Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-01-21


When she saw him she arose with a
little frightened sob.
"Why--why are you here?" she de.
handed brokenly.
Am l so dlstasteful to your he
asked, stopping short You have not
led me to believe So"
II did--you do not UNDERSTANDABLE
has happened today-must always
stand between u.s."
He stared incredulously. boldly, at
her. 'You cannot possibly mean that
my rumored failure on the street has
affected your feeling toward me7- he
asked scornfully
mo, oh, no! How could you believe
little thing like that would make any
difference to me? mean thisr Elsie
brought forth the pearl sleeve link
and held 1t toward him In her rosy
palm.
you found thisq It is mine / thank
you." he said gravely. slipping the link
into his cum and still holding her with
his questioning gaze.
ut was In my room-on the chair
where my dressing bag had BEEN You
Bee"-she turned away her head so
that she might not see his face-"you
see, my emeralds were stolen tonight
from that very bagr'
abr There were anger and con-
domination In his rapid glance before
1t turned to tender amusement "And
you have spoken to no one regarding
the matter?"
She turned eagerly. "Not a soul. I
shall never breathe word. Only l
hope shall never see you againl How
could your
"You mean. how could rob the girl
I loved best In the woNd2" he asked
gently.
Ventnor took her hands In his and
compelled her to return his straight
look. 'Do you love me, ElsieT he
asked.
YES" she said.
He released her hands and offered
his arm.
my poor little detective, come with
me to 0rmond. He has something to
show you"
In the housekeeper's room n little
group of people were centered about
the table There were Dick Ormond
and his wife, Louise; Katuru, the but
Ter, and strange, heavy set man with
keen eyes. They turned with one ac-
cord as Elsie entered with ventnor.
miss Halliday" began Dick Or
mond soberly, "this has been rather
an exciting evening for some of us
would have been for you only Mabel
insisted you should be kept in igno-
rance until after dinner. Your emer-
aids have been stolen-and recover
cdr
White and shaking. Elsie stretched +
forth her hand and received the green
ripple of flame from ormond From
one end of the chain stone was miss
ing.
II knew it," she said in low tone
II discovered their loss before dinner.
was going to tell you about 1t, only
r. She hesitated.
"She discovered clew," added Vent
nor calmly-"this." He laid the sleeve
link on the table.
Sand other clews," said Elsie hur-
riedly, telling her story now without
reservation.
Then the short man spoke with au-
thority. Every easily explained. Miss
Halliday. Your maid had unpacked
your trunk. and the butler, here in the
absence of another servant was remov-
stennad tbroneb tha onen window sI,t
opan VOW ,1.ass,,,a M, 1870, ~
iarvo, cosa f,.or, ~,,I,cS 10 fol, ~ ~,
oro,ds ra,,,oad 49, ooss a., H. -,
ana ,nos ascon,na thrn,,oh tha us
dow vban vo,,r ,,ae,d rat,,rrira d,.oar
ared him Alarmed tha h,tIar ana Nv
vontnnr rho VOC rass,n, thronn, tho
bol, ana tha thraa ~ thar, str,,a.,,ad
Tn hold him ne was h,s,,v ohon
80 w Jnr,aa. - -,
n each one LEAVING soma avidenca ~
tbe contest Now Mr. Ormond with
your permission IN tal,a INV Ane gen.
tleman alonpr
He strode to door md thraxv n u
omen. revealing in a shallow closet the
snllen downoost faca 81 Tho rIaii,dov Nj
chaufreur.
"Henrvi" Miss 3a,,idav,s lovely face
was n reflection of passing emotions
as she realized that the cbauffeur had
s.,,-, Il, ,-'I Az