Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-03-06

& t~AfJ ttaI-
/ He was gone for about half a min.
ute. l leaned down toward the girl,
who was beginning to cry.
Did you see who attacked your" I
asked.
Nor she sobhed. . AN the lights
went out suddenly. Someone came
up from behind. never heard a
sound-Just the clutch at my throat
and the choking"
Why did you not wait for me or
go by the lifJ2" I demanded.
She looked a little puzzled. 81
never go by the Hft." she replied.
Why not?"
Fred. the second floor valet, gen.
orally meets me on the floor below"
she explained reluctantly. and"
Il see" interrupted. But didn't
your mistress tell you to wait and go
down with me?"
The girl seemed surprised.
My head is queer" she admitted,
and | can't remember much; but
Madame said nothing to me except
to tell me TO hurry down"
TIME silence of the corridor was
Il suddenly broken. Mr.. Stanheld
reappeared. followed by a little
army Of servants and the manager.
Send everyone away except two
men whom you can trust" / begged
the latter. Mrs. De Mendoza's
necklace has been stolen"
There was a murmur OF consterna-
ton and excitement The manager
selected two of the servants and dis.
missed the rest. He posted one by
the lift and one by the staircase.
DO you think the thief has got
away?" he asked.
"N0e cannot TELL" l replied. "I
WA to know about these three
rooms"
He glanced at the numbers.
''The farthest one Is occupied by
Mr.. Stanfield." he announced. 1.-THE
other two are empty"
"You are sure that this one,"
asked. pointing to the door close to
where we stood. Is unoccupied?"
Certain" was the confident reply.
Take my keys and see for your
self"
I was on the point Of doing so
when Mrs. De Mendoza appeared.
She was clad in a wonderful light
blue wrapper. and the touch of ex-
element seemed to add to her
beauty.
my necklaceF' she gasped. Don't
tell me that 1t is goneP'
Madam" the manager began, II
regret to say"
What were you doing, thenY' she
cried, turning to me. DO you mean
to say that it was stolen while An.
nette was with your"
Annette was never with me-" I
replied. "She left your bedroom with
the jewel-case, without coming near
the sitting-room."
us this true. Annette?" her mis-
tress demanded.
but why not. Madame?' Annette
faltered. you said nothing to me
about going into the sitting-room. /
did not know that Monsieur was to
accompany me-" N
''The girl is telling a falsehood,"
Mrs. De Mendoza declared angrily.
Gould these matters wait for
moment2" l interviewed. "Our i'm
mediate task is to try and recover
the necklace. I wish everyone to
leave this place-except you, sir"
added, addressing the manager. "and
myself"
Mr. Stanf1eld reluctantly withdrew.
We first of all entered the room op-
posite to US. 1t was empty and APP.
undisturbed. There was
door on the left.
Where does that lead tor" l
asked
The manager unlocked 1t. 1t led
into similar room, also empty. The
room on the other side was Mr.. Stan.
1eld's, also connecting.
These are our cheapest rooms"
my companion explained. They are
generally occupied by servants, or
people Of an economical turn of
mind"
We withdrew into the first one we
had entered.
VIII you lend me that master.
key of yours?" l begged.
The manage detached it from his
chain and handed it to me.
IF you should be instrumental in
the necklace, Sir Nor
man." he said. 1.-THE hotel authorities
would appreciate all possible reti-
cence in abe matter"
l nodded. 7ss&j
Continued in Our Next Tssue)