Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-06-16
BY THOMAS w. MANSH[lEW

the-er-body of the deceased, don't you
know. OF course, Mr.. Narkom has said
l may, but-er--after all an English-
mans house Is his castle and all that,
SO it's only polite to ask"
"Oh. certainly, do so by all means,
Mr. Headland. You will excuse my say
ing 1t, but doubt II you will find any
clues there, however. for the regular Of
fcials have already been over the
quest Of the diamonds? Thieves do
funny things sometimes, you know, and
It's Just possible they got in funk and
hid the things instead of taking them
"Well. of all the blessed id" be-
gan the young duke. looking over at him
disgustedly; and then discreetly stopped
and left the term unfinished.
Il fancy. my dear Headland." inter-
posed Narkom, II neglected to tell you
t ina the captain had my men search the
place from top to bottom, go through
every cupboard, into every nook and
corner. turn out the servants boxes
even his, own and Mrs. Glossop's. as
weli.-so that it is certain the jewels
could not have been concealed anywhere
about the premises either by accident or
design: Nothing was found-nothing.
The silva stones have utterly and COM
pletely disappeared"
"And no other jewels besides?"
mot a solitary one, Mr.. Headland."
Rum sort of thief. wasn't it, to cut
or with only half the booty? The
duchess must have had lots of other
Jewels and there were Mrs. Glossop's,
too. Those superb rings of yours, for
instance, madam, fancy burglar get
those Pardon me- Her hand
a-glitter with splendid flashing da-
monds was resting on the edge of the
tea table. He bent over and looked at
them closely Naturally she resented
this under the circumstances. but though
her cheeks flushed she let the hand rest
where it was until he had studied it to
his hearts content.
May l say. Mr.. Headland. that all
her grace's jewels have been identified
by her banker. to whose carethe police
have returned them she said with just
the shadow of an indignant note in her
low, sweet voice. '"These have been In
my possession for years. thank you. A
thousand people can testify to that; and
the tnsinuation is not nice. rs
My dear madam. / assure you I had
not the slightest thought"
Very likely not. AS matter of
fact I don't see how you could. Mr..
Headland; but under these distress
ing and extraordinary circumstances
it was an unhappy attention and
more about it. You are at liberty.
Mr.. Narkom, to show Mr.. Headland
over the house whenever he chooses
to Investigate it,.
And as he chose to investigate it at
that moment the superintendent led
the way to the death chamber forth
with.
II say. old chap. that was a bit
thick. and no mistake" whispered
Narkom as they went up the stairs
ans jewels and then to stoop and
examine Mrs. Glossop's own-a wom-
an worth millions!"
Clear your mind Of the idea Ahat
I meant to suggest anything Of that
sort at all. Mr.. Narkom.~ Cleek re-
piled. ut was the beauty of the
rings themselves that appealed to
'me-that and the wonder Of the cir
cumstances."
circumstances? What circum-
stanceS?"
Two very extraordinary ones
First, why woman of such evident
taste, breeding. and position as Mrs
Glossop should choose to load her
fingers with diamond rings in the
daytime; and, second, why she should
choose this particular day of all
others to do So
Possibly she neglected to take them
off when. she went to bed last night
and. in the excitement of the things
which have happened since, has
thought no more about them. But
mere the room at last. SUN on duty
see. Hammond" This to the plain
clothes officer before the door of the
death chamber. Yes. going in;
thanks. Come along. Headland."
Then the iaproviscd door opened
closed. again. and Cleek and the sup
erintendnt stood in the presence Of
1.-THE silent. immutable 1t which
yesterday had been a living woman
C1eek went over and looked at the
quiet figure. particularly at the
wounds on the arms, both of them
close to the shoulder, and Immediately
below the larger, muscle, then turned
and looked around the room. 1t was
richly appointed, indeed. the suite
had been especially fitted up for her
grace's occupancy and was. as might
have been expected in such II hoNsc
in extremely good taste FROGS the ~
dull colOred Indian carpet to the
French paper on th= wa, .ris 49,. a
striped paper in two tome, or white,
one glazed slightly, the other dull,
like two ribbons---a white velvet and
a white silk one--drawn straight
down over its surface from ceiling
to floor at regular distances half a
yard apart. He admired that paper.
and 1t interested him!
Here. you see, old chap, not n pos
stbility of anybody getting in or out
save by the door which we ourselves
have just entered" said Narkom, open
ing one door which led into a dressing
room. another leading to a spacious
and richly appointed sitting room, and
third which gave access to porce-
lain bath set in marble fioored mar