Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-27
{ NAPIER X-Coniinued

NJ
lGkgESYI Nv between her teeth, her hands were
clenchcd And Beatrice knew that
but for the Intervention Of that stranger in
the drawing room and the sudden flight of the
General she would never have seen those dia
Inonds again. And yet Stephen Richford had
been in the same room with this brilliant adven.
turessl Beatrice would have given a great deal
to see to the bottom of the mystery.
"Oh, it is indeed narrow escape that YOU
have had" the Countess said. al was not feel
ing very well, so l sent my maid to ask you to
come to my room She said you had already
gone, ! took the liberty of coming here Is
not that so?"
"Then VIC had perhaps better stay and talk
here" Beatrice suggested. "Adeline, will you
take this down to the office and ask the
manager to place il with my other valuables in
the safe? BE very careful, because they are dia.
monds."
Adelinc, 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
chevnl glass. 1t was lvId with fury, and
wrinkled with greed and bafAcd cupidity. The
girl was afraid to trust her voice for moment.
hhe knew that unless she had taken this
course, the diamonds would not have been hers
much longer. A woman who could look like that
rice that she followed Adene to the door. She
wanted to the jewels safe and regain he,
lost sefpossession at the same time. 1t seemed
to bc critical moment
IF you will excuse me-" she said "I had for
gotten to give my maid another message"
The Countess nodded and smiled gaily She
was master of herself once more Beatrice step.
ped out of the room and followed Adene at
safe distance to the end of the stairs. So far as
she knew to the contrary confederate might be
lingering about waiting for a signal Surely
enough, General Gastang was lettering in the
nail smoking cigarette. But he seemed to be
powerless now. for he made no sign, and with a
sigh OF relief Beatrice Adeline emerge pres
entity from the office minus the cases which she
had previously carried
Now, fancy l have finished my business for
the evening" Beatrice said II have been think.
ing over the very kind offer you made to me a
little time ago. You can hardly understand how
ANYBODY as lonely as myself appreciates such
Kindness as yours"
The Countess raised her hands as if to 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 something
thread.
Excuse me-" Beatrice said, you have some
thing attached to of your rings. Let me re-
move it for you. That is all right. 1t seems
very strange but -"
Beatrice checked herself suddenly and walked
rap1diy across the room. She had made what
IN the light OF recent eyensi was startling dis.
covery. N''
AT first she had imagined that the long silk
en- fluff was attached to one of the rings hut
this her quick eyes had proved to be mistake
On one OF the slim fingers of the Countess was
thick smear of wax.
She understood what this meant That neat
little woman by no means the sort of per.
son to dabble habitually in tricks of that kind
and Beatrice suddenly recoected that wax was
used for taking impression of locks and keys and
the like. But surely there could be nothing
worth all that trouble in this room, she thought.
just for moment it occurred to Beatrice that it
would be good idea to change her room, but
she dismissed the impulse as cowardly
Still, she was on her guard now, and she made
up her mind to slumber lightly. After all the
exciting events of the day, it was not likely that
she would sleep at all And vet she felt very
dull and heavy; she could think of nothing to
say, that the Countess rose presently and
fitted away with smile and kiss of her lew.
eled fingers.
Beatrice drew long sigh of relief to find her
self alone more. She locked the door care
fully and began a thorough examination of the
room. 1t was some time before her quick ewes
the Countess hands. Then she found it, There
was another of the slkcn threads hanging on the
lock of the door leading to the room where Sir
Charles lay. On the official seal placed there by
the police officers tiny thread of silk.
which came away in Beatrices hands when she
pulled it. A piece of soft white wax had been
pressed on the seal, and had left strong traces
behind.
Now, what did this strange mystery mean?
Beatrice asked herself. Why did anybody re-
quire an impression of that seal? What object
could anyone have in getting into the room
where the dead man lay? The more Beatrice
asked herself this question the more puzzled did
she become. She thought it over till her head
ached and her eyes grew heavy So engrossed
was she that she quite failed to notice several
little impatient knocks at the door Then the
girl came to herself with start, and opened the
door TO admit her maid, as she expected
But it was not Adeline come back, but the
Countess with dazzling white silk wrap over
her shoulders. She profoundly apologetic,
but what was she to do? Her maid had been
taken i'll and she had been commanded to bed
by doctor, The Countess was very sorry for
Marie, but she had little sympathy left for
herself. II was impossible for her to unhook
the back of her dress. Would Beatrice be so
kind as to do it for her?
"Of course will" Beatrice said at is awk-
ward being without a maid Let me shut the
door"
It was no great task that Beatrice had set her
self, but it was not rendered any more easy be-
cause the Countess pranced about the room as
if unable to keep still, She held in her hand
smelling bottle with a powerful perfume that
Beatrice had never smet before 1t was sweet
..I ,uak e