Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-10-11

What was it like?" Flora de-
handed
Like? ?" Harry turned a specula-
tive eye to the dull glow of the can
delabrum, as if between its points of
flame he conjured up the vision of the
vanished jewel. Like bit of an old
gold heather god curled round him
ly two yellow sapphires, between his
knees, and a big, blue stone on top.
Soft, yellow gold, so fine you could
almost dent it. And carved. Even
through a glass every line of it is
right | couldn't seem to get away
from it, 1 dropped into the club and
talked to Butler about it. He got
keen, and l went back with him to
have another look at it. WE'LL at the
door Butler stops to speak to a chap
going out-a crazy Englishman he
had picked up at the club. I go on.
By this time there's a crowd inside,
but 1 manage to get up to the case.
And first l miss the spot altogether.
And then l see the card with his
name; and then, underneath I see the
hole in the velvet where the god had
been"
Flora gave out little sigh of sus-
pense, and even Clara showed a CLEAN
of excitement He looked from one
to the other. "Then there were fire.
works. Butler came up. The detec-
tive came up. Everybody came up.
Nobody'd believe it. Lots of 'em
thought they had seen it only a few
minutes before But there was the
hole in the velvet-and nothing more
to be found"
But does no one know anything?
Has no one an idea?" Clara almost
painted in her Impotence.
mot the ghost of glimmer of a
clue. There were upward of two hun
dred of US, and they let us out like
a chain-gang, one by one. My number
was 1913, and so far can vouch there
were no discoveries. 1t has vanished
sunk out of sight"
Flora sighed. "Oh, poor Bessie
Chatworth!"
Harry stared at her He had the air
of a man about to give information,
and the air of man who has thought
better of it. His voice consciously
shook off it's gravity. We'll, there'n
be such a row kicked up, the proba-
bility is the thingll be returned and
no questions asked. Purdies keen
very keen. He's responsible, the exec
utor of the estate, you see.''
But Clara Britton leveled her eyes
at him, as if the thing he had pro-
duced was not at all the thing he had
led up to. still, unless there was
enormous pressure somewhere-and
in this case l don't see where-I can't
see what Mr. Purdie's keenness will
do toward getting it back"
Harry played a little sulkily with
the proposition, but he would not pick
up the thread he had dropped 81
don't know that any one sees. The
question now is-who took it?'
why. one of us" said Flora flip
PANTY "Of course, it is all on the
Western Addition"
Don't you believe it," he answered
her. It's a COMPOUNDED fine profes-
sional JOB 1t takes more than sleight
of hand-it takes genius, thing like
that. There was chap in England,
Farrell Wand"
The name floated in a little silence
He kept them guessing" Harry
went on recalling it; did some great
vanishing acts
you mean he could take things
before their eyes without people
knowing it?" Floras eyes were wide
beyond their wont
Something of that sort. ! remem-
Der at one of the embassy balls at
St. James he talked five minutes to
Lady Tilton. Her emeralds were on
Wien he began She never saw EN-
again''
Flora began to laugh "He must
have been attractive"
well" Harry conceded practically,
he knew his business"
But you can't rely on those sto-
ries,' Clara objected.
You must this time" he shook his