The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-01-21

taken Van Torp, though It had left
London only six hours after him; for
such things win happen even in ex.
trenely well-managed countries when
people send letters insuficiently ad.
dressed.
Furthermore, 1t also happened that
Logotheu was cooling himself on the
deck Of his yatch in the neighborhood
Of Penzance. while poor Baraka was
half-stified in the police station. For
the yacht, which was = very comfor.
table one. though no longer new. and
not very fast according to modern
ideas. was at Cowes. waiting to be
wanted. and when her owner parted
from Van Torp after promising to
dine on the next day but one, it &C.
CURED to him that the smell of the
wood pavements was particularly
nasty, that 1t would make no real diff
ference whether he returned to Pin
ney's at once or In two days, or two
weeks. since the ruby he had left
must be cut before It was mounted,
and that he might just as well take
the fast train to Southampton and get
to sea for SO hours. This he did, after
telegraphing his sailing-master to
have steam as soon as possible; and
as he had only just time to reach the
Waterloo station he did not even take
the trouble to stop at his lodgings.
He needed no luggage, for he had
everything he wanted on board, and
his man was far too well used to his
ways to be surprised at his absence.
The consequence OF this was that
when Baraka's case came up the next
morning there was no one to say q
word for her and Spiro. Mr. Pinney
identified the ruby ITO the best Of his
BELIEF as the one stolen from his
counter. the fact that Baraka had
been disguised in mans clothing was
treated as additional evidence. and
she and Spiro were sent to Brixton
jail accordingly. Spiro protesting
their innocence all the while In elo-
Quent but disjointed English, until he
was told to hold his tongue.
Further. Lady Maud read the po-
lice court report In an evening paper.
cut 1t out and sent II to Margaret as
document confirming the letter she
had posted on the previous evening;
and owing to the same insufficiency
In the address. the two missives were
delivered together.
Lastly. Mr.. Pinney took the big
ruby back to his shop and locked 1t
up In his safe with satisfaction and
sense of profound relief such as he
had rarely felt in long and honorable
life; and he would have been horri-
fed and distressed beyond words II he
could have even guessed that. he had
been the means OF sending an inno-
cent and helpless girl to prison.
One thing more which concerns this
tale happened on that same day. Two
well-dressed men drove up to the door
OF quiet and very respectable hotel
In the West end; and they asked for
their bill. and packed their belong
ings. which were sufficient though not
numerous: and when they had paid
what they owed and given the usual
tips, they told the porter to call two
hansoms, and each had his things put
on one of them; and they. nodded to
each other and parted; and one han.
som drove to Euston and the other
to. Charing Cross; and whether they
ever met again, I do not know, and
1t does not matter: but in order to
clear Baraka's character at once and
to avoid a useless and perfectly trans
parent mystery. 1t is as well to say
directly that 1t was the young man
who drove to Euston, on his way to
Liverpool and New York. who had
Logotheti's ruby sewn up In his waist
coat pocket; and that the ruby really
belonged to Margaret. since Logotheti
had already given i to her. before he
had brought II to Mr.. Pinney to be
cut and set. But the knowledge OF
what Is here impaired to the reader,
who has already guessed this much OF
the truth. would not help Baraka out
OF Brixton jail. where the poor girl
found herself In very bad company
indeed; even worse. perhaps. than
that In which Spiro was obliged to
spend his time.