Evening star., 1911-05-28

paper was held out by distressed and de-
ter1nined old lady she took it, folded it with
long, slim fingers, and tore it slowly and
gently into bits. The bits she let flutter
into nearby waste basket.
II couldn't think of such thing" she
drawled Besides, if don't find the brace
let, the insurance company will have to pay
for it."
XIHEN the door closed upon Natalie and
" Mrs. Hazard, looked at Laura and
Laura looked at me; then my knees gave
way and | sank into the chair Natalie had
Just vacated. The enormity of the thing
flashed upon me.
"What did she mean?" l asked. My lips
were dry and my throat felt queer.
"She didn't mean anything" Laura an
swered. @She is always losing things
"But thing so valuable gasped, IAN
heirloom! She lost that on the balcony too,
and"
"She doesn't know; that's where she
missed it."
"But she said"
at was rather horrid of her too. I sup
pose she hates to admit she was careless
with bracelet worth fifty thousand dollars
without the association and the history and
the matchless perfection of the stones.
Mother believes she lost it. That check
amused me. Mother may not be delicate
always; but she's most effective. 1t was
one way of closing the matter SO far as we
are concerned"
got up wearily The clock on the mantel
was pointing to four. 1t was almost another
day. II only hope" l sighed, "your mother
looked sufficiently into my credentials"
Laura caught me suddenly in her arms
and pressed her cheek to mine. Il was
afraid you'd say that" she whispered.
"Loulie, l wouldn't give you for fifteen OF
Natalie! There, that's my answer! Now
go get some sleep"
Chapter VII.
T SLEPT. But at eight o'clock my eyes
popped open and refused to stay shut
again | wondered if 10 had had breakfast.
l jumped out of bed to call her up. | got
her just as she was sitting down to the table;
but she promised to wait for me, and hus-
tied into my clothes. / wanted to talk to
her about the Duke and that lost bracelet.
But l wasn't prepared for the happenings
on the marble steps at the front door as
emerged. A young man, red headed young
man,-who was evidently camped there,
much to the detriment of his health, for
those steps were cold and the weather still
uncertain,-jumped up as l came out, and
from his clean cut appearance ana tne Dl1gnt
smile with which he favored me | was sure
he was going to sell me something. l was
fairly startled at what he said.
@Can you tell me if the bracelet Miss
Sargent lost last night was really lost or
stolen?"
l stared at him. I felt as if had walked
under cold shower and couldn't get my
breath. A reporter-a real live reporter!
@Can you tell me if the bracelet has been
found?" he questioned, seeing that was SO
astounded l couldn't speak.
l was scared blue. l never had had any
actual experience with reporter; but had
enough presence of mind to realize that
ought not to give any information about
something distinctly Mrs. Hazard business
or Natalie's. The only way could do the
right thing was by keeping my mouth shut.
So just smiled pleasantly and started down
the steps-a man can't keep on talking to
dumb woman.
Then, instead of one, was face to face
with a crowd of newspaper men! They
popped up like corn over hot fire.
"Can you tell us if the stolen bracelet was
worth fifty thousand dollars?" came at me
from one of the crowd.
caught the trick in the speech and glared.
1t wasn't any of their business! They were
crowding me uncomfortably against the
railing, and began to get mad. wondered