The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-04-04

put on a eark shooting coat. and
Joined my host a moment later Ia
/ tho hall.
We slipped out through side
| door which stood slightly open.
without a word We oropt softly In
the shadow or the bushes towards
the summer house Al the farther end
Of the garden. which was clearly
visible IN tho moonlight. What
ever thoughts were eoursing through
nouverie'H brain. there was some
thing about HIS attitude. a certain
| forocful determination. which kept
| him from any words. We both drew
into the dark cover OF the laureiH
and waited with what patience we
could.
A moment had scarcely gone by
when across the grass with a light.
quick step came a woman. shs was
wrapped In a dark cloak. Tor one
instant the moonlight fol- on hsr
face, ana my heart nearly stopped
with horror. II was that Of Lady
iiouvsrie. Al that instant Bouve-
ris's hand eiutched my shoulder. and
he drew me farther back into the
darkest part or the shadow. From
whore We stood va could SEQ but not
be seen. Lady nouyeris was hold
ing a small box Ia ons hand. in the
other n handkerchief Her eyes
were streaming with tears Che had
scarcely reached the summer house
before a man with a mask over bis
face approached her. Hs said =
word or two In a whisper. which
vas only broken By Lady Bouveris's
sobs. She gave him the box; he put
Il into his breast pocket and van
ished
wondered that Bouvsrfs ala not
spring forward. ssins tina man. and
demand an explanation. but whsth-
er n. IVES stunned or not I could
not say. Before. however. he made
tho slightest movement LADY Bou-
vsris herself. with insredlbls swift
ness, disappeared Into the darkness
Come said 70 Bouysrie.
We both rushed 70 the spot where
hia wife had stood something whits
lay on the ground picked II up.
II was her handkerchief Houyeris
snatchod II ffom me and looked al
the Initials by the light OF the moon.
The handkerchief was nopping wet
with tears lie flung tt down
again as though IL hurt him.
"dreat hsavensi+ he mutteref.
! pitched up the handkerchief and
sc both returned 10 the house
We had scarcely set foot inside
tho hall when the sound OF many
49, faHN
Amongst them the perslan'a accents
were clearly diHiinguiahabis. TER
rnr rang In every nhfili word.
The hloodstons ls gons' ~ the
ether jewels are safe. but the blood
stons. the taiisman. is gonsi What
VIII be come OF met Ay life viii be
the Forfeit
We both rushed upstairs. The
whole thing was perfectly true. The
hioodstoae. the priceless taiisusan Of
thu royal houap Of Persia. had been
stolen The confusion was appaii-
Ing. and already someone had gone
TO fetch the local police.
4 Ehsu lose my life n the stone II
not recovered" cried the miserable
Persian. despair and terror depicted
on his face. who has taken III
The other gems are safe. but the
secret drawer has been burst open
and ths hloedntone removed Who
has taken TT Sir John. what IL tho
natter You look strange
Il can throw light on this mys-
terry said STR John
looked around mo. Neither
Lady Bouvsrie nor Mime. Sara was
present I felt a momsn;.ry thank
fuiness for this latter fact.
Il saw my wife give q package 10
n stranger in the garden Just now"
ne continued Il do not wish to
conceal anything. This matter must
be looked into. When the police
come shall Do the first 20 help In
the investigation. Meanwhile I am
going 10 my wife
lie arodo away. We all stood and
looked at each other. Sir Johns
revelation was far more terrible 20
all except tho unfortunate Persian
than the loss OF the bloodstane. In
fact. the enormity OF tho ono trRg-
sdy paisd beside the othor.
thought for a minute. Sotwith-
MANNNBNtk hAfM NAAANAHAe "a NAA
would dispatch a telegram 10 Van
dcleur without delay There was a
mystery. and only vandslsur could
clear II up. Black IA Appearances
were against Lady Bouverie. had
no doubt that her innocence could
be established. without n word Z
hurried out and raced 20 the post
office. There I knocked up tho post
master and soon dispatched three
kilograms ono 20 Vandelours HOUSE..
one 20 his club. and one TO the caro-
OF the Westminster police station.
All contained the sans words:
Come special or motor immedi-
ntoly. Don't delay"
| then returned 20 Grsylanda. A
hush Of surprise had succeeded 20
the first CONSERVATION. A few Of
the guests had reappoared. startled
by the noiso and confusion. but
many stiii remained In their rooms.
SIR John was with hts wife. We as
senibled In the dining room. and
presently he came down and spoke /
To us
Lady pouverie denies every /
thing" he said. "She swears she
has never left her room. This mat
ter must be thoroughly investigat- |
ed" he continued. going up 10 the /
Persian. There are times when a
man IN all honor cannot defend even !
his own wife"
Meanwhile Mime. Sara remained |
In the library She was sitting by
a table buslly writing. When Sir
John appeared she came into the
room and spoke TO him. Her face