Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-21

You may ~ wen read the news
paper cutting now" Margaret said
when they had begun to walk again.
That cannot attract attention, even
If she does look round, and it explains
a good many things. It's in the thin
ner envelope, of course"
Van Torp fumbled In the pocket Of
his jacket, and brought out the slip
Of newspaper without the envelope, a
p-ecaution which Margaret noticed
and approved.
She watched him intently while he
read the printed report, but his face
did not change In the least At that
short distance she could see every
shade Of his expression through the
white yelling. though he could not see
hers at all. He finished reading.
folded the, slip carefully. and put IN
into his pocket-book instead of return
ing 1t to the envelope.
'It does look queer" he said slowly
Now let me ask you one thing. but
don't answer me unless you like. It's
not mere inquisitiveness on my part ("
AS Margaret said nothing, though he
waited moment for her answer, he
went on. That ruby, now-I suppose
it's to be cut for you, isn't it?"
Yes. He gave 1t to me in Versail-
les. and kept it some days. Then he
asked me to let him have 1t to take
to London when I came here"
Just so. Thank you One more
question, if may. That stone gave
you, swear don't know that it's not
ole "a
look at all like the one that was
stolen?"
"Oh, no! It's quite another shape
and size. Why do you ask? I don't
quite see"
What mean is, II these people
are around selling rubies. there may
be two very much alike. that's all"
We'll, if there were? What of it?''
Suppose I'm only supposing,
mind, that the girl really had another
stone about her a good deal like the
one that was stolen. and that some
body else was the thief Queer things
like that have happened before"
Yes. But old Pinney is one Of the
first experts in the world, and he
swore to the ruby"
AdI 81, Sdlo van OTp LuOUk0L-
fully. 81 forgot that"
And If she had the other stone.
she had stolen 1t from Mons. Logo
theft, have not the least doubt"
ct daresay," replied the millionaire.
I'm not her attorney. I'm not trying
to defend her. 1 was only thinking"
"She was at his house in Paris"
Margaret said, quite unable to keep
her own counsel now. 'Tt was when
was at Versailles"
You don't say so! Are you sure OF
that?''
HE admitted IL when I was talking
to him through the telephone, and I
heard her speaking to him in a Ian.
guage l did not understand"
did you really? Well, well!" Mr..
Van Torp was beginning to be puz-
zred again. Nice voice, hasn't sheY"
he wasn't sure whether the creature
was q boy or q girl"
Maybe he wasn't sure himself"
suggested the American, but the tone
in which she had spoken the word
creature had not escaped him.
He was really trying to put the case
IN a fair light, and was not at all
maneuvering to ascertain her state OF
mind. That was clear enough now.
How far she might go he could not
tell, but what she had just said.
coupled with the way in which she
spoke of the man to whom she was
engaged as Mons. Logotheti." made
It quite evident that she was pro
foundly incensed against him, and Van
Torp became more than ever anxious
not to do anything underhand.
Look here" he said, I'm going TO
tell you something. took a sort of
interest IN that Tartar girl the only
time saw her. i don't know why. l
dare say I was taken m by her
just ordinary taken in like tender
dress In New York" He nodded to-
wards Kralinsky. When I found he
was here. wired Logotheti to tell
her. since she's after him. l suppose
1 thought Logotheti would go right
away aud find her, and get more
mixed up with her than ever. II was
mean Of me, wasn't It? That's why
I've told you. You see. didn't know
anything about all this, and that
makes it meaner still, doesn't it?"
Possibly If he had told her these
facts As hours earlier she might have
been annoyed, but at present they
seemed to be rather in his favor. At
all events he was frank. she thought.
He declared war on his rival, and
meant to fight according to the law OF