The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-12-07


voice.
We'll, can you see one of the chaps
trusting the other with more than half
of it?" The Judge was scornful. "And
fellow needs whole ring II he is
after reward" He rolled his head
waggishly. "Oh, could have been
crook myself" he checked, but his
was the only smiling face in the
party.
For Kerr's was pale, schooled to
rigid self-control.
And Harry's was crimson and swol-
len, as If with sudden rush of blood.
His twitching hands, his sullen eyes,
responded to Judge Buffers last word
as If it had been an accusation.
1T makes me damned sick, the way
you fellows talk-as if it was the east.
est thing in the world to" He broke
Off. 1t was such tone, loose, harsh
and uncontrolled, as made Flora
shrink.
AS If he sensed that movement in
her, he turned upon her furiously
We'll, are we going to stand here
all night?" He took her by the arm.
She felt as If he had struck her.
Butler was staring at him, but Kerr
had opened the door through which
she had entered, and now, turning his
back upon Harry, silently motioned
her out.
She had a moments fear that Har-
rvs grasp. even then, wouldn't let
go. Indeed, for moment he stood
clutching her, as If, now that his rage
had spent itself, she was the one
thing he could hold to. Then she felt
his fingers loosen. He stood there
alone, looking, with his great bulk,
and his great strength, and his
abashed bewilderment, rather pa
thetic.
But that aspect reached her dimly,
for the fear of him was uppermost.
Her arm still burned where he had
grasped it. She moved away from
him toward the door Kerr had opened
for her. She passed from the light
of the crimson room into the dark of
the passage. Some one followed her
and closed the door. Some one caught
step with her. 1t was Kerr. He bent
his dark head to speak low.
81 don't know why you did it, you
quixotic child, but you must not ex-
pose yourself in this way, for any rea-
son whatsoever"
The light of the crowded rooms
burst upon them again.
"Oh," she turned to him beseech-
ingly, cant you get me away?"
Surely" His manner was as if
nothing had happened. His smile was
reassuring. "Tll call your carriage,
and find Mrs Britton."
When Flora came down from the
dressingroom she found Clara al
ready in the carriage, and Kerr mount
ing guard in the hall. AS he hand
ed her in, Clara leaned forward.
Where is Mr.. Cressy?" she in
quired.
He sent his apologies" Kerr ex-
planned. HE is not able to get away
just now"
Flora lay back in the carriage She
was dimly aware of Clara's presence
beside her, but for the moment Clara
had ceased to be factor. The shape
that filled all the foreground of her
thought was Harry. He loomed alarm
ing to her imagination-all the more
so since, for the moment, he had
seemed to lose his grip. That was
another thing she could not quite un-
derstand. That burst of violent irri-
tation following, as it had, Judge Bull
ler's words! If Kerr had been the
speaker 1t would have been natural
enough, since all through this inter-
view Harry's evident antagonism had
seemed strained to the swapping
point.
But poor Judge Butler had been
harmless enough. He had been mere
ly theorizing. But-wait! She made
SO sharp a movement that Clara
looked at her The judges theory
might be close to facts that Harry
was cognizant of.
For herself she had had no way Of
finding out how the sapphire had got
adrift But hadn't Harry? Hadn't he
followed up that singular scene with
the blue-eyed Chinaman by other
visits to the goldsmith's shop? Why,
yesterday, when he was supposed to
be in Burlingame, Clara had seen him
in Chinatown. The idea burst upon
then. Harry was after the whole
ring. He counted the part she held
already his, and for the rest he was
cropping In Chinatown; he was trying
to reach it through the imperturbable
little goldsmith. But he had not
reached 1t yet-and she could read his
irritation at his failure in his violent
outburst when Judge Butler so inno-
Gently flung the difficulties in his face.
She knew as much now as she could
bear. If Harry did not suspect Kerr,
it would be strange. But-Harry wait
ing to make sure of reward before
he unmasked thief! 1t was an ugly