The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

PcOIuC Kept Lucn1GANCo Do(o-1N 49,
sufficiently to enable that under-strapper
to pass with my bag to the table. The
manager said TO him:
60 to the other side; what have you IN
that bagF When, as he said this, his
guests evinced an inclination to press for
ward. he threw out his arms on either
side OF him and positively shouted:
viii you not keep back? II you VIII
keep back. everything shall be done In
order before you all. I ask you only to be
a little sensible. II there Is so much con-
fusion. we shall not know what we are
doing. beg Of you that you win be
calm"
II they were not precisely calm, the
people did show some slight inclination
to behave with an approach to common
sense. They permitted the bag to be placed
on the table, and the manager to open II,
having first put some questions to the
young man who brought 1t in.
Where did you md this bagT
In her room" I was the her" which
he made clear by pointing his finger
straight at me.
WAS any one else present In the room
at the time you found It? Did you ind
anything else?''
There were three other persons pres
ent in the room That bag was the first
thing / touched. When I opened It and
saw what was inside, thought that. for
the present, that would be enough
think you also will be of my opinion
when you see what 1t contains"
Then the manager opened the bag. He
looked inside, then he turned 1t upside
down and allowed the whole contents to
fall out on to the table. OF all the ex-
traordinary colIectionsi ! believe there
were articles belonging to every person
In the hotel When you came to think
Of Il, II was amazing how they had been
gathered together-ln what could only
have been q short space OF time-without
the gatherer being detected. As for the
behavior OF the guests Of the hotel. Il was
ike Bedlam broken loose. They pressed
forward all together, calculating, ex-
claiming, snatching at this and that as
each saw some personal belonging.
Keep back! Keep backT" shouted the
manager. VIII you not keep back?" As
he positively roared at them they did
shrink back as II a trihe started IF
you will only have a little patience each
lady shall have what belongs to her-if 1t
Is here"
Mrs Anstruther's voice was heard
above the hubbub: "Are my diamonds
there?'' Then Mrs. Newhalrs: And my
pearls?"
The under-strapper was examining the
miscellaneous collection which my bag
had contained with all those women
breaking into continual EXPLANATIONS,
watching him with hungry eyes. He an
nounced the result OF his examination.
mo; Mrs. Anstruthe's diamonds do
not appear to be here, nor Mrs Newhalfs
pearls; there is nothing here which at all
resembles them"
minatory finger; every one seemed to
have developed q sudden mania for point
Ing. particularly at me.
you! Where have you put Mrs. New
halls pearls and Mrs Anstruther's dia-
monds? Better make a clean breast Of
IL, and no longer play the hypocrite- We
will ind them. II you do rot tell US where
they are, be sure Of 1t. Now tell US at
once"
How he Numbered at me! 1t was most
embarrassing. or il would have been IL 1
had not been conscious that I held the
key OF the situation in my hand-As 1t
was. I minded his thunder scarcely lit
tie bit. though I always have hated being
shouted at. was very calm-certainly
the cslmest person there-which, Of
course. was not saying very much
II can tell you where they are, If that is
what you mean"
You know that is what mean. Tell
Us at once! at once?'
ne banged ms nsI upon inc ldOlo 81
that that miscellaneous collection trem-
bled. I did not tremble, though perhaps
it was his intention that should / was
growing calmer and calmer.
"In the first place, let me inform you
that II You suppose put those things In
the bag-the bag is certainly mine-or
had anything to do with their getting
there, you are mistaken"
My words. and perhaps my manner,
created a small diversion. What impu-
dence!" What assurance Did you
ever see anything like it?' $50 young
and so brazen!" THE impudent bag
gage"' Those were some of the things
which they said. which were very nice for
me to have to listen to. But I was sure,
from q glimpse had caught Of Mr.. and
Miss Sterndale, that they were not quite
at their ease and that was such COM
fort.
mo les" Numbered the manager,
whose English became a little vulgar.
No foolery! No stuck-up rubbish! Tell
us the truth-where are these ladies'
jewels?"
ST propose to tell you the truth, IL you
will have a little patience" I returned
him look for look; was not the least
afraid of him. 81 am going to give you
little surprise" / was SO conscious of
that that was beginning to feel almost
amused. Il have a power of which
think none of you have any conception,
especially two of you. / know what peo-
pie are saying, although / do not hear
them; like the deaf and dumb, who know
what a person is saying by merely watch
ing his lips"
There were some very rude Interrupt
tons, to which paid no notice whatever.
An elderly man whom had never seen
before, and who spoke with an air of
authority, advised them to give me .
hearing. They did let me go on.
told them what had seen Miss Stern
dale say to her brother on the balcony
the morning before. 1t was some salts
faction to see the startled look which
came upon the faces OF both the brother
and the sister. They made some very
noisy and uncivil comments, but, as I
could see how uncomfortable they were
feeling, let them make them. 1 went
on. 1 told how unhappy I had been all
day, and how, when I returned. found
under the bottom tray OF my jewel-case
the diamond pendant. How, astounded, 1
went down to ask Miss Sterndale why
she had put 1t there, and how. encoun-
tering Miss Goodridge bewailing her loss.
utterly taken aback, held out to her her
pendant In q manner which, ] admitted.
might very easily have seemed suspi-
cious.
BY this time the managers room was in
a delightful state of din. Mr.. and Miss
Sterndale were both Of them shouting
together, declaring that 1t was shocking
that such q creature as was should be
allowed to make such monstrous insinua-
that gray-haired man who had suddenly
Al LON NJ QnfhnrffU