Evening star., 1909-09-12

Later, when he followed you from the room to
search for the diamond, the end of your blue
ribbon was sticking from his pocket. | knew
it the same ribbon, because you stlH wore
all the Others. That he had taken the terrapin
was clear enough; but he must have wanted it
pretty badly when he would steal it from you
after having given it to you at your request :
HE was interrupted by the entrance of Lessing
- bearing the terrapin. He handed it to Miss
Marshall, and without word bowed and left
the room.
Miss Marshall" Carleton continued Il
the kitchen and have the chef kill it-and look
inside. Then bring me whatever you find
there
Eleanors eyes opened in wide amazernent
: 1ou-you mean the diamond! she gaSped
Carleton nodded.
I'm the terrapin?" cried the girl. why
how"
Who was near enough to Mrs. Mason to get
that jewell" Carleton interrupted. "Lessing
And he alone had the opportunity. They were
standing by the tank. What easier trick than
for him to snap the stone off with his teeth
when he-when he bent over her? He may
even have had some kind of steel instrument
fitted in back of his teeth to aid him. Oh, it
could be done easily enough. The stem of the
setting is very thin, and the gold very fine and
pure. 1t is mistake to set such valuable gems
in twenty-two-carat gold; it's too soft. Then
who suggested the scarf fgure9 Lessing SO
that the theft of the stone would remain undis-
covered until he had time to get away with the
terrapin. Who suggested the aquarium figure
Lessing. If that stone is found"
Wait here, interrupted the girl breath
1essly. "I'n be right back" She caught up
the basket in which she had replaced the terra
was back again her face pale, her lips trembling.
You were right! Oh, you were right!' she
said in voice that was almost sob The
diamond has been foundl l have given it to
Laura and told them all that you suspected
that she might have dropped it into the water
will never know"
Never know?" cried Carleton, his face
flushing. Il am going now to tell the Major
what sort of man he has been entertaining.
with flashing eyes 1--WE been waiting and
watching my time to get Lessing where |
wanted him, and now I've succeeded! Come!'
He made as if to go back to the ballroom.
"Stop!" The girls hand was on his arm.
"Well9" he said
"You know you can't TELL" she said in low
"Can't tell? Why?" All Carleton's jealousy,
all his distrust of Lessing, fared up.
Because of Laura" said the girl simply.
do you want to spoil her life! You know
what Pinckney is. If he so much as suspected
that Lessing was near enough to Laura to get
that diamond, in that way, he would make a
terrible scene. There'd be scandal. Oh, l
know him! He's madly jealous of every man
that looks at her. She means no wrong; but
she will flirt. Mr.. Lessing took an unfair ad-
vantage when he-when we You saw how
she turned him. Promise me you won t
tell,''
FOR a moment Carleton was silent Was
Francis Lessing again to escape from the
net he had SO carefully drawn around him |?
Was something always to intervene3 Must he
give up his idea of removing this man from the
high position in society where he capable
of doing so much evil and of sending him to the
cell where he belonged by right-or wrong?
No, surely not for the sake of saving a silly
flirtatious woman scolding from her husband
No, he would go to the Major and tell him the
whole storyi
little hand fell on his own. A soft pleading
voice said in his ear, Please, Mr. Carleton!
Promise mel" And then very, very softly,
For my sake" There were tears in the big
eyes.
Unconsciously Carleton repeated the words
that Lessing had spoken few hours before
L promise" he said. I'D do more than that
for YOU"
And to gether they went back to the ballroom