The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-10-06

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when everybody was there-and they
! haven't the faintest clew."
But how?" For q moment the pre-
posterous fact left Clara too quick to
be calm.
Again Flora's eloquent hands. THAT
is it! 1t was in a 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, II
was gone"
Flora leaned forward on her el.
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
tawnJ, toned from brown to ivory
through all the gamut of gold-hair
color Of a panther's hide, eyes dark
hazel glinting through dustcolored
lashes, chin round like a fruit. The
pressure of her fingers accented the
slight uptilt of her brows to elflsh-
ness, and her look was interpretive.
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? II
might be anybody. 1t might be you
or me, or Ella Butler Though would
prefer to think it was some one we
didn't know so well-some one
strange and fascinating who will pres.
emily go slipping out the Golden Cato
in little junk boat, so that no one
need be embarrassed"
Clara looked back with extraordi
nary intentness.
oh, it's not possible the thing is
stolen There's some mistake! And
If 1t were"-her eyes seemed to open
a little wider to take in this possi-
bility-"they will have detectives all
around the water front by tonight.
ANY one would find it difficult to get
away" she pointed out.
of course; l know" Flora muir
INJURED. A faint twitch of humor pull
ed her mouth, but the passionate ro.
mantle color was dying out of her
| hot ~,
could be so 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 should
have had to have it."
Mrs. Britton surveyed this state.
ment consideringly "Was it the most
valuable thing in the collection?
Flora hesitated in the face of the
alert question. "I-don't know, But
it was the most remarkable. 1t 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 so quickly followed
that marriage gave Flora 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 off the auction-if it is
really so," she mused.
But there must be something in it.
Clara. Why, they closed the doors
apd 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 l wish he would hurry.
His dinner will be spoiled; and, poor
dear, he likes his dinner so much!"
The faint silver sound of the elec.
!, tric bell, a 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
J mufiled movements in the hall, then
light, even steps crossing the drawing
{ room. Those light steps always sug.
gested slight Frame and, as always
Flora was re-surprised at his bulk as
now 1t appeared between the parted
r curtains, the dull black and sharp
white of his evening clothes topped by
5 his square, fresh-colored face.
We'll. Flora" he said, 81 know I'm
late" and took the hand she held tc
him from where she sat. Her face
danced with pleasure. Yes, he was
magnificent, she thought, as he cross
a ed with his light stride to Mrs. Brit
4 tons chair. He could even stand the
3 harsh lines and lights of evening
: clothes. He dominated their ugly con
4 vention with his height, his face sc
t ruddy and fresh under the pale brown