The Washington times., 1931-01-17
NOW Continue

whatever you aSy."
Once more she felt the sweep
of his personality and the odd
assurance that he was a solid
rock in the midst of her in.
security. In the morning, now,
the glamor of the previous
night was changed, but the at
traction remained. Viewed in
daylight, Duke Carson was. per-
haps, a little less romantic;
yet, In compensation, he had
a quality Of dependabil!ty that
in a greater degree stlllcd her
uncertainties. Without hesita-
ton she was quite willing to
follow his judgment.
Before we talk to Higgins,
hadn't we better make another
search Of your mothers room
and be sure the pearls are
gone?" he asked.
Mother is looking now," Con-
ME told him. Let's go up and
help her"
The search. however. revealed
onthing. Carson had talk
with the butler, but Higgins,
informed of the loss, prot ested
his astonishment and inno-
cence so convingingly that Gar
son believed him.
Kitty and Jim Tracy appeared
downstairs at nearly the same
time and went to breakfast
together. They had not yet
been informed Of the missing
pearls. Connie, her mother and
Carson, went into the library
and closed the door.
For the present we can leave
the chauffeur and gardner out
of it," Carson told them both.
"They don't have access 10 the
main house, and you say, Mrs.
Calvert, that you have perfect
confidence in both Of them?"
They've been with me for
years and I could swear TO their
honesty" Comics mother said.
"And the cook?"
Beyond All Suspicion
Mrs Lahey has worked for
me since before my husbands
death. No. I'd as soon sus-
pect myself"
THAT leaves Kitty and the
maid. I've talked to Higgins.
Might I have a chat with the
maid?"
Certainly"
The girl was summoned-a
thin, pale creature with dim
blue eyes and straw color hair
by name of Mary Smith. In
her black service dress she
was a skimpy figure: a daugh-
ter Of a carpenter in a neigh
boring village. She had the
aridnesS Of the dried-up New
England woman of a whitening
stock. At the age of % she
had looked almost 10 years
older. To Connie and her
mother, Mary Smith, too, was
beyond suspicion: for five years
she had been in their employ
and had performed her duty
with a zeal of cleanliness and
neatness. Almost a miraculous
antithesis Of slipshod service.
Mary, Mrs. Calvert's pearl
necklace has been stolen from
her ROOM" Carson told the
girl. Someone in the house
took it. You knew where it
was, and if we called in the
police you would. undoubtedly
be under strong suspicion; you
might even be arrested. Now, I
don't want to frighten you,
but I want you to help us out.
It's possible you yielded to
temptation and took them
yourself; don't misunderstood
I'm merely saying it's pos
sible. Temptation comes to all
of us and sometimes we're not
strong enough. to resist. Now,
If it so happens you did take
Mrs. Calvert's pearls, it isn't
too late for you to tell the
truth and return them. You
won't be arrested. On the
other hand, if you are guilty
it's only q question of time
and you'll find out you most
certainly will have to go to
prison. What have you to say
to ,us2"
The Girl Has Sense!
The girl had stood listening
with sullen, downcast eyes.
When she spoke Carson was
surprised at her Self-possession.
There's lot of sense in
what you've said, but you're
picking on the wrong person."
she said, in a dry voice. THE
servants didn't steal them"
"Can you tell us who did,
Mary?" Connie asked.
The girls eyes looked
straight at Connie, and Carson,
observing her, fancied he de-
tected a faint hostility in her
gaze.
"Tve got my suspicion"
Mary Smith said, "but, being
only a servant, I'm going to
keep my mouth shut"
Continued Monday