Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-05-24
halfway up from IN. k,tohsp for a,


Max was searching the house syste
matically. armed with copy OF Poe's
"Purloined Letter" and Gaooriau's
Monsieur Lecoq." He went through
the seats OF the chairs with hatpins.
tore up the beds. and lifted rugs, until
the house was in a state OF confusion
And the next day. the fourth. he
found something-not much. but It
was curious. He had been in the
studio. poking around behind the dusty
pictures. with Jimmy expostulating
every time he moved anything and
the rest standing around watching
him
Max was strutting.
we get It by cimInations." no
said. Importantly. THE pearls be-
ing nowhere else in the house. thes
must be here in the studio. Three
parts OF the studio having yielded
nothing. they must be in the fourth
Ladies and gentlemen. let me have
your attention for one moment. tan
this canvas with my wand-there is
nothing up my sleeve. Then | pre-.
pare to move the canvas-so. And I
put my hand in the pocket of this dis.
reputable velvet coat. so Behold"
Then Ne gave a low exclamation and
looked at something he held In his
hand. Every one stepped forward.
and on his palm was the small diamond
clasp from Annes collar,
Jimmy was apologize He tried 10
smile, but no one else did.
We'll I'll hf
said. II say. you people, you don't
think for n minute that put that
thing there? Why. haven't worn
that coat for month lists
trick of yours. Max"
But Max shook his head; ne looked
stupefled. and stood gazing from the
clasp to the pocket of the old painting
coat Betty dropped on Il folding
stool. that promptly collapsed with
her and created welcome diversion.
while Anne pOunced on the clasp
greedily. with little cry.
We will find it all now" she sa.n.
excitedly. Did you look IN ne other
pockets. MAXI"
Then. for the first time. 7 was con
scious of an air of constraint among
the men. Dallas was whistling softly.
and Mr.. HARRISON. having rescued
Betty, was standing silent and aluof.
watching the scene with non-commit.
tai eyes. 1t was Max who spoke first,
after a hurried inventory of the other
pockets.
Nothing else he said. constrained.
~. III move the rest of The can
vases
But Jim interfered. to every ones
surprise
Il wouldn't IL were you. Max.
There's nothing back there. had
EN- out yesterday" He was quite
pale
Nonsense" Max said grufny. IF
It's practical joke. Jim. why don't
you 'fess up? Anne has worried
enough"
The pearls are not there, ! tell
you. jim began. Although the studio
was cold, there were little fine beads
of moisture on mis- face Il must ask
you not 10 move those pictures" And
then Aunt Selma came TO the rescue:
she stalked over and stood with her
back against the stack OF canvasses
AS far as l understand this" she
detained. You gentlemen are trying
to intimate that James knows some.
thing OF that young wOman's jewelry,
because you found a part of it in his
pocket Certainly you will not move
the pictures. How do you know that
the young gentleman who said he
found it there didn't have II up his
sleeve"
She looked around triumphantly.
and Max glowered. Dallas soothed
her, however
Exactly So" he said How do we
know that Max didn't have the clasp
up his sleeve? My dear lady, neither
my wife nor l care anything for the
pearls, as compared with the priceless
pearl OF peace. l suggest tea on the
roof; those in favor? My arm. Miss
Caruthers."
1t was all well enough for Jim TO
say later that he didn't dare % have
the canyases moved. for he had stuck
behind them all sorts Of chorus girl
photographs and life-class crayCps
that were not for Aunt Selina's eye,
besides four empty siphons. two full
ones. and three bottles Of whisky. Not
a soul believed him; there was new
element OF suspicion and discOcd In
the house.
GRO RE CONTTNUEDJ