The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-12-05
CHAPTER XIII

Intense as was the Joy of the three
persons, who little later set out
toward the Homestead In the old yell
low dory. they were a silent trio
Too much of seriousness had hap.
pened during the morning for them to
dispel Its aftermath lightly.
Horato. pulling at the oars, was
unusually earnest, Sylvia turned the
ring OH her finger rehectively 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.
"Horte and | are not coming with
you, Mr.. Heath she said. I'VE Will
stay behind. Only do. please, promise
me one thing Do not tell Marcia the
whole story before we have chance
to hear It. There are ever so many
connecting links am curious beyond
words to have you supply"
.Such as-?"
THE jewels In the first place. / 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. Cornne,
took them and disappeared. Soon
afterward, purely by accident, met
Paul Latiner, Il friend who lives on
Long Island and during the course
Of our conversation, he asked ii
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 woman's name instantly caught
my attention.
why shouldn't do bit Of sleuth-
Ing on my own account?
THUS far the detectives Joan and
had hired had made no Roadway st
locating the jewels.
why shouldn't | have try at II
myself? | got d boat and cruised
along to the Latimers' at whose house
had frequently stayed, and with the
habits Of whose household | 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; IT,. on
the other hand, she turned out to be
another person altogether, it would be
perfectly easy to explain my presence
by falling back on my acquaintance
with Paul
1T seemed, on thinking the matter
over, that this would be 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 dreadfnlly cut uT
| 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 hne-one of the od-fashioned
! devoted type of servant.
| ITO shame such a man and throw
/ suspicion on him IL he were bameless
would be pity, especially just on the
eve of his resgning from service. II
might mean that instead of leaving
with the gratitude and goodwill OF his
| employers. he might be sent away nn
der a cloud. did not wish that Il
| happen.
well, my scheme worked to a dot
Il reached the Latimers unobseryed.
found Corinne alone Strengthening III
the library faced her and demanded
the jewels.
THE instant she saw me she knew
the game was up. and, without more
| ado, produced the gems from he
pocket; shouldering all the blame.
f'"Julien, she protested, knew nothIn
OF the theft. He was a, sef-respecting
honest man. Should he be told o
what she had done 1t would end every
| thing between them. She loved him
Indeed 1t was because OF him she hat
committed the crime.
ut proved they had been engage,
some time and long before had agrees
10 save their money and sometim
pool 1t so they might be married an
buy little home In France.
RIO BE CONTINUED