that the loss
Of the jewels be kept secret, and 1t
. was arranged that Mrs. Darlington
I should add to her staff Of language In
structors German, who should really
+ be detective.
D Mrs. Darlington gave out to the
0 household that she had become sud
!. denly indisposed and kept her room,
3 Lizette remaining with her. The next
4 morning the mistress was relieved to
. learn that none Of her servants had
1 disappeared. After breakfast PROBES
a sor Sweitzer appeared, and 1t was an.
nounced that he would remain a short
r time I'm the house to ground Mrs. Car
d rington In the rudiments of the Ger.
D man language.
He had a private conversation with
O LiZette, and after it was finished told
t her mistress that she knew who had
|, taken the jewels, but would not peach
Q The next item OF news he gave his EN-
Il ployer was that Blanca was man.
= Mrs. Darlington. as soon as she had
;; recovered from her establishment saw
n through the strange status between hel
l. two maids. The man had doubtless
e revealed himself to Lizette and hat
s very likely made love to her. Both she
and the detective felt sure that the 81
e called Blanca had stolen the jewels
}. and the question was how to proven
o his knowing that the theft had beer
It discovered and his slipping away be
l. fore he could be secured. He showet
IT apprehension on the introduction o
II Professor Sweitzer into the household
II but no sign Of intended flight.
% The 2racticed eye of the detectiv,
D was not deceived in the Italians make
8. up, though 1t had deceived every on,
o In the house. OF course, this fact be
II ing known, no other evidence was re
y Quired that he was the thief. The pro
fessor not only kept his knowledg,
% from the household, but disarmet
any suspicion the rascal might hav,
I. that his sex was suspected. This b
n did because he wished to recover tn
n stolen jewels as well as the criminal
\. However, no time was lost Calm
q for a couple Of assistants the detectiv
n arrested Blanca. OF course the Italia
In knew that his game was discovered
r. and 1t was all up with him. Wlthou
2 putting bis accusers to the trouble O
G making an examination he confesse
h that he was a man; that he had Learn
In ed OF Mrs. Carrington's desire for a
Italian maid and had disguised hin
le self for the purpose Of securing th
te situation and plumber. he had &C
NJ Lizette under his influence and col
,e cealed himself behind her when sh
"a opened the safe, thus learning the con
,e bination. He had taken the jewels du
m Ing the night before the loss was di
a covered and was watching for an OF
a portunity to get away with them. The
At were concealed where they would M
le be easily found, and Mrs. Carringto
IL decided not to prosecute him II b
would give them up. This he did, an,
"A so far "a she WAS concerned, he We