Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-30

,lence directly across the room. He stopped
before tall cloisonne vase standing IN front
of the window. looked at it for a moment
stupidity. then lifted it and turned it upside
down. Out dropped the SelwVn brooch.
y hurricane Of applause burst from the COM
pany, hands clapped: and men cried Bravo.
Mrs. Selwyn rushed forward.
Astro. handed her the brooch. She gave one
look at it. clasped it to her breast, and then
took the palnist's hands with both hers
Wonderful she exclaimed Its per
fectly MARVEL
Then her ewes caught whimsical look in his,
saw his cryptic smile, and her face changed
First it grew suddenly blank, then delighted
expression flooded it.
Whv-whv. it was trick wasn't it:
How clever, Oh. it was worth the fright,
really! 1t was the best thing I've ever seen
DONE | never suspected it for minute, Oh
thank You so much! | knew YOU wouldn t
be mean enough to refuse altogether. knew
You q be nice and amuSe us Soneway. But
my! You are a wizard! aren't YOU.
Selwvn strobe forward. DO You mean to
say you cooked this whole thing up, sir. Well
YOU certainly fooled me, by Jove! Ha, ha :
that. But YOU pretty nearly caused a big
scandal, | tell you! He turned to a neigh
Dor and began to talk vocIferously about it.
The crowd swarmed about Astro now. each
eager to congratulate and to praise. Every
one gesticulatetl, almost screamed at one an
Der. Dozens of people, their conventional re-
serve broken down by the strain of the last
few minutes, shook Astro by the hand
THE Countess came UP also, to flatter him
on his success.
But YOU didn't tell me my character after
ALL" she complained plavfuly.
The glance Astro gave her was cold and
sharp. Madam" he replied, your character
will hardly stand another such test. If You
will call at my studio tomorrow, l shall give
YOU some advice. When do you expect to
return to Italy,"
She gave him long stare, grew little pale,
but shrugged her shoulders. Are you IN a
hurry for me to return, monsieur!
Il predict great misfortune for you, If you
remain here for more than week"
Thank you very much for your advice.
then. You are too kind. Yes, think shall
be bored to death in this town. | shall 60
An ret,oir, monsieur | should like to know
YOU better. We would make fine payrnates,"
She smiled, and, as if reluctantly, removed
her eyes, and left him.
Mrs. Selwyn drew him aside with eager
eyes. "Of course know I'm pig" she said ;
but really, Astro, couldn't you get that
diamond off the Countess hand and hide it
somewhere? 1t would be such fun, you know
Do be nice and do lust one more. They II
talk about my reception forever, II you do!
.Astro laughed. That's one thing I'm
afraid can't do. You see, the Countess isn't
TT was pretty big chance You We're taking,
seems to me-" said Naleska, as AstrO drove
her home. "Of course she grabbed the stone
so tightly that it printed the marks OF the facets
on her white glove: that part of it easy.
But how could YOU be sure. You didn't look
at half the peoples hands"
You noticed the way she held her fingers
when l spoke to you. didn't you: | didn't
have time, then to explain But | knew by
that that she or had been pickpocket.
The professional dipper works with his first
two fingers. and almost always carries his
hand with them extended and the other two
fingers curled up out of the way"
But why did You look at her left glove,
instead of the right, as you did all the others!"
Il had noticed at supper time that she
left handed. Where | took my long chance,
my dear was when | trusted to you to find
out what she did with the brooch. confess
that when | dropped on the floor and waited
for Your signal, l rather anxious. 1t was
up to YOU, then, to make me or break me.
But | was sure | could trust YOU and you did
beautifully
Vaeska herself had been more anxious
during that few minutes than she confessed
There waS,s however one more thing to be
Strengthened out in her mind.
What l don't understand is who put out
the lights" she remarked. - forgot to tell
YOU that | was standing near the wall where
the electric switch was, and Immediately the
lights went out some one brushed past me
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