The Yale expositor., 1911-12-21

snail never near your name again
unless 1t be under circumstances that
will give me further opportunity to
revenge myself upon you'll"
Silence followed the theatrical out
burst of the woman. Griswold stood
with clasped hands, his eyes on the
floor Mrs. Missioner, her eyes reso-
lutely averted from his crouching
form, gazed at Britz expectantly.
Elinor, her fine womanhood athrill
with sympathy in spite of her weeks
of suffering-more keenly because OF
1t, perhaps-sought to soothe the agi-
tation Of Mrs. Delaroche, who was
close to collapse. Fitch, too. strove
to calm the woman. AS a man he
pitied her; as physician, he felt
some alarm for her because Of the
great excitement to which she had
wrought Observation-Disclosures plainly
beyond the endurance of her emo.
tional nature. A feeling akin to in
dignation stirred him when, glancing
toward Britz, he saw a sarcastic smile
on the detectives face. His hands
in his pockets, he was rocking gently
on his heels, and watching Mrs. Della
roche as one would concentrate his
vision on great tragedienne near
the grand finale Of her performance
"Bravo!" said the lieutenant de,
tective at last. "Bravissimo, Mrs.
Delaroche! If it were not for detain.
ing our good friends. I'd insist upon
an encore. Really. you know, you're
entitled to any number Of curtain
calls for that"
The heroine of the Renaissance
burglary flashed furious eyes upon
him. Fitch, despite all he knew Britt
had done for Elinor. could not con-
ceal his anger. Even Miss Holcomb
was indignant. Mrs. Missioner and
Sands looked at the detective expect
antly. Manning's face was impassive
He was prepared for any surprise
from his shrewd lieutenant.
You behold in Mrs. Delaroche,"
said Britt, including everybody in a
sweep of his hand, lone of the most
talented actresses in America. True,
she isn't on the stage, but that's only
because the managers haven't discov-
cred her. If any of the big managers
saw such an example of her art as
this, he'd engage her on the spot"
Il don't understand you, Mr.. Britz,'
said Mrs. Missioner inquirlngly.
Mrs. Delaroche understands me-
Mrs. Missioner" returned the sleuth
she knows exactly what l mean
Don't you, Mrs. Delaroche?"
moi" said the woman from the
Renaissance so sharply the word was
like a poniard thrust
MOI" retorted the detective. How
truly unfortunate! Surely you are
mistaken. madam; surely you recall
what happened In Paris? 1t can't be
you've forgotten how you obtained
possession of the Missioner necklace
the one with the Maharanee dia-
mond. you known"
She chung to silence as to rock
Of refuge. Britt. still rocking lightly
on his heels, raised a finger warning.
ly and looked at her with that same
sarcastic smile.
You know as we'll as I do, Mrs
Delaroche," he went on, that Curtis
Griswold didn't steal the Maharanee
necklace. Whatever other crimes are
upon him, he Is guiltless of that-in
act, at any rate"
The woman kept her eyes on the
floor, her face partly turned away.
All the others stared at Britt In
amazement, not excepting the Chief
of the Detective Bureau.
Lets run through the pages of
history, Mrs. Delaroche,' continued
the lieutenant Personal history, Of
course--the history of clever little
Miss Vincent, one Of the brightest
young women in Paris You remem-
Der her when she was an art student
there, getting along as well as she
could on New England income in
the Latin Quarter. bright. clever
little girl she was, to be sure. and 1t
was too bad she had such a hard
struggle to realize her artistic
dreams!"
All his hearers listened attentively
Mrs. Delaroche, in spite of resolute
efforts to appear Indifferent, full as
faithfully as the others.
Prince Kananda moved forward I'M
til he stood within several feet of
Mrs. Delaroche. She turned her head
slightly and saw him. A glance of
mutual recognition passed between
them, but so quickly that It was un-
observed by the others. The Prince
eyed her steadily with malignant
gaze, as Of man who has been
tricked. A wild fear leaped into her
eyes and she moved away, edging
closer to Britt.
1T isn't to be wondered at" said
Britt alphabetically, when you re-
call the many hardships Miss Vim
cent endured-when you remember
on how many mornings she had to
trudge to her copying work in the
Louvre without even the poor con-
ISOLATION OF a French breakfast, that
she permitted young Hindoo gentle
man to spend little money upon
her. It wasn't exactly in line with
New England conventionality, Of
course, but the aristocratic Fastener
had been introduced to her formally
enough. his behavior was always re-
spectful, and sbe--well. she was very
lonely and very blue and often very