Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06

ct is better to let them search
thseoughly," said Ehnor. "since this
IS considered necessary, I wish II to
be made co1plete. Please do not In
terfere witt them" She handed to
Carson n small silver keyring. He
passed II to his mate. and Donnelly's
enjoyment O; the situation increased
by leaps and bounds. No single key
on tho tiny ring escaped use Of his
hands. He unlocked boxes. a dressing
case and other PLACES Of possible con-
cealment. His method would have
drawn O derisive smile from Chief Of
Detectives Manning. But Manning
was fur downtown in Mulberry street.
and could not know the course his
subordinates were pursuing.
From q drawer in Eiinors Chippen-
dale secretary Donnelly took q box
of rare lacquer and fitted key to It.
He stopped to gaze searchingly at
Miss Holcomb for few minutes, then
he unlocked the box.
81 hate to pry into any young iahy's
little keepsakes," he said In ponder
ously patronizing manner. but, as
Miss Holcomb hasn't been to Maiden
Lane In such q long time, know she
won't object. Now. this little box, Of
course, contains nothing but trfnkets
or odds and ends-love letters. may
be!" Elinor's heart sickened at the
leer in his face She turned her eyes
to Dorothys loving little face, and
chung to the debutante's hand. DON
nelly, fumbling with the key for
awhile opened the lacquered box.
Just what l said. you see." he ex-
claimed. Nothing but trinkets and
other little ouvenirs-huh!-of old
romances, perhaps. Eh, It's great to
be a summer girl, Miss Holcomb. T.
| only you had jewels like Mrs. Mission.
er's, you'd shine with the best Of
them. Gee, but that must be beauty,
that necklace, II the imitation is so
pretty"
| He stirred the contents Of the box
! idly. Nothing else remained to be
searched. He had ransacked the init.
mate sanctity Of the girls room. He
felt baffed and sorely irritated. At
| the thought OF failure. he thrust his
| fingers into the box with such VIC
lencc that everything 1t held fell to
the fiooE Carson stopped to pick zip
! the scattered jewelry, placing II in
Donnelly's hand to be returned to the
box. After recovering several bits OF
jewelry he laid in his big colleagues
greedy clutch q small. round object
wrapped in silk tissue.
Hello, what's this!" exclaimed Don.
nelly. rolling the fairy parcel between
finger and thumb. You won't mind
II peep In the paper, young lady
OF course you won't And this is only
a-say, what the mischief is it,
Oh, glory"
Even Carson was startled into an
echoing obi" and the three women
almost screamed. For nesting In the
folds Of the tissue, its facets twink
ling in the insistent green glow Of the
vacuum lights, flashed a diamond-ar
unmistakable diamond-which Mrs
Missioner and Dorothy and Elinor rec
ogntsed as one OF the lesser gemi
from the Maharanee necklace-mucl
smaller than the Mahsranee diamond
but twice the size Of an ordinar
stone. And 1t was a diamond even
novice could tell was eenuinel
All the blood left Elinors face. tn
muscles Of her throat leaped and kno
ted as II she were strangling. Oh
swaycd for a moment, then took
long step toward the detective an
stood trembling, covering her fac
with quivering hands. Donnelly. holt
ing the diamond to the light, wa
about to speak-in what words, whu
manner, one can guess. But the mil
cry in the girls attitude struck tn
!. triumphant grin from his face. an
there was momentory compassion l
the tone In which he said:
Wed better 60 back to the librar!
guess. VIII you go with my sid
partner, Miss Holoomb!"
Carson's advance to the secretary
side was checked by the violence wit
which she whirled toward Mrs. MI
sioner, again with outstretched hand
j This time the widow was slower
) meeting the appeal. She was stunne
] by the detectives discovery. All Il
finer sensibiliies OF her womanhoo
J were beuumbed. Astonishment. larg
J and compelling, was all she could fe'
for the moment. Still, she took Z
, inors imploring hands In hers an
stood motionless, listening to tt
girls passionate entreaty not to b
lieve the evidence OF her eyes, not
: believe her kindness could DO on
ragged In such a way. not TO belieN
7 that Elinor for all the jewels in II
: mines OF the world could be temple
from the high honor in which she hs
!, been reared. Clasping the young
woman's locked fingers IN her ov
!, soft palm, she slipped her arm abo
I Elinor's waist and walked with h
:. to tho lift Dorothy. crying ahno
s childishly. controlled her voice on
A or twice long enough to beg Elm
t not to give way to such torturil
n emotion.
J. But Elinor Holcomb. shaking, SO
h bling. wildly beseeching. was oblivio
Q to the silent watchfulness Of the Gel
=. raj Office men, the covert glances fro
9 Blodgetts mask-liko countenanCe, Z
D. amazed stare OF the liveried youth
a. II ~