The Washington times., 1935-12-21

OF CDe real QeCkIhCS having DS6u
stolen from her and q fake one
put in its place.
my father and mother are
down South. don't expect them
back till this evening"" Vernon in.
formed them as she fitted her
key into the door of the apart
ment.
"Now you claim the necklace
never left your neck? You were
wearing it when you left the
Gypsy Pavilion? You're sure Of
that?"
Positively"
"And when you got home here
you were still wearing it?"
Eyes. It was never unclasped."
"And in the morning when you
woke up, 1t was still on?"
Eyes" Vernon did not finch,
but she turned paler than ever.
They noticed that.
What time did you get
home?"
IT haven't the least idea"
"Ah! I take 1t there was
some -er-conviviality in the way
of refreshment at the Gypsy
Pavilion?"
"some of my friends had
Scotch with them, or wine.
only took a very little"
mot enough to affect you?"
"Oh, MOP"
"Who were those friends?"
I'D rather not say.
"But you've got to say. We
represent the insurance COM
pany. Don't you think that a
$4,000 loss is a serious matter
to us?"
"Who brought you home from
the Gypsy Pavilion?"
IT returned alone"
At this moment Arlene, the
maid, overcome with curiosity,
made a pretext to enter the
drawing room.
"Oh, I'm sorry, miss. I didn't
know you were here. I came
in to dust a bit" And she made
as though to withdraw.
"Stop. You are the maid
nere?" one Of the detectives
asked her.
"Yes, sir"
do you stay here?"
"No. I come by the day. I usu'
ally come around nine in the
morning, sir"
"Ah!" He stared at her. Arlene
returned his look boldly. What
were these men doing with Miss
Tyson? It did look queer.
Suddenly he shot out at her:
''You do the housework, I sup
pose? Have you made Miss Ty-
sons bed this morning"
"No, sir. It didn't have to be
made" Arlene's bright eyes
moved to Vernon's aShy counte-
nance and then back to the de-
tective's as she added, with a kind
of malicious triumph: "The bed
hadn't been slept in"
Vernon found voice to say,
haughtily: Arlene, go back to
the kitchen"
"stop!" doomed the detective.
"Say that again"
II said Miss Tyson's bed hadn't
been slept in and I still say it."
declared Arlene. She gave Yer.
non look for look. She had her
in her power. Ought she to tell
these gentlemen that she had met
her mistress's hoighty-toighty
young daughter, still in her golden
gown and evening cloak, right on
the doorstep late this morning?
"You say you don't remember
what time you got homer" the
Junior detective asked Vernon.
IT answered that question to
the best Of my ability before" she
fenced. This time she avoided
looking at Arlene.
But it was no good. He turned
to the maid. "You say you usu.
ally get here around nine? Ex-
actly at what time did you get
here this morning?"
'The usual time, sir. But had
to hang around for maybe 10
minutes or so this morning"
why so?"
do I have to answer?" The girl
looked at Vernon.
Listen here, my good girl 1t
may go badly for you If you don't
speak the whole truth"
Whats it got to do with you?9
I'm employed by Mrs. Tyson and
I don't have to let out everything
I know"
"Then maybe you'd like to come
with us to headquarters"
She quavered. wide-eyed: You're
not the police, are you?"
He jerked his coat an inch or
two open, displaying his badge.
Perhaps now you'll answer?"
Arlene did not hesitate. Self
preservation is a first law.
There was nobody in the apart
ment to let me in. Mrs. Tyson
doesn't let me have a key. I had
to wait till somebody arrived. 1t
was Miss Tyson"
80? After nine o'clock this
morning2 How was Miss Tyson
dreSSed?"
"In a gold evening dress and
velvet coat and gold slippers" Ar
lene tossed her head. Her attitude
plainly showed her disapproval.
miss Tyson came from the ele-
vator as you were waiting?"
"She came from somewhere. She
didn't come from inside the apart
ment, anyhow. She let me in with
q