The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-04-21

at all. They might even be Quartered
In another apartment in this very
house, surreptitiously entering when
they knew was absent. There real
ly had been no necessity for them to
give me tho combination of the safe.
They need not have told me anything
about the pearls. I wondered If they
themselves might not have taken away
the jewel box just to see If would
discover the loss and to ascertain
what I would do about it.
Another theory suggested itself. My
aunt evidently priced her jewels high
~. After they had started she might
have repented having left them behind
and have sent the old colored butler
back to get them. He of course
would have key to admit him, and
they would have supplied him with
the safe combination, rs they had me.
Probably he had been told to leave
some message for me and had forgot
ten to do so. More than likely in
Gay or two I would receive letter
from old Rufus that would explain
everything.
was glad now I had not notified
the superintendent nor the police. My
second theory surely was far more log
ical than the first. 1t seemed prepos-
Of thousands Of dollars worth Of gems
just to test my honesty
Still, I determined to make thor
ough investigation. If they had been
stolen, would set about in scien-
titic way to. discover the method Of
the theft and to bring about restora-
tion would keep my investigation
secret, and IL 1t turned out that the
pearls were safe, no one would know
gan outlining my work as detective
First, I would examine the safe
knob for possible finger prints.
Second, would interrogatc Mrs
Burke. I would watch her carefully
for any appearance Of guilt. I would
try, without arousing her suspicious
to ascertain IL she had let her key
out Of her possession.
Third, I would insert an advertise
Of the jewels, so wordcd that only the
thief and myself would understand
Fourth, would try to locate the
Gastons and would question the hall
boys and telephone girl as to whether
they had surreptitiously returned
Fifth, must try and discover what
was In the mysterious letter that had
led to my discharge. While this did
not seem to have any connection with
1,a 90
me, If | was to remain in New York
and become better acquainted with
Barbara Bradford, as I fondly hoped,
I meant tn have nothing hanging over
me.
waS about to get into bed. ha'i
turned out the light, in fact. when
recalled the errand that had led me to
open the wall safe. had moro than
two hundred dollars In my trousers
pocket and I purposed putting 1t
where 1t would be safe. With the
feeling that If the jewels had disap-
pearcd, so might my money, 1 pressee
the light button in the sitting room
and looked about for q hiding place.
Recalling Il custom OF my mothers,
stepped over to the bookcase and TAX
ing q Macaulay's History, Volume
| Three, from the shelf, placed between
the leaves al Of my money except
fifteen dollars. No burglar was likely
! to find 1t there.
I cxtinguished the light and In the
darkness stepped back into my bed.
room, and stopped stock still.
From somewhere in the room there
came three distinct taps. Instructive
ly crouched in an attitude OF self
defense and strained my ears to listen
My first impression was that there
WdD someone in the room, probably
the burglar. ] hesitated about turn
ing on the light. II he were armed
It would give him all the advantage
| Breathlessly listened. Once more
time apparently from somewhere out.
| side the room. / wondered If 1t had
been sounds like these that had so ter.
! rifcd the old couple.
Perhaps 1t was the echo Of someone
pounding in another apartment, the
noise being carried along by n water
pipe. The thought that It might be
the cracking Of some hidden steam or
refrlgerating pipe suggested Itself.
Both these theories I rejected. The
sound. whatever 1t was had originated
close ut hand.
1t came again. This time was ccr-
tain that 1t was not due to footballs
as I had at first conjccturcd. was
able, too. to locate more closely the
direction from which 1t came The