Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-20
(COntinued fron Yesterday.l

You see the risk. don't your said
Mary. There's no use iett1ng onr-
selves think that II will be easy. We've
got to work together-and vet not let a
soul on board suspect that were do
ing anything of the sort"
"Oh, of course" said Mona. sFIow
lucky that we arranged to stay apart
through the voyage as we did! I
couldn't see just why that was neoes-
sery when we arranged it--and yet
IL We had not. there would have been
yours, Mary"
.vop! .Well1to Ill, work them said Mary.
you both understand? You won't be
at the dinner, Mr.. Jones2"
I'm dreadfully sorry" he said, in
mock distress. "But feel one of my
terrible headaches coming on. and I'll
have TO see the ships surgeon, and
ask him to get me a little relief-and,
incidentally, establish a bit of evidence
that viii come in handy ter onr'
ITS too bad you have miss all the
fun, said Mona, mockingly.
Il think III be able TO bear up he
said, with a grin. 81 rather suspect I'll
be cured-tonighti And I'll eat a big
lunch TO make up for the dinner shall
have to miss. on second thought, ri
walt until after lunch before see the
DOCTOR"
Mona and Mary were both radiant,
that night, when they appeared at the
captains dinner. Both We're superbly
dressed; those who knew Of the cool
ness between them whispered to one
another that each had evidently de-
termined to outshins the other
It would have been hard to say which
OF them had succeeded. Indeed, honors
between them appeared at first glance,
to be even. But 1t was not long be-
fore all eyes were drawn to a superb
necklace of diamonds that Mona wore
1t dimmed the lustre of every other
jewel, although several of the other
women wore ornaments of unusual
brilHancy and beauty. And II was i'm
possible for anyone who could not take
the necklace and examine It closely to
see that ii consisted, not of diamonds,
but of imitation stones so cleverly
wrought that any but an expert eye
must have been deceived.
Mary started with well feigned Jeal-
ousy, when he saw the stones. She
turned TO the purser, and, intending, as
her, but speaking loudly enough for
the others at the table to catch her
meaning, said:
Don't you think that such display
simple rings-but fora young girl to
wear such a string Of huge stones as
thati Well I was brought up not to
believe in so much display"
mitted the purser. "Still suppose she
likes to show them off It isn't every
one who can wear such q fortune as
that around her necki'
said Mary, icily.
And her eyes went back TO the Jewels.
time and again, throughout the dinner,
and later, when dancing began. The
great main saloon had enclosed a part
of the deck, too. for those who wanted
air. And in the brilliant confusion of
the scene no one saw Mona stealthily
appropriate a tiara from one dancer; a
jeweled ornament of another sort from
another.
'TIereP' said Mona She had come
straight from the dancing floor with
her booty wrapped in a handkerchief;
ing for her In the empty and deserted
corridor near the state room in which
he was supposed to be trying to and
relief from his headache in sleep.
GOOD girl" said Jones, taxing It
eagerly. That's the part that has wor-
ried me mostl 1 was afraid you would
be caught in the act-and we would
have had frfgntfully difficult time in
explaining thati"
81 was frightened myself" said Mona
But 1 had to make up in some fash
ion for the way I failed with Mr.. x"
Hurry back-you mustn't risk any
delay" said Jones. I'LL be waiting
anxiously."
AS Mona went back she unfastened
her necklace and held 1t in her hand.
Her brief absence had not been noticed
she found partner waiting eagerly
for her. and was swept into the maze
Of dancers at once: AS she passed
nodded slightly. ana q moment later
Mary, as If by accident, brushed
against her In the momentary contact
Mona slipped her necklace into Mary's
corsage.
And FIVE minutes later. as she passed
a mirror, she screamed suddenly:
Instantly every woman in the room
felt for her own tewelry, and two moro
added their outcry to Mona's.
'Ladies-be calmw said the captain.
He had stopped the music; he spoke
quietly, but sternly REST assurec that
It is Impossible for you to lose your
property on this ship. The thief can
not get away. ] shall ask everyone
present to submit to a search-sus-
pecting no one. but thus giving the
Innocent a certain way to prove their
Sanocencew
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