The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-01-25


Betty laughed. staccato. but II I
say did?"
Quoin shrugged. THAT would end
my interest"
And II 1t turns out didn't-ehr
''Then may be able to tell you some
thing to your advantage"
Betty sat up sharply. "You mean
you know where my necklace isf'
"Did you smuggle it," Quoin coun-
ter-Questioned.
A note Of unimpeachable candor In
formed the woman's voice. Il give
you my word Of honor did not know
nothing about 1t. Beyond the fact that
myself placed q genuine necklace in
that case. and saw a paste necklace
come out Of it"
| ''Therew Mrs. Beggarstaff exclaimed
with look Of triumph at Trait.
The face of this last suddenly AZ
sumed a most unbecoming brick-red
hue. '"That's all very well," he
grumbled. land I'm not doubling Betty
little bit: but" he stammered and
gulped. "but tell you now 1 can't be-
lieve 1t Of Tad, and as for Lydia" He
made an exasperated gesture. "Quoin's
crazy-that's allv'
"What's this7" Betty put in quickly.
Tad and Lydia7" She waited an In
slant, her color waning. what have
they to do with my necklaceT"
"rll tell you" said Quoin gently.
| 'Craven gave his daughter your neck.
lace, hidden in a Chinese puzzle box, to
bring through the customs, counting on
hes 4Il1 ~lr~fl
| inspection"
Mrs. Merrilees rose from her chair.
staring fixedly at Quoln. "You know
this to be fact7"
II saw 1t in Miss Craven's posses
sion. The rest is inference from con-
| tributory circumstances"
The detective endured her stare
without finching; though the color of
his dark face deepened and his breath
| came trace more quickly. Convinced
at length Of his sincerity, she turned
| away. moved to a window, and stood
there with her back to the room, gaz-
ing thoughtfully out into the misty
| chiaroscuro Of the plaza.
That's why we wanted your word
you were on the level before we told
you, refer explained.
II see," said the woman in a gentler
voice. "Please tell me about it,
"very we'll" Quoin responded with
the story. from his view and point, of
Lydia's adventure in the fog. ut was
your necklace In the box. the real thing.
beyond mistake" he concluded.
But" Betty argued, bewildered. II
don't see"
"Wait. think I can make every.
thing clear. When Southpaw shut the
box and gave 1t up, on my demand, !
watched him pretty closely, and saw
him slip playing card in with the
necklace. After got outside opened
the box up on my own account, partly
to satisfy myself about the necklace.
partly to have a look at that card. 1t
was knave Of diamonds"
Betty swung back from the window.
But what can that meanT
cts question think Craven can
answer-if he will. Anyhow, we're safe
In assuming the card was intended for
him. and certainly 1t must have had
| some Significance. That, II you'll per-
NIT. establishes a secret bond Of I'M
Outstanding between two known black
legs and-Thaddeus Craven"
But why didn't you tell me this at
the timer"
Because. very naturally, wasn't at
all sure you wanted to be told"
IF you'll please explain"
"Quoin MEANS" Peter Interrupted
you've been such a consistent per.
former. he hesitated to do anything
calculated to cramp your style, If this
thing was what 1t looked like-a frame.
up between you and Tad to beat the
CUSTOMS"
But what right had you to jump al
any such conclusionT Betty insisted
Because knew you knew real gems
from false-and the necklace you had
| shown us that very morning was coun.
| terfeit."
1T isn't possible" Betty protested
holly. Il saw 1t myself"
$50 did I |; and was interested enough
well, you'll recall asked to see them
In strong light7 You were SO salts.
fed you never looked twice. But was
positive then that they were false, and
even more positive later, when 1 saw
the real collar In the puzzle box"
"Still don't understand"
If you remember, Craven took his
time about fetching that box from the
purser. 1t was good ten minutes be.
fore he got back. He had time and to
spare to open your despatch box and
substitute the counterfeit for the genu.
ine-duplicate key you knew nothing
about, of course"
Look here" Peter began excited.
ly, then checked and turned sullen.
"Well?" Mrs. Beggarstaff demanded
while Betty and Quoin obliged the
young man by looking their curiosity.
ooh. don't like to say ii - he nut |