The Pulaskian., 1920-04-29
CHAPTER llI.-continued.


 I dined in little restaurant in one of the side streets and walked home Immediately on entering the apart ment I decided to put my money in the wall safe There would be less temptation for me to spend it if I carried only little in my pocket. As I opened the safe by means of the combination I made the astound- ing discovery that one of the jewel cases had disappeared.
 And now I stood hesitating at the telephone. Self-protection bade me notify neither the superintendent nor the police Yet I must do so1hething. The jewels entrusted to my care had been stolen. The thief must be found and the pearls recovered.
 Why should not I myself play the detective? I had abundant leisure now. My great-uncle had informed me that there was something wrong in the house and had charged me to discover what it was. Here was the opportunity for me to fulfill the trust he had imposed on me.
 The thought flashed across my mind, too, that perhaps the crafty old gen. tleman had deliberately planned the disappearance of the gems. Perhaps he had devised an elaborate test to see if I was honest, if I was of the right caliber to be his heir. Maybe he and his wife had not gone to Maine at all. They might even be quartered in another apartment in this very house, surreptitiously entering when they knew I was absent. There real ly had been no necessity for them to give me the 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 l would do about it.
 Another theory suggested itself. My aunt evidently prized her jewels high ly. 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 a key to admit him, and they would have supplied him with the safe combination as 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 a day or two I would receive a letter from old Rufus that would explain everything
 I was glad now 1. had not notified the superintendent nor the police My second theory surely was far more log ical than the first. It seemed prepos- terous that they would risk hundreds 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, I would set about in scen- tife way to discover the method of the theft and to bring about restora- ton. would keep my investigation secret, and if 1t turned out that the pearls were safe, no one would know of my fright about the matter. I be- gan outlining my work as a detective.
 First, I would examine the safe knob for possible finger prints.
 Second, I would interrogato Mrs. Burke. I would watch her carefully for any appearance of guilt. would try, without arousing her suspicious, to ascertain if she lad let her key out of her possession.
 Third, would insert an advertise ment offering a reward for the return of the jewels, so worded 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, l must try and discover what was in the mysterious letter that had a*1o<&a fn my dixr1arro xVbfIo fy.fc Sfa