The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-05-07

his knowledge and his love to her
instant need. Go rest-doctor's or
ders-Nellie: his lips had framed
the endearing name, when an excited
clatter and a choking, hysterical cry
brought the party to their feet with
a common movement of anxiety.
CHAPTER ".
Mrs. Lawdon appeared at the
door. The we'll groomed beautiful
woman of few moments before was
almost beyond recognition. Her face
had aged ten years, her hair hung
in disorder, huge rent in the gold
en- gauze of her gown showed the
CLEAN of its white satin lining
mute evidence of the hurried regard
lessness of her fight. And, as a last
detail Of the incomprehensible, her
convulsive hands grasped a black
feather hat of enormous proportions.
For an instant her tragic, ridiculous
figure was silhouetted against the
dark portieres. Then he staggered
forward. tripping over her long frock.
waving the crumpled Gainsboro.
stammering for speech.
She's gone mad!" gasped Mrs.
Evelyn, catching at her husbands g
arm.
Mrs. Lawdon found her voice.
i've been robbed - robbed -
robbed" Her voice rose in thin
soprano gradations. MY dia-
monds-my emeralds my ruby!
They're gone. I tell you! Gone!
Gone! gone!" She collapsed upon
a chair, flinging her body half across
the center table, where she beat the
polished wood with her clenched
hands.
Alice Rawlins was the first to
grasp the situation. The hat box!"
she gasped, her eyes upon the dam
aged millinery in Mrs. Lawdon's
grasp. It's been opened"
The victim raised her head with a
jerk. You. you, Alice Rawlins!
You know where they were-you!
She sprang erect. You and Mrs.
Gaynor-you were the only people
who did know"
Alices astonished face famed
scarlet. DO You dare!"
Mrs. Gaynor turned white to the
lips, her great eyes blazed more
brilliant than the lost Jewels. Mrs
Lawdon is not quite herself" HeI
voice. full of fine, high breeding
fell like ice upon Mrs. Lawdons few.
cred ut:erance.
Realizing that she had lost self
control, Mrs. Lawdon struggled fol
composure, but the magnitude of hei
loss again overwhelmed her. You
must search-at-o once-at once
want the police-send for the po-
lice,"
Mr.. Evelyn rang the electric bell
Il will give orders that all the ser
wants be brought to the dining room
We will examine them there. Vree
man." he continued, addressing the
butler, Il want everyone of my EN-
ployees from the arden, house ant
stables-also the servants of my
guests-to assemble at once in tn,
dining room. Permit no one to leav,
the house or grounds on any pre-
teXt!"
of awed inquiry at the excited groul
before him. AS he paused OUTSIDE
the door his trained ear plainl.
caught Mrs. Lawdon's protests.
Il won't have it, l won't! l wan
the police, l want detectives! Char
lie!" she screamed. where's Char
lie? He'll make you send for th
police!"
: The slamming of a distant doc
and the approach of hurried feet an
: nounced the men from the billiarC
, room. Charlie Lawdon rushed t,
his wife's side
Whats the matter-what's tn
meaning of this?' he exclaimed.
"Oh, Charlie!" she walled
they're gone-all gone!"
whats gomez" he asked, bewild
cred. Then his eye fell upon tn
, remnants of the picture hat
:, Robbed! he said shortly. "Well
told you to have paste copies made
didn't II"
Mrs. Lawdon opened her moutl
D to answer, but her husband placed
n restraining hand upon her shoulder
= There, little woman, buck up
q you're a bit off. of course. Tell Il
what you know-quiet, now
Mrs. Lawdon brushed the tear
from her eyes. II owed Mrs. Eve
lyn eighty at bridge. you know.
Il went to find my purse-I'd Ill
tit was my gold mesh one, wit
- the diamond monogram. Id put
O in the same box with the ruby pend
ant. The key was all right but vile
, 1 opened the trunk found my purs
q lying on the bottom. At first
h thought 1 didn't remember rightly
y Then / thought I'd look-an6 ever
: hat was empty-everyone!"
y, Every haiti" exclaimed Mr.. Eve
lyn in mystif1cation.
4 my wife had a strong box mad
like a hat trunk" Mr.. Lawdon e1
;, planned. Ceases, you know. set ir
), side crowns; thought nobody'd eve
/, think OF looking there"