Evening star., 1922-09-14
KENNEDY, /
- have just heard of your
radium case and II feel


veiled woman whose card had been
sent up to us with a nervous "ur-
gent" written across its face.
1t was very early in the morning.
but our visitor was evidently COM
pletely unnerved by some news which
she had just received and which had
sent her posting to see Craig.
Kennedy met her gaze directly
with look that arrested her in
voluntary effort to avoid 1t again.
She must have read in his eyes more
than in his words that she might
trust him.
IL have confession to make y
she faltered.
please sit down. Mrs. Moulton."
he said simply. 1T is my business
to receive confidences-and to keep
them.
down in. the deep leather rocker be
side his desk. and now for the first
time raised her veil.
Antoinette Moulton was indeed
stunning, an exquisite creature with
a wonderful charm of slender youth,
brightness of eye and brunette radi-
ance.
knew that she had been on the
musical comedy stage and had had
a rapid rise TO star part before her
marriage to Lynn Moulton, the
wealthy LAWYER. almost twice her
age. knew also that she had given
up the stage, apparently without a
regret Yet there was something
strange about the air of secrecy OF
her visit. Was there hint in 1t
of disagreement between the
Moultons, I wondered. as I waited
while Kennedy reassured her.
Her distress was so unconcealed
that Craig for the moment laid
aside his ordinary inquisitorial man
ner Tell me just as much or just
ton" he added tactfully. Il Will do
my best"
\ look almost of gratitude crossed
her face.
When we were married" she be-
gan again. my husband gave me a
beautiful diamond necklace. Oh. it
must have been worth hundred
thousand dollars easily. 1t was
splendid. Everyone mas heard of it.
You know Lynn-er-Mr. Moulton.
has always been an enthusiastic col
lsctor of jewels
She paused again and Kennedy
nodded reassuringly. | knew the
thought in his mind Moulton had
collected one gem that was lncom-
parable with all the hundred thou =
&and-dollar necklaces in existence.
Several months ago she went on
rapidly. still avoiding his eyes and
forcing the words from her reluc-
taut lips. "I-oh, 1 needed money
terribly"
she had risen and faced him, press
ing her daintily gloved hands to-
gAther in a little tremble of emotion
which was none the less genuine be-
cause she had studied ths-art of emo
ton.
Herman Schloss of Maiden lane, a
man with whom my husband had
often had dealings and whom l
thought | could trust Under prom
Use of secrecy he loaned me $4,000
on it and had an exact replica in paste
This morning. just now. Mr.. Schloss
telephoned me that his safe had been
robbed last night. My necklace is
gone
She threw out her hands in a
widely appealing gesture.
And if Lynn fipds that the neck
lace in our wall safe is paste-as he
will find. for he Isl an expert in dia-
you-can't you find my necklace?"
Kennedy was following her now
eagerly. You were blackmailed out
of the money!" he inquired casually,
masking his question.
There was sudden. impulsive
dropping of her mouth. an evasion
and keen wariness in her eyes. II
can't see that that has anything to
do with the robbery" she answered
in low voice.
nedy quickly. perhaps not. I'm
sorry. Force of habit. I suppose.
You don't know anything more about
the robbery"
"N-no. only that it seems impos-
sfble that it could have happened in
place that has the wonderful bur
-glar alarm protection that Mr.. Schloss
described to me-"
You know him pretty well?"
only through this transaction
she replied hastily. II wish to heaven
j had never heard of him.
The telephone rang insistently.
Mrs. Moulton," said Kennedy. as
he returned the receiver to the hook.
burglar alarm company has just
called me up about the same case. If
7 had need of an added incentive.
which I hope you will believe have
not, that might furnish it. l will do
my best" he repeated.
THANK you-a thousand times"
she cried fervently. and. had l been
Craig. | think / should have needed
no more thanks than the look she
gave him as he accompanied her to
the door of our apartment.
1t was still early and the eager
crowds We're pushing their way to
business through the narrow net
work of downtown streets. as Ken
nedy and | entered a large office on
lower Broadway in the heart of the
jewclry trade and financial district
zone of the most amazing rob-
berries that has ever been attempted
has been reported to us this morrf-
ing" announced James McLear, man
ager of the Hale Electric Protection.
adding with a look half of anxiety,
half of skepticism, that is, il it is
true"
,McLear was a stocky man. of pow
erful build and voice and a general
appearance of having been once well
connected with the city detective
force before an attractive offer had
taken him into this position of great
responsibility.
Herman Schloss. one of the best
known of Maiden Lane jewelers." he
continued. has been robbed of goods
worth two or three hundred thousand
doIlars-and in spite of every mod
ern protection. SO that you will get
1t clearly, let me show you what We
- here"
He ushered us into large room,
on the walls of which were hun
dreds of little indicators. From the
front they looked like rows OF little
square compartments. tier on tier.
about the size of ordinary post ONCE
boxes. Closer examination showed
that each was equipped with deli
cate needle arranged to oscillate
backward and forward upon the
very n,inutest interference with the
electric current. Under the boxes,
each of which bore a number, was
a series of drops and buzzers num-
bered to correspond with the boxes.
'In nearly every office in Maiden
lane where gems and valuable jew
elry Sre stored" explained McLear,
this electrical system of ours is in
stalled. When the safes are closed at
night and the doors swung together