New Britain herald., 1929-09-18

me. l was going out 10 the garden when q man said l couldn't go that way. He said he was q police off ccr. I went out by the front door and there was another who said I couldn't go that way. So I thought I'd come and see you. Whats it all about?"
 Heaven knows" said I. some outrageous official folly. This per son has q search warrant. You, sir, will you kindly do your job as quick ly as possible and leave? Mother. you'd better stay here with me. He wants the cook and Millic in the same room. Do you mind 2"
 "No of course"
 My mother had come to my side and taken my arm. She squeezed it hard and I saw that she was look ing at the safe. l gathered her un- der my arm to rcaSSurc her.
 If you touch that bell" said to the police officer, q will tell the cook and maid to come here"
 lie pressed the button.
 'You just missed Somorficld mothor,' I said. Hes going to London this afternoon and down to Oxford tomorrow. Going to take that photograph I wanted of Tom Tower"
 "SDlendid," said she. "Oh, Mil lie" 10 the girl who came in, tell cook to come in here, and come with her yourself"
 While we talked the police off cer, unhappy man. had been peer ing round the studio. It was a bare room and contained no potcn- tial hiding places.
 "I'll have the key Of that safe and the combination" said he
 I took not the slightest notice of the remark, His eyes began to glint
 Did you hear what I said?"
 'No," I replied T never hear rude statements"
 I treated the man abominably and was thoroughly ashamed of it. Bnt I had to maE" an atmosphere and I made it. His confidence vsibly wiltcd. Then my mother came to his rcscur.
 I'm gur" if there's anything pri- vatr in your safe, Tom. the gentle man will respect it." said she, sWcotly.
 IaGic! The truculcnt policeman fell at her feet. He remarked:
 "l'm searching for one thirg only. madamo-tho thing indicated in the warrant, and of course I'm interest ed in nothing else, and if see any thing else l shall forget it."
 He W"a z beautiful lor-in fact. V'e were "lI b2"utifrl liars, and my m~th"r th" most beautiful Of all. myself then opened the safe. It Was quite small - with two sa"lvos. It contained nothing but bundles of papers and a little cash box.
 Mr. Hallct gave one look inside and said:
 'Thank you; th&t'll Go," 8 began the police search of . Woodcot. Hallctt and one of his a2&is;ants went through the ground floor syat"matically, locking for the mysterious "gooGs." It was not till I heard the police men coming through the hall and going npst"irs that I got my fright The book I could not r"mtm- Der -- in fact, l had not noticrG- whether Som"rfieId had put the book into the case with the other things. In inc hurry it might have been left on the hcd.
 My rlothcr saw the start I gave and looked hey question. But in the I lH"""rca cf the servants l could not answer. There was no;nirg 10 do but st porapiring, listening to th" Jumping about overhead, and wait. At the end of an eternal Ealf hour We heard thcm coming down the stairs. liallett entered the studio. "Thank you" he said. looking at my mothcr and ignoring me.
 "Oh, is it all over? And did you find what you wanted :"
 could not help tittcring at this: i he gave me q gIanc" of hatred.
 Thank yCu,' he said; "Wc'vc .s:.-a=----- :.--a-=---------.=.- x