The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-23
m ELLA MIDDLETON TYBOU'
Copyright, 1907
J. b. Lippincott Go.

(Continued from our last issue
zone moment" he said, then
disappeared into the darkness
whence we plainly heard sub
dusd whispering.
Are there any more OF your
demanded Gabrielle, but with
rather a forlorn quaver In her
voice.
ats all right" said Gordon
Bennett. "On my honor, Miss Ga
brielle. it's all right"
"Now," said Mr.. Blake, return
ing. 'ff you will kindly come up
stairs, / am ready to explain, but
I fear | must cause you some
pain, or at least a shock"
We went up to the living room.
"First," said Mr. Blake, | must
ask you to listen to my story
without Interruptions, and to ac-
cept, for the time being, any
statements / may make. Later l
shall be in a position to prove
them"
II hope So" murmured Ga
brielle.
II do not suppose" he began,
you will believe me when l say
that Mrs. Bundy's emeralds are in
your safe. Please don't take the
trouble to deny 1t, for know l
am speaking the truth.
ALSO, l wish to say that they
were placed there by the woman
you have received and entertained
as Lady Edith Campbell, but who
Is in reality a notorious character
and badly wanted by the police.
II don't believe It,"
II was Elizabeth who spoke,
and her words were freigbted
with sincere conviction.
81 did not expect you to. 1t Is
true. nevertheless. This woman
is known as Nell Simms, and her
career has been marvellous. For
some years she was-well, associ-
ated with a famous criminal nam
ed James Kilroy, who gave the
police a long, hard chase before
his capture. He had many strings
to his bow, not the least among
them the smuggling of diamonds
and other articles none to hon.
estly acquired; since his arrest,
this woman has directed the bus
iness. She is clever-wonderfully
clever"
There was sincere, II unwilling,
admiration in his tone, and he
paused thoughtfully before re-
Stunning his story.
st has been my business this
summer to look up this matter OF
smuggling, and / have followed
the history of this woman as
closely as | could. After the ar
rest of her chosen companion, she
married the man you know as
Lord Wilfrid Campbell, who is a
well-known thief and a member
OF the small and select band OF
smugglers. but who is far from
being as clever as she. He is also
the son of your servant, Mary
Anne Brown"
Across my mind rushed the rec
election Of the conversation l had
overheard in the cellar, and the
memory of the mans voice, GER
tain infections of which had
haunted me with their familiarity
The son of your servant" con-
tinued Mr.. Blake's even voice,
land a dangerous character :
wanted for murder in Montreal.
These people, young ladies. have
used you for their own purposes.
This cottage you live in belongs to
them. and you were put here as a
buffer to avert suspicion
Your servant was sent here to
watch YOU and drug you when
necessary; your boathouse was
used to conceal their boats, and
your cellar to store their goods. A
passage at the back-hidden by
the empty dry goods box-leads
Into the boathouse, and, under
their control, 1t was easy for them
to carry on whatever operations
they chose. and to BATTLE the secret
service But your safety, even
your lives, we're in danger"
He paused as though there was
more to come which he hardly
knew how to say, but Gabrielle