The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-17
ssThe Allison Pearls"
BY Edward III. Hurlbut
Copyright, Paget Newspaper Service.


directly to the back and left of
Miss Allison. 1t was some mo-
ments later, after the group broke
up. that we noticed the necklace
was gone; and that incident of the
hand slipping down beside Miss
Allison's neck-a hand without
any jewels-recurred to me vivid
ly; and. shameful as 1t Is to even
think 1t, Miss Cadogan's relative
position just as we all straighten-
ed up, directed my thoughts to
her. | could not help noticing
that she wore no rings. OF course
1t would be hard to identify one
hand from another on such slight
evidence as the flashing glimpse
received"
"You have suspected Miss Cado-
gan all along them. to put 1t blunt
ly?" asked flanagan.
We'll, would not say exactly
that. 1t was hardly that suspect
ed her. But the coincidence was
striking. And certainly 1t is my
impression Miss Cadogan was the
only other woman near u.s."
What about the couple Miss
Cadogan claims to have noticed ;"
Il can only say l did not see
any such couple"
"How do you account for the
pearl in your blouse?"
1T must have been dropped
there deliberately"
And you think. then, as a mat
ter of fact, that Winkeppner knew
II was there-that he must have
been party to the theft-and
that he forced the situation in
Douglas office so that the search
would be made and the pearl found
on your"
THAT is what I think: altho 7
confess my grounds are very
weak"
Then why didn't you at that
time voice your suspicions?"
That would have meant to di-
rect suspicion at a lady" replied
Masters.
you would rather stand ac-
cused yourself?
Under the circumstances, yes"
replied Masters, simply, and Lana
gan's opinion of him rose consid-
erably.
But what would be the motive,
conceding that Winkeppner and
Miss Cadogan may have been act
ing in collision. in placing the
pearl in your blouse?"
Merely Kinkeppner's vicious
ness. Probably the thought flashed
into his mind then and there it
would be good way to embarrass
me. He is vicious man, Win
keppner; and we had had one nasty
scene already at the country club
oyer Miss Allison. He tried very
hard to win her."
do you think Miss Cadogan is
criminal. under your theory, or a
kleptomaniac?"
I'm all courtesy. l think IL must
be the latter; If it is she-but, OF
course, it cannot be-"
And then where did Chappie
Carroll get his pearl. Did Winkepp-
ner have designs on him, also?"
was compelled to laugh,
as he asked the question.
Masters looked surprised. Evil
IDENTIFY he had entirely forgotten
the Carol pearl.
81 do not know as to that. | am
at sea. But do know that
conduct last night
was absolutely unaccountable. He
deliberately sought to attract sus-
picion to me and egged the detec-
tives on until they searched us
both, finding, of course. the pearl
on me-"
flanagan was thinking to him
self that it had been a curious
thing that he was first attracted
to Winkeppner and Miss Cadogan
when he noticed that they ap-
peared to be dancing in a fashion
to keep Miss Allison and Masters
in view, after the discovery of the
loss of the pearls. Aloud he said
Your suspicious are very In
teresting."
What are yours?" asked Mas
tiers.
Il don't make a practice of dis
cussing my suspicious. I only talk
when | get results" replied Lana
gan.
II was some hours later that
same morning, about daybreak, in
fact. and flanagan was still prowl-
ing around the hotel, when the en-
tire hosiery was thrown into a
fnrore OF excitement by the news
that the Allison pearls nad again
been stolenl
Placed by the heiress on her
dresser, forgotten by her In other
and more weighty troubles-no
one. In fact. stopping to consider
that lightning might strike twice