The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-12-20
CHAPTER XIII

Intense as was the Joy of the three
persons, who a little later set out
toward the Homestead in the old vel
low dory, they were silent trio.
Too much Of seriousness had hap
pened during the morning for them to
dispel Its aftermath lightly.
Horatio, pulling at the oars, was
unusually earnest, Sylvia turned the
ring on her finger reflectively and
Stanley Heath looked far out over the
water, too deep in thought to be con-
scious of either Of them.
When, however. the boat swung into
the channel, Sylvia spoke.
"Hortie and l are not coming with
you, Mr.. HEATH" she said. ave will
stay behind. Only do, please, promise
me one thing. Do not tell Marcia the
whole story before we have a chance
to hear it. There are ever so many
connecting links 1 am curious beyond
words to have you supply"
"Such as-?"
''The jewels In the first place. I can
hardly wait to have that mystery
solved"
Stanley laughed.
"The jewels are no mystery at all.
can satisfy your mind about those
here and now. They were Joan's-
Mrs. Heath's. Her maid, Corinne,
took them and disappeared. Soon
afterward, purely by accident, met
Paul Latimer, friend who lives on
Long Island, and during the course
of our conversation, he asked If 1
knew good man servant, saying that
Julien, their butler, had just given
notice that he was to be married to
Corinne, the new parlor maid, and re-
turn with her to France.
"The womans name instantly caught
my attention.
why shouldn't l do bit Of sleuth-
ing on my own account?
''Thus far the detectives Joan and 1
had hired had made no Roadway at
locating the jewels.
"Why shouldn't l have a try at 1t
myself? got boat and cruised
along to the Latimers' at whose house
I had frequently stayed, and with the
habits of whose household I was
familiar. My plan was to arrive
early in the morning before the fam
lily was astir and catch the parlor-
maid alone at her work.
SHOULD she prove to be our Corinne,
/ would boldly confront her with the
theft and demand the jewels; If, on
the other hand, she turned out to be
another person altogether. 1t would be
perfectly easy to explain my presence
by falling back on my acquaintance
with Paul.
ut seemed, on thinking the matter
over, that this would be a far more
considerable course anyway than to drag
in the detectives, not only because
had no real evidence to present to
them, but also because of my friend
ship for the Latimers and for Julien,
who had been in their employ many
years. knew they esteemed him very
highly and would be dreadfully cut up
should they find him involved in an
affair as unpleasant as this one. Be-
sides, felt practically certain he had
had nothing to do with the crime. He
was too fine-one Of the old-fashioned,
devoted type of servant.
ITO shame such a man and throw
suspicion on him II he were blameless
would@be pity, especially just on the
eve of his resigning from service. 1t
might mean that instead of leaving
with the gratitude and goodwill of his
employers, he might be sent away I'M
der a cloud. I did not wish that to
happen.
swell, my scheme worked to dot.
Il reached the Latimers' unobserved;
found Corinne alone Strengthening up
the library; faced her and demanded
the jewels.
'sThe instant she saw me she knew
the game was up, and, without more
ado, produced the gems from her
pocket, shouldering all the blame.
"Julien, she protested, knew nothing
of the theft. He was a self-respecting,
honest man. Should he be told of
what she had done it would end every
thing between them. She loved him.
Indeed 1t was because Of him she had
committed the crime.
ut proved they had been engaged
some time and long before had agreed
to save their money and sometime
pool 1t SO they might be married and
buy a little home In France.
(TO BE CONTINUED