The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-12

unclasped after you got into the car riage, he said hurriedly 10 the dis | tressed girl. If so. it will be easily ' Taking a lamp from its socket. he
 made careful search among the cush- Ions and rugs. Elva loosened her
 wrap and shook it vigorously. All in vain.
 You may have dropped 1t in the vestibule." Vose suggested. I'll run back and see.' She wondered why he
 gianeed whi1e saarpy up and down own the street street | be long,
 He was gone before fElva could pro- test. She was almost in tears. The
 were intrinsically valuable. It made her nervous to be left there alone. Why had Vose returned to the club
 house on foot when the horses would | The doubts against which she had been | struggling obtruded themselves more consistently than before.
 Footsteps echoed in the nearly de-
 the carriage. Elva strained her eyes
 in the direction of the sounds as 8
 mans figure loomed in the darkness, ,s | tons of unspeakable relief as she rec
 He came running up. "Elva, you are safer" he cried anxiously.
 he'd. It's my diamond necklace! Oh. Rob, it's gone! I've lost it--or 1t has been stolenv
 Where's vose?" he asked. peering
 over her shoulder.
 Gone back to look for it.
 We will go too. There's room for me on the. box with the driver"
 she cried imploringly as he turned away. .I'm-so--frightened All right-when I've told the man Tha snoaII noIa faca vas raisad to bis
 half wistfully as he seated himself | beside her, but he stared impassively straight ahead. Elva tried to per suade herself that she did not care ing. Wringing her>hands, she burst
 On. Rob. it has been terrible Instead of slipping his arm about her, and soothing her with loving words. he said quietly:
 it may not be irrevocably lost. We will soon know"
 She dashed the tears angrIy from her eyes. Did he think she was dis l tressed about the jewels. and nothing else?
 Presently the carriage drew up be- fore stone building. the windows of which were all alight Elva uttered an ejaculation of surprise.
 This isn't the clubhouse! It's the police station!' Yes" he replied, taking note of | second carriage standing at the curb The driver obeyed instructions. Come inl Something may be known of the missing necklace here She followed him into a big, bare room Facing the officer in charge
 was a prisoner who had just been brought In by two policemen. One of l the latter held up something that gilt tered brilliantly in the electric light.
 This was on the prisoners person. your honor"
 My diamondsw Elva exclaimed in-
 The cuiprit turned sharply at the sound of her voice. Could this pallid shrinking. guilt t-burdened creature De Lawrence Vose, the handsome. the debonnair?
 A glance of understanding passed between Rob and the officer then the former. drew Elva's hand within his arm and led her back to the carriage. in the morning." he said quietly. You see. I've been doing a little detective work of my own. Vose. Knowing he was under suspicion, intended to skip federate was to follow you from the ball in another carriage. Voses plan was to leave you on some pretext, af- ter getting possession of the jewels. straight to the railway station. But his pal had been taken in charge--the second carriage was of my own prov viding Most unexpectedly he found himself in the clutches of two police men.
 During this explanation Elva's head had dropped until it rested finally against the young mans shoulder. whispering p n Fshs have s iearned sht that st'q true. honest heart is more to be de- sired in the man one is to marry than a handsome face. I needed the lesson"