Evening star., 1918-01-20

body was pleased and said it was per-
feet match; and for the last three weeks
their wedding presents had come pour
ing into the big house in Upper Belsrave
street. and flooded the trout drawing
room.
Lillian was excited because her lover
was coming with the famous Harcourt
diamonds which had been the admira-
ton and envy of fashionable London for
half century. The jewels had been re-
moved from the bank, where they had
lain in darkness and safety for dozen
years. to the glittering shop of Mr.. ophi-
of Bond street The setting was very
old aud the vigilance of the tiny silver
points that guarded the priceless morseis
of bright stone had to be looked to. A
rhra nd-new case had been orderea 70 Sc.
th~ precious sparklers off to the best ad :
yNaHtage.
There came a knock. and foot on the
Stairs mounting four steps at a spring
Anuther moment and he was in her ROOM
He eyes welcomed him. though her lips
pretended to pout
you are ten minutes before your time.
sir" she said. and | am terribly busy
What have you there"
oh. you know You have been long
ins for me and the diamonds. especially
the diamonds. for the last hour. I've
great mind 10 carry them off again.
The jewel case was wrapped in brown
pane with strong cord and sealed with
broad patches of red sealing wax. Quite
eScitedly. she cut through the string.
leaving the seals unbroken. and let paper
and tEine and wax go down in a heap
on the carpet together.
There emerged from the inner wrap
ping OF soft. white tissue paper the
3ewel case in its new coat of. light
brown morocco with the monogram L.
Fl. in neat gold letters on it. She gave
little cry of pleasure as her eyes fell
l.
Jewels her very own. Like a bather on
the waters brim, she paused for one
tantaliZins moment, drew deep breath
to make ready for the coming cry of
RAPTURE. and opened the case.
1t was empty
What does it mean, sgd? Are you
s playing with me" But even as she
asked his face told her he was quite
serious
81. cannot make it out. Lii" he said
in an altered voice. II cannot make it
out at all. I brought the case direct
from Mr.. Ophir's. He told me he had
put the diamonds in and sealed the box
up with his own hands. See. you have
not even broken the seals" And he
mechanically picked up the litter of
paper and twine from the floor. mo
one touched it since except myself and
you, and the diamonds are gone. Old
Ophir would no more dream of playing
such trick than an archbishop. Why.
s the old boy warned me as he gave me
careful. Mr. Harcourt.' he said. There
ara twenty thousand pounds in that
slt:.e parcel; let no hand touch it ex-
ccpt your own The first thing is to
see Mr.. Ophir."
-Oh. don't leave me. Sgd
3 wv ell. to write to him. then. There
r.;,st be some ridiculous mistake some
where. Perhaps he gave me the wrong
case. Perhaps some one substituted
sae empty case when he looked aside
s 10. a moment. 1t may be necessary
tc employ detective. I'll tell him
wnere?"
There's the writing table in the cor
ner"
He growled bit at the dainty fem
sinine pen and paper and began:
Dear Mr.. Ophir: A most extraordinary
thing has happened. 1 took the case
you gave me: as you gave 1t to me.
and opened 1t without breaking the
seals. by cutting the strings in her
presence. The diamonds were gone.
There must be some mistake some
where. Perhaps you may be able to
clear up the mystery. If you suspect
dishonesty. engage a detective at once.
The messenger will wait for reply.
ioufS' 'n SIDNEY HARcouRT.
He ran downstairs himself to hail a
cab to take the note A smart hanson
with an alert cab driver on the box was
crawling up the street. Harcourt raised
his hand, almost knocking over a sturdy
mendicant who was standing in front
of the door dangerously near the curb
stone.
Here, my man." he said to the cab
man Take this to Mr.. Ophir's. in Bond
street The address is on the envelope.
Wait for an answer: double fare II you
make quick time"
The driver took the letter. touched
his hat and was off like shot.
Harcourt threw the grumbling beg
gar a shilling and slammed the door.
If he had waited just one second he
would have seen the beggar go off al
most quickly as the hanson.
-Oh. Sydney, do cheer UP little,
pleaded Lily 1T will come out all
right If not. j won't mind in the
least. and your father is too fond of
you, and of me. I think. to be really
angry. 1t wasn't your fault, anyway"
You see how it is. Lii. ! have been
goingithe pace a bit before l met you.
nay darling, and many people think |
have outrun the bailin. SO there IS
sure to be malicious whispering and
tsttling and people may say-no. l can
noi tell you what they may say. and
what is more, | don't care. You never
can say think or look anything but
what's kind
minutes tue diamonds had vanished
fFom their mem ry as completely
they had vanished from the ease. The
sound and sight Of Il cab whirling to
the door brought them suddenly back to
the workaday world.
footman entered. bearing in the
very center of a silver satver Il visiting
card slightly soiled. Harcourt took il,
and Lillian, peering over his shoulder
read.
Mr.. Paul Beck
Private Detective
What is he like. Tomlinson?"
stout party in gray, sir Don't seem
particularly bright"
hot h.
want" muttered Harcourt to himself
uneasily when the footman disappeared
''Nr. Paul Beck" cried the footman.
opening the door with flourish.
MIR. Paul Beck did not require much
showing up apparently. He slipped into
the room, keeping his back as much as
possible to the light as if secrecy had
grown a habit with him He was a
stout. strongly built man in dark gray
tweed, suggesting a respectable retired
nliknian more than detective. His
face was ruddy. and his hair light
brown. There was a chronic look of mild
surprise in his wide-open blue eyes, and
his smile was as innocent as a child's
Harcourt knew the man by reputation
as one of the cleverest detectives in
London. But looking at him now he
s could hardly believe the reputation war
ranteH.
"Mr Beck" he said. will you take a
chair? You come. / presume about"
About those diamonds" said Mr..
Beck, abruptly. Fortunately was with
Mr.. Ophfr when you note came. He
Your cabusan lost no time. and here