The Washington herald., 1914-11-29

tween times famed him with his hatbrlm
and swore at him for u "weak-backed,
marrowless thing to call itself q man and
Briton and yet go In for the poltroon's
trick Of sulcide!"
The woman was~ still there. squeezing
her hands and sobbing hysterically, but
although she had not as yet uncovered
her face II did not need that to-attest the
fact that she was no Hindoo, but white
like the man she had spoken OF as her
husband-and at the very first words she
uttered when she saw that he was beyond
danger both he and Mr.. Narkom knew
them for what they were-Sir Mawson
and Lady Leakel
"Mawson, how could you!" Ishe said
reproachfully. going to him the very IN
stant he was able TO get on his feet and
folding him to her in an agonlzed en-
brace.
II don't know" he made answer. some
what shamefacedly, yet with a note OF
agony in his voice that made one pity
him in spite of all. But IL seemed too
horrible a disgrace to be lived through.
could have stood the loss OF fortune
even though all have in the world
would not be sufficient to pay back half
the value of the accursed thing-I could
have faced that, Ada, but-not the
other thing! Not the abominable dis
grace! And now I shall have to face It!
Have to admit that he-my son-mine.
Oh, my God, Ada, it is too much
to ask a man to bear. They are there on
guard, those Hindoos, protecting me and
mine until the Ranec's steward comes to
receive the Ladder of Light as prom
ised at"
"Sh-hT' she struck in warningly, re-
membering the presence OF the others
and clapping her hand over his mouth
to stay any further admission; for she
had heard CIeek repeat after her husband
but with a soft, significant whistle
THE Ladder Of Light" and supplement
that with We'll, I'm dashedT' and turn
ed around on him instantly with a fore
ed smile upon her lips, but the look of
terror still lingering in her fast-winking
eyes.
1T is rude Of me, gentlemen, to forget
to thank you for your kind assistance,
and I ask your forgiveness" she said.
Il owe you many. many thanks. But as
this is merely a little family affair am
sure you will understand"
1t was a polite dismissal. Narkom piv-
oted his little, fat body on his heel and
prepared to take it. Cleek didn't.
Your pardon, but the Ladder OF Light
can never be regarded as a family affair
in any English household whatsoever" "
he said blandly. 81 can give you its ex-
act history If you wish it. 1t is a neck
la snid to have once been the property
of the Queen of Sheba and worn by her
at the court of King Solomon. It is made
up of twelve magnificent steel white dia-
monds. cut semisquare and each weigh
ing thirty-eight and one-haf carats.
They are Joined together by slender gold
links fitting into minute holes pierced
through the edge Of each stone. It Is
valued at one million pounds sterling and
Il the property Of the Rance Of Jhang.
who prizes 1t above all other OF her mar
velous and priceless jewels. She Is not
a pleasant old lady to cross, the Rance.
She would be a shrieking devil If any
thing were to happen to that necklace,
your ladyship."
She had been slowly shrinking from
him as the history Of the Ladder Of
Light proceeded; bur sRe leaned back
against her husband. full Of surprise and
de~-airinC terror, and stared and stared
and stared in a silence that was only
broken by little nuttering breaths of
alarm. 1T is uncanny!" she managed
to saw az last. You know OF the-the
necklace? You know even me?-us?-
and yet I have not uncovered my face
nor given nv name. Are you. then. gift
ed with clairvoyance. Mr.-Mr.-"
'CIeek." he gave back. making her
polite bow. "Cleek is the name, Lady
Leakc. Cleek of Scotland YardT'
THAT man? Dear God, that amazing
MANI" she cried out, her whole face
lighting up. her dropping figure spring
ing erect, revitalized.
AT your Iadyships service" he re-
Piled. 1--WE are out this morning-Supt.
and lin quest of what is prob
ably just the one particular pair in all
1, 90 lno ,Irr,I y 1r
as the Ladder OF Light would offer the
strongest kind of an appeal. So II. by
any chance, something has occurred
which threatens the safety of that amaz-
ing necklace -" 4" and you and Sir Nav
son are in a position to know facts.
," Come! Take me into your conf
derce. and-perhaps! Who knows?"
Sir Mawson acted upon the suggestion
instantly.
''Mr. Cleek. beg. implore you to
come to our assistance"' he exclaimed in
a very transport of excitement. you
ask If anything has happened with re-
gard to that accursed necklace and If I
can give you any information on the sub
ject. To both questions, yes-unhappily-
yes! 1t is gone! 1t is lost! 1t is stolen!"
Stolen! The Ladder Of Light? When?
How"
''Yesterday-from my keeping-from my
house! And, God have mercy on me. I
have every reason to believe that the
hief is my eldest son!
ut was brought to me yesterday-for
the Ranee's own major
1omo. Not a mere syce, Mr.. Cleek, but
Three OF the narrow gold links which
hold the stones together had worn thin
and needed Strengthening. 1t was
D'clock in the afternoon when he arrived
and the Rance, he said, had selected or
house for the work on She recommenfu
ion of royalty. There was several hours |
work on the thing. I saw that as so m |
Is / examined ii. But I was appalled, by |
he fearful responsibility of having a |
ewel of such fabulous value on the prem |
people constantly coming and |
yoing out-and determined, therefore. to |
AXE the necklace home and do the - |
airs myself. I demanded that the /
:anee's own attendants accompany me /
IN the journey and keep watch over my |
louse until he should come in person to |
'eceive the necklace today.
He accorded me this willingly: de- 1
'arted-still retaining possession Of the
ewel-returned with the guard an hour
ater. handed me the case containing the
lecklace. and left for home few min
ties after O'Clock, the Hindoo guard
With me. On arriving
''One moment, please. interDosed
'leek. Did you examine the case to
ee if the Ladder OF Light was still there
'efore you startedT
Yes. Mr. Cleek, / took that precau-
ion the instant the man placed the case
n my hands. The necklace was there.
even went further. Before leaving my
IL BUSINESS ! submitted the stones
o chemical test to be sure that no sub
titution had been made. They were ah-