Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-18


ling II the insistsnt green glow Of the
vacuum lights, flashed diamond-an
unmistakahle 1iAmond-which Mr..
Missioner and Dorothy and Elinor REQ
ogniseA ~ one OF tho lesser gems
frsm tie Maharanee nechlacs-much
msallsr than the NaAaranse diamond.
but twice the sise Of IN ordinary
stone. And lt was . diamond even Q
lovico could tell was genuine!
All the blood left Elinor's face. Tho
muscles Of her throat leapsd and knot.
ted - II she were strangiins. She
swayed for . moment, then took .
long step toward the detective and
stood trembling. covering her face
with quivering hands. Donnelly. hold
Ing the diamond to the light was
about to speak-in what words. what
manner. one can guess. But tho mis-
cry In the girls attitude struck the
triumphant grin from his face. and
! there was nomentary compassion In
the tone in which he said:
WED better 60 back to the library.
guess. viii you, 80 with my side
partner. Miss Holcomb?"
S6I SUI D SuV0uC0 W IuC 1SNICS61y .
side was checked BY the violence with
which she whirled toward Mrs. Mis-
sioner, again with outstretched hands.
This time the widow was slower In
meeting the appeal. She was stunned
! by the detectives discovery. All tho
| finer sensibilities Of her womanhood
were benumbed. Advertisement, large
and compelling, was all she could feel
/ for the momeat. Still, she took FL
ino>s imploring hands In hers and
stood motionless. listening to the
girls passionate entreaty not to be-
lieve the evidence OF her eyes. not to
believe her Kindness could be out
ragged in such . way, not to believe
mines OF the world could be tempted
from the high honor in which she had
been reared. Clasping the younger
woman's locked fingers In her own
soft palm, she slipped her arm about
Elinor's waist and walked. with her
to the lift. Dorothy, crying almost
childishly, controlled her voice once
or twice long enough to beg Elinor
not to give way to such torturing
emotion.
But Elinor Holcomb, shaking. sob
bling. wildly beseeching. was oblivious
to the silent watchfulness OF the cent
BlodEett's mask-Mke countenance, the
amazed stare OF the nveried youth in
the elevator. All the way to the room
in which Sands and Griswold and
Ranscome waited. all the way across
tho old English library to the rudy
zone before the fireplace. she con-
tinued her prayers to Mrs. Missioner
to hold her guiltless. That was the
one thought that shaped her thoughts:
that the woman to whom che owed
the shelter of her later youth should
not think her capable Of such ignoble
ingratitude. There was no slightest
shade Of appeal to the detectives. no
regard for tho conclusions others in
the room might draw. But that Mrs.
Missioner should give credit to the
cold accusation that glittered In tho
diamond Donnelly had found-that
plainly was the unbearable thing in
the wretched young woman's present
position.
"You won't have to telephone the
chief. Mr.. Man." said Donnslly to
Sands with as direct a sheer as he
thought advisable. This has been
ono Of our easiest cases."
His fat hand was extended toward
the millionaire. In the crease Of the
palm, tho diamond biased as II In
dignant at such q setting. Sands
slared At the stone. Griswold gazed at
1t as II spellbound. Ranscome pol
ished his glasses with much deliber-
alton and, adjusting them with equal
precision. looked ut the gem f1xedly.
This ones the goods, chr" the de-
tective went on. Ranscome, with
marked fastidiousness. took the jewel
from his hand and examined it as II
his reputation as an expert depended
on HIS test Reluctantly. he returned
the gem to Donnelly and said. gently.
with plying glance at Elinor:
ut Is a diamond"
A sweeping gesture from Sands az
he sprang to his feet flung the tele-
phone from the desk. He reached
Donnelly in two strides and appeared
on the point Of gripping him by the
throat. But the big detective, for all
his bulk and mental slowness. could
be QUICK enough on his feet when he
must, and he readily sacrificed dignity
to safety. With single backward
spring. he clutched light chair and
confronted Sands.
"It'M pay you to remember I'm an
omcer!" he shouted. You amt deal
ing with club stewards here. Mr..
Sands. know you and know how
much you think your money can do.
But you can't put anything like that
across with me-
Sands. breathing hard. took another
step toward him. Donnelly gripped
the cha1r for . defensive swing.
II don't care II you know q million
Mannings." said the sleuth huskily.
III you can't behave like one gentle
man to another. It'll be the worse for
you. II you don't want to be run in.
keep away"
Mrs. Missioner's annoyance and
Dorothy's fright, no less than Eliner's
distress. restrained Sands again.
"what doe. IN tAis msan3" he said
tn Carson. ignoring the other. But
Donnelly was not to be ignored. Hia
! .cc:e..s.l AeAenne Of q millionaire
had hsighteued his desire for the con