Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23

that was capable of anything. Some cum
ming plan. perhaps some plan that took vio-
lence within its grasp, would have been
carried out before the evening was over
So alarmed was Beatrice that she followed
Adeline to the door. She wanted to see the
jewels safe and regain her lost sef-posses-
sion at the same time. 1t seemed to be a
critical moment
IF you will excuse me-" she said, Il had
forgotten to give my maid another mes
age"
| She was master of herself once more Beat
rice stepped out of the room and followed
Adeline at safe distance to the end of the
stairs. So far as she knew to the contrary
confederate might be lingering about
waiting for signal. Surely enough, Gen
Gastang was lettering in the hall smoking a
cigarette. But he seemed to be poweress
now, for he made no sign, and with a sigh
OF relief Beatrice saw Adeline emerge pres
emily from the office minus the cases which
she had previously carried.
NOW, fancy have finished my business
for the evening" Beatrice said. II have
been thinking over the very kind offer Won
made to me a little time ago. You can
hardly understand how anybody as lonely
as myself appreciates such kindness as
yours
ward off the gratitude. They were slim
hands with many rings upon them as
Beatrice did not fail to notice
And on the finger of the left hand some
/
of silk thread.
Excuse me-" Beatrice said, you have
something attached to one of your rings.
Let me remove it for you. That is all right
1t seems very strange, but"
Beatrice checked herself suddenly and
walked rapidly across the room. She had
made what in the light of recent events
was startling discovery. At first she had
imagined that the long silken fluff was at
{; tached to one of the rings, but this her
quick eyes had proved to be a mistake On
| one of the slim fingers of the countess was
a thick smear of wax.
Beatrice could see a little of it sticking to
the palm of the hand now. She understood
what this meant. That neat little woman
was by no means the sort of person to dab
BILE habitually in tricks of that kind and
Beatrice suddenly recoected that wax was
used for taking impressions of locks and
keys and the like. But surely there could
be nothing worth all that trouble in this
room, she thought Nor would anything of
that kind have been necessary to get pos
session of the jewels Besides if any waxen
impression of anything had been taken
Stephen Richford would have done it. Just
for moment 1t occurred to Beatrice that
1t would be good idea to change her room
but she dismissed the impulse as cowardly,
and besides, the manager had advised her
that he had not another room at his dis
posal In the hotel
Still, she was on her guard now and she
made up her mind to slumber lightly to-
night. After all the exciting events of the
day, it was not likely that she would sleep
at all. And yet she felt very dull and
heavy: she could think of nothing to saw
so that the countess rose presently and pro-
claimed the fact that she was quite ready
for bed herself
Il am SELFISH she said 81 am keeping
you up, for which l should be ashamed Of
myself Good night, my dear, and pleasant
dreams to YOU
The speaker fitted away with smile and
kiss of her jeweled fingers. Beatrice drew
a long sigh of relief to find herself alone
once more.
She locked the door carefully and COM
menced a thorough examination of the
room. 1t was some time before her quick
eyes gave her any clew to the meaning Of
the wax on the countess hands Then she
found it at last. There was another of the
silken threads hanging on the lock Of the