Charlevoix county herald., 1915-10-16

THE DOUBLE
DEALER
BY vARlck vANARDY.
Author Of ''Missing-S81,600." :
Copyright by the Frank A. Mum
sey Co.

I do not mention the cameo, because.
you know, you never showed 1t to me,
and I did not see 1t among the pres
ents-has 1t occurred to you that all
FIVE of those lost articles will come
under the definition of the word
uniQue?"
moo. Birge; 1t had not. But
what are you getting att"
"Simply this: That the articles
stolen from your house Last night
were not taken by any common thief
or by any person who went to the re-
ception with the deliberate intention
of stealing, but that they were lifted
by so-called collector, who could not
resist the temptation when 1t was pre-
scented.
"They were stolen by some person
who would be least suspected by any
of your family or friends; by some.
body who has a choice collection
stored away in secret room, where
he or she. as the case may be, can go
to them in secret and in solitude and
worship them"
"Birge, you amaze mel"
81 suppose SO. It amazes me, too,
when / consider the possibilities of 1t
ALL"
"Who could it be-if your surmise
Is correct?"
THAT question, I think, will be de.
termined in due time"
"Then the thief-one can use no
other expression in connection with
this affair-was some person among
my acquaintances?"
Undoubtedly. A person whom
even the detective on duty there
would consider above the necessity of
espionage. A person well known to
you, to your daughter, to your init
mate friends"
But why-tell me why you have
arrived at this decision, Birge?" said
Mr.. Delorme.
81 have told you. I will add this:
Every pearl in that bandeau was a
curiosity itself-and each one was
Of undoubted value. No attempt had
been made to match them. There
were oval pearls, pear-shaped pearls,
and two very remarkable twin-pearls
among them. The assembling Of them
In that bandeau created one of the
most unique as well as valuable orna-
ments I have ever seen. Don't you
agree with me?"
"Entirely-now that my attention is
called to the fact"
"Take that bracelet Of wire-gold,
with the paja's ruby, that gave to
Lorna. There is nothing else in the
world like it. Mr.. Delorme. There is
no duplicate, and could not be one"
II quite appreciate that fact,
Birge."
Very well; the diamond and ruby
tiara, the emerald bracelet. and, more
than either of those, the lavalliere
that was one of Jerry's presents to his
bride, all come under the same head,
II one should stop to describe them.
"In their way. they are all unusual,
curious, and cannot be duplicated. In
trinsically, there were other arti-
Giles there of greater value which
might have been taken as easily-and
a thief, seeking for profit only, would
have selected them"
"You are undoubtedly right about
1t. Birge. But, great Scott! Must
this affair develop into a scandal?"
LET us hope not, sir"
"Have you any idea"
"None whatever as yet, Mr.. De-
lorme," Moreaux fastened to inter-
rupt him.
The elder man was silent for a mo-
ment; then, with evident hesitation,
he said
81 spoke to you about the cameo
last night. You mentioned 1t a mo-
ment ago. think ought to tell you
that received telegram from Lorna
this morning. They must have stopped
the train purposely to send It. Here
1t is. Read 1t for yourself"
The telegram read:
Forgot cameo brooch. In draw
er of buhl cabinet In my bedroom.
take care of 1t. Jerry and ! are
very happy. We both send oceans
and seas Of love. Lorna.
Moreaux returned the message
without comment, but Mr. Delornle
said quietly:
"The cameo has disappeared, also.
Birge. It was not In the cabinet, and
1t is of far greater value than all the
other things put together, no matter
how absurd that statement may sound
to you"
Moreaux lighted a cigar and puzzled
his chair away from the table.
IT think It will be recovered he
said.
They left the club together and
stood for a moment at the curb, where
Mr.. Delorme's car was waiting to take
him, downtown, the artist having de-
clined an invitation to ride with HIM
But when the man Of many millions
was inside the car and prepared to
start Moreaux bent forward and
asked. as IL the question had Just Soc-
Cured to him: