The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-01


satisfaction. "the seven of spades. My
| luck runs in sevens."
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Master OF Stars.
Ten o'clock Of the following morn
ing found the Harvard professor for
mally presenting his friend, Chester
Kent, to Mrs. Wilfrid Blair, at the
house OF the cousin with whom she
was staying.
MY dear" said the old gentleman,
you may trust Professor Kent's
Judgment and insight as implicitly as
his honor can give no stronger
recommendation, and will now take
my leave
Kent resisted successfully a wild and
fearful desire to set a restraining hold
upon the disappearing coat tails. for
embarrassment had again engulfed the
scientists soul. He seized himself by
the lobe Of the ear with that grip
which drawing men reserve for straws.
And--to continue the comparison
the ear sank with him beneath the
waves of confusion. Mrs. Blair $ first
words did not gently help him.
Have you an ear ache, Professor
Kent?" she inquired maliciously.
Yes. No. It's habit" muttered
the caller, releasin., his hold and i'm
mediately resuming It.
Isn't it very painful"
"Of course it is" said he testify:
when l forget to let go In time-as
frequently do"
las you are doing now" she sug-
gested.
Kent bestowed final yank upon the
dried fount Of inspiration, and gave
it up as hopeless.
II don't know exactly how to be-
gin" he complained
Then 1 will help YOU" said she,
becoming suddenly grave. You are
here to speak to me of some topic,
wholly distinct from one forbidden
phase"
Exactly. You made it difficult for
me by that restriction. And ! rather
like difficulties-in reason. Let me
see, Have you lost any jewels lately,
Mrs. Blair?"
The girl widow started. Yes.
How did you know"
You have made no complaint, or
published no advertisements for
them?
~ have kept 1t absolutely secret.
Father Blair insisted that 1 should do
So"
They were valuable. these Jewels p
THE rings were, intrinsically, but
what 1 most valued was the necklace
of rose-topazes. They were the Gros-
venor topaZes."
"A family relic?"
mot my own family. My husbands
mother left them to me. They came
down to her from her grandmother,
Camilla Grosvenor"
You speak that name as X 1t should
be recognizable to me-"
Perhaps 1t would, II you were a
New Englander. She was rather a
famous person in her time. c. l..
Elliott painted her-one of his finest
portraits I believe. And-and she
was remarkable in other respects"
Would you mind being more spe-
cific? 1t isn't mere curiosity on my
~-art'
Why my uncle could have told
you more. He knows all about the
Grosvenors. My own knowledge of
Camilla Grosvenor is merely family
tradition. She was a woman of great
force of character, and great personal
attraction. I believe. though she was
not exactly beautiful When she was
still under thirty she became the lea
der of band of mystics and star
worshipers. I believe that she be-
came infatuated with one of them,
young German. and that there was
an elopement by water. This I re-
member, at least: her body washed
ashore on the coast not very far from
Hedgerow House"
AT Lonesome Cover
Eyes. The very name of 1t chilIs
me. For my husband 1t had an un-
canny fascination. He used to talk to
me about the place. He even wanted
to build there; but Mr. Alexander Blair
wouldn't listen to it,
Would you know the face Of Ca
milla Grosvenor
"Of course The E..,.ott portrait
~ tn No Of IInd
House."
Kent took from under his coat the
drawing purchased from Elder Den
nett.
THAT is the same" said Mrs. Blair
unhesitatingly, 1T isn't quite the
same pose as the finished portrait.
And 1t lacks the earring which is in
surely Elliotts work. Couldn't 1t be
preliminary sketch for the portrait?"
Probably that is what it is
Can you tell me where 1t came
from?"
From between the pages of an old
book. 1t must have been carelessly
thrown aside, The book has just been
sold at an auction in Martindale Cen
ter. and the drawing found by a man
who didn't appreciate what 1t was.
1 bought it from him.
That's rather wonderful, isn't it,"
There are more wonders to come.
Tell me how your necklace was lost,
please"
| II don't know. On the afternoon
of July fifth I left Hedgerow House
rather hurriedly. My maid. whom /
trust implicitly, was to follow with my
trunks, including my jewel case. She
arrived. a day later. with part Of the
jewels missing. and note from Father
Blair saying that there had been a rob-
berry. but that l was to say nothing
of it,
July fifth" remarked Kent with
his lids dropped over the keen gaze Of
hts eyes ut was the following morn
ing that the unknown body was found
on the beach near Mr.-near the
Nook"
Her face showed no comprehension.
81 have heard nothing OF any body
she replied.
Did none of the talk come to your
ears of strange woman found at
Lonesome Cover"
| mo. Wait, though. After the fun
eral, one of the cousins began to speak
of mystery, and Mr.. Blair shut him
off"
Your necklace was taken from that
| haIub