Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-18
Copyright. 1914, by Louis Joseph Vance
CHAPTER xvI-continued.
BY Louis Joseph Vance,

"well. where's the rest of the stuffV
Mason insisted.
'T don't know. tell you I know moth
ing about that ring. 1 have no Idea now
1t got where you found II. Somebody must
have put II there" Sally caught her dis
traeted head between her hands and tried
her best to compose herself. But It was
useless; the evidence was too frlghtluily
| clear against her; hysteria threatened
Mrs, standIsh gave me the stockings,
she stammered wildly, rolled up as y"''
found them. Ask her"
"Oh, come, Miss Manwarlng; you go
too farl Mrs. Standish told her colby
''If you are possibly innocent, compose
yourself and prove 1t. If you are guilty.
you may as we'll confess and not stralh
our patience any longer But don't try
to drag me into the affair; l won't have
It,"
"I guess there isn't much question OF
innocence or guilt" Mason commented.
Here's evidence enough. 1t only remains
to locate the rest of the loot, ltH be
easier for you," he addressed Sally dl-
rectly "ir you own up-oome through
with a straight story and save Mrs. Cos
mold trouble and expense
He paused encourasihgly. Dut sally
shook her head.
II can't tell you anything" she pro-
tested. II don't know anything. It's
some horrible mistake. Or else-its
plant to throw suspicion on me and divert
1t from the real thlef?'
"Plant?" Miss Pride queried with spe-
cious air of bewllderment.
Thieves argon-manufactured evil
dence," Byttleton explained.
"Ah, yes" said the old maid with nod
of satisfaction.
IF it's n plant, It's UP to you TO snow
up" Mason came back. "If 1t isn't. you
may as we'll lead us to the rest of IT,
quick"
You've looked everywhere, I presume?"
Lyttleton inquired casually.
Everywhere 1 can think OF in this
room and the bathroom" the detective
averred; land I'm pretty good little
locker. That's my business, of course
I'm willing to swear there's no more jew
elry concealed anywhere hereabouts.
Unless, perhaps, she's got it on her
person."
THAT might be, of course" Mason al
lowed. cycling the girl critically. "l5u,
somehow l don't think so. If she had,
why would she have left this one piece
buried here? No; you'll find she's hidden
the rest of the stuff somewhere-about the
house OF grounds, maybe-or passed 1t on
talking to last night, as like as not-dnd
held out this ring to make sure of her brt
when 1t comes to split-up."
STILL" Lyttleton persisted, "ought you
to take any chances?"
well" Tho detective shuffed with
embarrassment. 'of course" he said
with brilliant inspiration, 'if these ladies'
will undertake the job"
Miss Pride stirred smartly. ITS not
fn In oh In ciqfa ad
If you inslst-and on dear Ablgaifs ac-
With a tremendous effort Sally whipped
her faculties together and temporarily re-
asserted the normal outward aspect of
her forceful self.
"I will not be searched" she said with
with Mrs. Gosnold pres
ent-yes, anything. Find her. and I'll
submit to any indignity you can think of.
But if Mrs. Standish and Miss Pride think
I will permit them to search me in her
She laughed shortly. They'd better
not try it-thats ALI" and on this vague
threat turned away and threw herself
back into the chair.
I'm sure" Miss Pride agreed, "I'd
much rather not, for my part. And dear
Abigail is so peculiar. Perhaps it would
be best to wait till she gets back"
"Or hunt her up Lyttleton amended.
II guess you're right" Mason agreed. a
trace dublously.
But what will you do with the girl in
the meantime? Take her to jail?"
mo; I guess not yet-not until we see
what Mrs. Gosnold thinks, anyway. She
ought to be safe enough here, That door
locks; we'll take the key. She can't get
out of the window without risking her
neck-and IL she did make a getaway un-
injured. she can't leave the island before
Let's move along, as you say,
and see If we can't find Mrs. Gosnold.'
Skirts rustled behind Sally's sullen back
and feet shuffled. Then the door closed
softly and she heard the key rattle in the
lock.
She sat moveless, stunned, aghast.
Strangely, she did. not weep; her spirit
was bruised beyond the consolation of
tears,
The wall upon which her vacant vision
focused was not more blank and white
than her despair was blank and black.
She was utterly bereft of hope; no ray
penetrated that bleak darkness circum-
scrlbing her understanding.
Now the last fraIl prop had been knock
ed from under her precarious foothold IN
the faith and favor OF Mrs. Gosnod.
As to the identity of the enemy who had
done this thing Sally entertained not
shadow OF doubt, though lacking this
proof she could not have believed she
owned one SO vindictive, ruthless and |
hendishly ingenious.
But after what had happened 1t seemed
most indisputable that Lyttleton, not con-
tent with avenging his overnight discom-
hture by his INSCRIPTIONS lie, had delib-
erately plotted and planted this additional |
false evidence against the girl to the end |
that she might beat out her life against |
he stone walls of a penitentiary.
And If he hadn't stolen the jewels, what
slse was that private matter he had
been SO anxious to keep quiet that he was
willing to purchase Sally's silence even at
he cost of making love to her? And IL |
lot he. who had been the thief whose
IDENTIFY Mrs. GosnOld was so anxious to
conceal that she had invented her silly
cheme for extracting an anonymous con-
statement to the contrary
that Lyttleton had not
tolen the Jewels and that she knew posi-
lively who hadI The man was favorlte
II Mrs. Gosnold's; she had proved 1t too
,ften by open indulgence of his nonsense.
he amused her. And 1t seemed that IN
his milieu the virtue of being amusing
all vices.
Now, doubtless. the truth OF the matter
uauId naVar pAua nlt i