The Raymer enterprise., 1910-09-08

Flora flung out her hands.
We'll. It disappeared in the Maple
room, in the middle Of the afternoon,
when everybody was there-and they
haven't the faintest clew."
But how!" For a moment the pre-
posterous fact left Clara too quick to
be calm.
Again Flora's eloquent hands. "That
Is 1t! 1t was in case like all the
other Jewels. Harry saw it"-she
glanced at the paper-''as late as four
O'Clock. When he came back with
Judge Butler. half an hour after, It'll
was gone"
Flora leaned forward on her ell.
bows. chin in hands. No two could
have differed more than these two
women in their blondness and their
prettiness and their wonder. For
Clara was sharp and pale, with silvery
lights In eyes and hair, and confront.
ed the facts with an alert and calcu.
lating observation; but Flora was
tawny. toned from brown to ivory
through all the gamut OF gold-hair
color OF a panther's hide, eyes dark
hazel. glinting through dust-colored
lashes. chin round like a fruit. The
pressure of her fingers accented the
slight uptilt Of her brows to elfish.
ness, and her look was introspective.
She might. instead Of wondering on
the outside. have been the very center
OF the mystery itself, toying with un
thinkable possibilities of revelation.
She looked far over the head of Clara
Britton's annoyance that there should
be no clew.
why, don't you see." she pointed
out, that is just the fun Of It? It
might be anybody. 1t might be you,
or me, or Ella Butler. Though would
prefer to think 1t was some one we
didn't know so well-some one
strange and fascinating, who will pres.
emily go slipping out the Golden Gate
In a little junk boat. so that no one
need be embarrassed"
Clara looked back with extraordi.
nary intentness.
"Oh. its not possible the thing is
stolen. There's some mistake! And
II 1t were"-her eyes seemed to open
little wider to take in this possi.
bility-"they will have detectives all
around the water front by tonight.
Any one would find 1t difficult to get
away" she pointed out.
"Of course; know" Flora muir.
INJURED. A faint twitch Of humor pull.
ed her mouth. but the passionate ro-
mantle color was dying out of her
face. How was 1t that ones romances
could be 30 cruelty pulled down to
earth! But still she couldn't quite
come down to Clara. "At least" she
sighed, "he has saved me an awful
expense, whoever took It, for l should
have had to have It."
Mrs. Brltton surveyed this state.
ment consideringly. WAS 1t the most
valuable thing in the collection!
Flora hesitated in the face Of the
alert question. "I-don't know. But
1t was the most remarkable. II was a
Chatworth heirloom. the papers say.
and was given to Bessie at the time
OF her marriage" The thought Of the
death that had 80 quickly followed
that marriage gave Flora a little
shiver. but no shade Of the tragedy
touched Clara. There was nothing
but speculation in Clara's eyes-that.
and little disappointment. "Then
they will put of the auction-if 1t isl
really 3d." she unused.
But there must be something In II
Clara. Why. they closed the doors
and searched them-that crowd! It's
ridiculous!"
Clara Britton glanced at the empty
place. Then that must be what has
kept him."
who? oh. Harry" 1t took Flora
a moment to remember she had been
expecting Harry. She hoped Clara
had not noticed It. Clara always had
too much the assumption that she
was taking him only as the best.look.
Ing. best.natured. safest bargain pre.
sented. He will be here" she re.
assured. but wish he would hurry.
HIS dinner will be spoiled; and, poor
dear, he likes his dinner SO much!"
The faint silver sound of the cleo.
tric bell, q precipitate double peal
seemed to uphold this statement. The
women faced each other In a mo.
ments suspense. moment Of expec.
tation. such as the advance column
may feel at sight Of scout hotfoot
from the field Of battle. There were
mufiied movements In the hall, then
light. even steps crossing the drawing
room. Those light steps always sug.
gested slight frame. and, az always,
Flora was re-surprised at his bulk as |
now It appeared between the parted |
curtains. the dull black and sharp
white Of his evening clothes topped by |
his square. fresh.colored face.
well, Flora" he said. II know I'm
late" and took the hand she held to |
him from where she sat. Her face
danced with pleasure. Yes. he was
magnificent. she thought. as he cross. |
ed With his light stride to Mrs. Brit.
tons chair. He could even stand the |
harAh linaa and liahAa ~ aua.I..