“D-dropped to him?” stammered Mr. Lydecker.
“Exactly. I am glad that we managed to catch both men at the same time.” He beamed upon the excited reporter.
“I nabbed my man just as he opened the window,” Tod said. “I guess he dropped the necklace at the same time.”
Klein motioned Jarge to be seated. The detective obeyed sullenly. Then Klein brought the necklace from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Lydecker.
“Will you kindly return this to its rightful owner?” he said.
Mr. Lydecker accepted the necklace with trembling fingers. “This—this is all a mystery to me,” he gulped. “I cannot understand. I—I——” He stopped, and looked helplessly at Klein.
“Perhaps Mr. Jarge, with the proper persuasion, will return your daughter’s brooch, which he took last Saturday night,” Klein said.
“You’ll have to prove that,” snarled Jarge, his black eyes blazing. “This whole affair is—is a mistake.”
“A very serious mistake on your part,” Klein answered. Then, facing Tanner squarely, he said: “What have you to say?”
“Nothing,” replied Tanner.