Evening star., 1909-09-12

Perhaps it might be as well to have search
made of everybody in the ROOM suggested one
of the men. We should all be ready to SUBJ
nit know You can begin with me-
Pinckney Masons brow darkened with anger
and annoyance. Search my guests?' he cried
in voice shaking with Indignation. IN SUBJ
NIT them to no such humiliation! I'm sur
prised at you, Tom Medford. for making such
suggestionl Don't let me hear any more of it,
Have you been out of this room since the
scarf figure Mrs Mason?" asked Carleton has
tily, to cover up Medford's discontinue.
\ faint crimson stained Laura Mason's
cheeks. Only In the conservatory, throwing
crumbs to the fishes she said.
And was anyone
81 was in the conservatory with Mrs. Mason"
broke in the voice of Lesslng, who had returned
to the room unobserved by Carleton. Per-
haps it might be well to search me. l shall
be most pleased if the Major cares to make an
examination.
Carleton, closely observing Mrs. Mason.
the color fade from her cheeks and deathly
whiteness take its place, as she summoned all
her dignity and replied, Mr.. Lessing, you have
heard what the Major said. Iou-you were
not near me in the conservatory. This IS very
unfortunate affair. Of course l am deeply
grieved over the loss of my diamond; but had
rather lose every jewel l possess than consent
to such suggestion as the one you have just
made, or to make anyone of my guests feel Ill at
ease. Suppose we drop the subject Plnckney,
will you tell the musicians to play waltz!">
1t was beautifully done, and Carleton was
filled with admiration for the woman who did
it. He turned to speak to Miss Marshall; but
she was talking to Lessing who had approached
her on the other side.
"Mr Lessing," Carleton heard her say, Il
have idea that Cousin Laura might have
dropped her lighthouse in the conservatory
when she was there after the scarf dance. Will
YOU come in and help me look for it! Do. 1t
may be on the floor there, and perhaps has
rolled under the plants somewhere. Her attl-
tude is very heroic and all that, but foolish 1t
had a stone like hers and had lost it. l d have
the musicians play the dead march from Saul. :"
TOGETHER they left the room. Carleton,
watching them from the corner Of his eye,
started and let slip slight exclamation. He
waited moment and then followed them. He
passed through the library and reached the
door of the conservatory just in time to hear the
girl say:
But where is he? / left him here in the
basket, just as comfortable as he could be. He
was almost asleep, and now he's gone. But how
could he have got out! The porch door was
locked and he never could have crawled up
that step into the library. Some one must
have taken him
Perhaps" Carleton suggested as he stepped
into the room, 81 his supper did not agree with
him. Perhaps he has taken constitutional
walked off with Mrs. Mason's diamond"
Miss Marshall faced swiftly round. Its not
joke, Mr.. Carleton, she said. Il want him.
Maybe Mr.. Lessing can enlighten you as to
the whereabouts of-the terrapin," Carleton
said He leaned forward and stretched out his
hand toward Lessing. From the latter's coat
tail pocket he jerked forth a loop of light blue
ribbon tied in bowknot.
The eyes of the two men met-and c1ung.
Lessing's were the first to fall. The color gradu-
ally receded from his face. leaving it pasty
white.
Mr. Carleton is right. Miss Marshall" he
said with an effort. Il can tell you the where
abouts-of the terrapin. l took him as part Of
little Joke intending to return him to you to-
morrow with little silver band round his body
and a silver chain fastened to it. But since Mr..
Carleton has seen fit to play the part of spoil
sport" his eyes met Careton's again, this time
defantly, Il shall return him to you at once.
He is in my overcoat pocket" He bowed and
left the room.
THE girl turned to Carleton, pale and wide
eyed. "You know or you suspect some
thingi" she said. Tell mel!
For answer he drew from his pocket a small
white object do you know what this is"
he asked, extending it to her.
She examined it curiously. "Why, it's
little piece of pork!" she said
Exactly. Well, when that bit Of pork in
jured my dignity to the extent of spread-eagllng
me in the ballroom this evening, naturally
wondered what pork doing at a dance.
1t must have been dropped by some one, and
Lessing was the last person who had been
standing there. l had noticed that he drew
L. o1.o&x -,