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

Beatrice had not long to wait. Only a
few minutes elapsed before the door flew
open and Richford came out gently that
Beatrice had barely time to step into a
friendly doorway. Her senses We're quick
and alert now in the face of this unknown
danger and the girl did not fail to note the
pale face and agtated features of the man
who had so grievously harmed her. Evil
IDENTIFY Richford had been drinking no more
hut certainly he had had some great shock
the effects of which had not passed away
lie muttered something as he passed Beat
rice. and looked at his watch. Directly he
had disappeared down the corridor Beat
rice stepped into her room
The countess was standing by the dress
ing-table picking up the odds and ends
there in a careless kind of way, but evil
IDENTITY in attitude of deep attention
Beatrice's feeling of alarm became some
what less as she saw that the case of dia-
monds on the dressing table had not been
touched. If anything like a robbery had
been contemplated she was in time to pre-
vent il. Just for the moment it occurred to
Beatrice to demand coldly the reason for
the intrusion, but she thought the better of
that Clearly there was some conspiracy
on foot here, and it would be bad policy to
suggest that she suspected anything. So
Beatrice forced little smile on her lips as
she crossed the room.
Il shall have TO give you in charge be-
ing suspicious character" she said. II
shall begin to believe that your dressmaker
only existed in your Imagination"
The countess gave q little scream and her
face paled somewhat under her rouge. But
she recovered herself with marvellous quick
ness. Her lips had ceased to tremble. she
smiled gayly.
~ am fairly caught" she said There is
nothing for it but to plead guilty and throw
myself on the mercy of the court You
see, / have not taken the diamonds, though
| have looked at them"
IL was all admirably and coolly said
that ii might have deceived anybody who
did not know quite so much as Beatrice
But she had made up her mind that no sus-
picion of the truth should come out. Quite
carelessly she opened the lid of the jewel
cases so that she might see for herself that
she was not the victim of this magnificent
adventures
But the gems were there right enough
Their marvellous rays seemed to fill the
room with livid fire. Beatrice glanced at
her companion; the latter had caught her
underlip fiercely between her teeth. her
hands We're clenched. And Beatrice knew
that but FOR the intervention of that strang-
er in the drawing room anu the sudden
flight of the general she would never have
seen those diamonds again And yet
Stephen Richford had been in the same
room with this brilliant adventuress! Beat
rice would have given great deal to see to
the bottom of the mystery.
''Oh, il is indeed n narrow escape that
YOU haze had the countess said. Il was
not feefcSS very well. so | sent my maid to
ask you t. SNme TO my room. She said you
had already gone | took the liberty of
coming here Is not that SOP
Then we had perhaps better stay and
talk here Beatrice suggested. 'Adelne.
will you take this case down to the office
and ask the manager to place it with my
other valuables in the safe? Be very care
full beca use they are diamonds"
Adeline, who had just come in. took the
case in her hand. The countess had turned
her back, but Beatrice caught sight of her
face in the cheval glass. 1t was livid with
fury. and all wrinkled up with greed and
Eaffied cupidity. The girl was afraid to
trust her voice for moment. She knew
now that unless she had taken this course.
the diamonds would not have been hers
much longer. A woman who could look Ike