Mexico Missouri message., 1910-04-07
G5IT Il DINA'S= Ruby

fee it to say that the prisoners we're
set at large; Mr.. Pinney restored the
ruby to Baraka, and all her other be-
longings were given back to her, even
including the smart gray suit of mems
clothes in which she had been ar
rested; and her luggage and other
things which the manager Of the hotel
where she had been stopping had
handed over to the police were all re.
turned; and when Spiro appeared at
the hotel to pay the small bill that
had been left owing, he held his head
as high as an oriental can when he
has got the better of any one, and
that is pretty high indeed. Further.
more, Mr.. Pinney insisted on giving
Logotheti a formal document by
which Messrs. Pinney G. Son bound
themselves to make good to him, his
heirs, or assigns, the loss of a ruby,
approximately of a certain weight and
quality, which he had lost through
their carelessness.
On the day following Barakas lib
Grafton, Lady Maud received Marga-
ret's pressing message begging her to
go to Bayreuth. The message reached
her before noon, about the time when
Margaret and her companions had
come back from their morning walk,
and after hesitating for half an hour,
she telegraphed that she would come
with pleasure, and would start at once
which meant that evening.
She had just read the official ac-
count of the ruby case in its new as
pect, and she did not believe a word
Of the story. To her mind it was quite
| clear that Logotheti was still infatu-
ated with the girl, that he had come
to London as fast as he could, and
that he had deliberately sworn that
the ruby was not his, but another one,
in order to get her out of trouble. If
1t was not his 1t had not been stolen
| from Pinneys, and the whole case fell
through at once. If she was declared
| innocent the stone must be given back
to her; he would take it from her as
soon as they were alone and return
it to his own pocket; and being an
oriental, he would probably beat her
for robbing him, but would not let her
out of his sight again till he was tired
of her. Lady Maud had heard from
her late husband how all Turks be-
lieved that women had no souls and
should be kept under lock and key,
and we'll fed, and soundly beaten now
and then for the good of their tenn
pers. This view was exaggerated, but
Lady Maud was in humor to recall
it and accept it without criticism, and
she made up her mind that before
leaving town to join Margaret she
would make sure of the facts. No
friend of hers should marry a man
capable of such outrageous deeds.
So she went to Logotheti's lodgings
and asked to see him, as regardless of
what any one should think of her, If
she were recognized, as she had been
in the old days when she used to go
to Van Torp's chambers in the Tenn
pie in the evening.
She was told that Logotheti was
out of town. Where? The servant
did not know that The lady could
see the secretary, who might, per-
haps, tell her. He received every one
who had business with Mons. Logo
theft.
She went up one fight and was ad-
mitted to very airy sitting room,
simply furnished
The Swiss secretary rose ponder
ously to receive her, and as she did
not sit down he remained standing.
His vast face was fringed with beard
of no particular color, and his eyes
were fixed and blue in his head, like
turquoises set in pale sole leather.
Il am Countess Leven," she said,
and l have known Mons. Logotheti
some time. Will you kindly tell me
where he is?"
II do not know, madam" was the
answer.
HE is not in London?"
AT present do not know, madam. !"
HAS he left no address? Do you
not forward his letters to him?"
mo, madam. do not forward his
letters to him"
Then l suppose he is on his yacht"
suggested Lady Maud
Madam, do not know whether he
is on his yacht"
you don't seem to know any
thing!"
Pardon me, madam, think know
my business. That is all l know"
Lady Maud held her beautiful head
a little higher and her lids dropped
slightly as she looked down at him,
for he was shorter than she. But the
huge leathern face was perfectly i'm
passive, and the still, turquoise eyes
surveyed her without winking. She
had never seen such stolidity in a
human being.
There was clearly nothing to be
done, and she thought the secretary
distinctly rude; but as that was no
reason why she should be, she babe
him good-morning civilly and turned
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