Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-21

in short, a f1aWleSS chain OF evidence,
with the disgraceful word dishonesty"
stamped on every link.
Yet Valda Girard was not the woman
to stop fighting at the first staggering
blow, and as for her dear old dad, SNUG
pler or no srnugg1er, she would stick to
him, metaphorically speaking, like
sheep bur- Go on" she requested. Il
think your story is perfectly ridiculous;
but will hear it through
This was most condescendlng in the
daughter of a man caught red handed in
the act of avoiding lawful duty; but Or
mond calamity waived the inconsistency.
You see, he explained, there was
slight accident to Mr.. Girard's plans, and
the authorities began spirited lnvest1ga-
ton. AS for the details of this accident,
1 cannot and will not speak. Suffice it to
say that your father was in rather
Mr. Tracy, and ordered me by wire to
come aboard this yacht.
And he?" the daughter asked.
f. Where is he?"
He leaves Liverpool this evening, on
the Lusitania,'' replied Ormond. while
Tracy once more cut in with another
item of wisdom and information, this
time trife more 1aconic:
He gets to New York-is searched
nothing doing!''
This was rather an unpublished remark
for private secretary; but Valda
scarcely noticed it in the stress of more
serious matters. Besides. Ormond was
speaking again, truthfully beyond a
doubt, and most respectfully:
You will understand, my dear young
friend, that your father followed the only
course left open to him; and l deeply
regret being the unwilling cause of his
daughters modification"
pUT the daughter was not in position
- to admit modification, or anything
else in fact, until more certain OF her
ground This man was perfectly plausl-
Bile, and was certainly familiar with
Girard's habits and affairs; still there
dog refusal to believe wrong IN those
we love. even when confronted with self
evident, solidifed fact.
Gentlemen" she said, lust one
thing more, and hope you will forgive
me if my question seems unreasonable.
What positive proof can you offer me
that this story of yours is true?"
why, the best in the world, If you
think it necessary" He took from his
pocket a leather case, opened 1t, and
strewed its contents on the table. Look!
Here are the gems themselves.
The girl saw before her dozen or more
large pearls, about the same quantity of
uncut rubies, and huge emerald in
heavy, antique setting. She knew enough
of jewels to appreciate their value, and
her intimacy with her fathers collection
was proof positive that the emerald alone
was worth a small fortune; still, the
mere existence of these gems was not
sufficient to implicate Marcus Girard in
the doubtful transaction.
"Yes," she admitted grudgingly, these
are genuine enough; but-but how am l
to know"
That they are Mr. Girard's property"
finished her fathers friend. Doubtless
you will recognize this"
He handed her the case that had held
the gems,-a handsome and expensive
cigar case of black morocco, embossed with
a large gold monogram, and having the
name and New York address of Marcus
Girard stamped on its inner edge. Valda
herself had presented it to him on his
last birthday; and now her castles of
hope came tumbling about her head,
while she sat in numbed silence, holding
the fateful gift in her ice cold hands.
Are you satisfied, Miss Girard?"