The Red Cloud chief., 1901-11-08
believe me. misss what's scne with

believe me, missg What's gune with
it?"
Alice Seaton looked at Hughes with
a puzzled look. She was thinking
matters over. It sooned cleared again.
Then Lady Sarah must have bspt
It out when she put in the rest. II
was she who returned thsmto the Gaze;
I did not. Perhaps she wore II last
night"
mo. miss, that she didn't. She wore
only those two"
II saw what she had on" interrupt.
cd Alice. But she might also have
put on the other without my noticing.
Then she must have kept 1t out for'
some purpose. I will ask her. War
here an instant, Hughes. for, Of
course. you will like to be at a GER
tainty."
That's COOL" thought Hughes. as
Alice went into the breakfast room.
and the colonel came out Of It with
the newspaper. II should have said
1t was somebody else who would like
w VIC NJ ~ CcIthiuty Iubtehu VI me.
Thank goodness It wasn't in my
charge last night. IL anything dread
full has came to pass. My lady don't
keep out her bracelets for sport. Miss
Seaton has left the key about, that's
what she has done, and It's hard TO
say who hasn't been at It: l knew the
box had been ransacked over"
sT aIr GavaA - .osA A1t,a sAll 80.
wear your new diamond bracelet last
night?"
NO"
Then did you put It into the box
with the others?".
NO" languidly repeated Lady
Sarah. attaching no Importance to the
question.
After you had chosen the bracelets
you wished to wear. you put the 9TH
ers into the box yourself" exclaimed
Alice. Did you put in the new one.
the diamond, or keep it out?"
"The diamond was not there"
Alice stood COMPOUNDED. 1T was on
the table at the back of all, Lady
Sarah." she presently said: next the
window"
II tell you. Alice, 1t was not there.
I don't know that l should have worn
1t II It had been. but / certainly looked
for 1t. Not seeing II, I supposed you
had not put 1t out. and did not care
sufficiently to ask for It,"
Alice felt in a mesh OF p%erplexity:
curious thoughts. and very unpleas-
ing ones. were beginning to come over
her. But. Lady Sarah. the bracelet
was indeed there when you went to
the table," she urged. II put 1t there"
~ can assure you that you labor
under a mistake as to its being there
when l came up from dinner" an
swered Lady Sarah. why do you
ask"
Hughes has come to say 1t Is not
In the case. She Is outside. waiting"
Outside now? Hughes called out
her ladyship; and Hughes came in.
whats this about my bracelet"
II don't know. my lady. The brace
let IL not in its place, SO l asked Miss
Seaton. She thought your ladyship
might have kept 1t out yesterday even
Ing"
IT have neither touched II nor seen
it," said Lady Sarah.
Then We have had thieves at work"
1T must be In the box. Hughes"
spoke up Alice. 81 laid 1t out on the
table, and 1t Is impossible that thieves
AS you phrase it--could have come
there"
"Oh. yes. II Is In the box. no doubt"
said her ladyship. somewhat Grossly,
for she disliked to be troubled espe-
ciaily In hot weather. you have not
searched properly Hughes"
my lady," answered Hughes. II
can trust my hands. and I can trust
my eyes, and they have all four been
into every hole and crevice Of the
box"
Lady Frances Chenevix laid down
the Morning Post and advanced. us
the bracelet really lost?"
~ ---A-.