The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-03-23

day. and now I'm going to have one or
know the reason why"
snake your mind easy about that"
Peter advised gravely. "As a tidy
young disturber Of the peace. Betty,
you show class"
"Shut up, Peter!" Again her glance
challenged the three. whats upY"
she demanded in sudden suspicion.
'You didn't call me over here now Just
to tell me you believe ME capable Of
smuggling that collar-you know you
didn'tw
mo, my DEAR" Mrs. Beggarstafr re-
piled; but we did want to talk with
you about it,
"Wellw
Its this way, Mrs. Merrilees,"
Quoin volunteered: "We're all your
friends, and all my interest in this
matter is purely unprofessional as far
as you are personally involved"
Mrs. Merrilees nodded brusquely.
but focused an interested regard on the
face of the detective. Proceed" she
said sweetly.
"We'd like to have your personal
word of honor that you didn't turn this
trick"
Betty laughed, staccato. But If
say did?"
Quoin shrugged. "That would end
my interest"
"And If it turns out I didn't-eh?"
"Then may be able to tell you some
thing to your advantage"
Betty sat up sharply. "You mean
you know where my necklace ISL"
did you smuggle it," Quoin coun-
ter-questioned.
A note Of unimpeachable candor in
formed the woman's voice. II give
you my word of honor did not. know
nothing about 1t. Beyond the fact that
l myself placed a genuine necklace in
that case, and saw paste necklace
come out of it"
"There!" Mrs. Beggarstaff exclaimed
with look of triumph at Trait.
The face of this last suddenly as
sumed a most unbecoming brick-red
hue. THAT'S oil very WE'LL" he
grumbled, land I'm not doubling Betty
little bit; but" he stammered and
gulped, "but tell you now can't be-
lieye it Of Tad, and as for Lydia" He
made an exasperated gesture. "Quoin's
crazy-that's all!''
whats this?" Betty put in quickly.
"Tad and Lydia?' She waited an in
slant, her color waning. what have
they to do with my necklace?"
I'll 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
her exemption, as an alien, from rigid
inspection"
Mrs. Merrilees rose from her chair,
staring f1xedly at Quoin. "You know
this to be fact7"
II saw it in Miss Craven's posses
sion. The rest is inference from con-
tributory circumstances"
The detective endured her stare
without flinching; 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 q 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," Peter explained.
II see," said the woman in a gentler
voice. "Please tell me about it."
"Very WELL" 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. I think l can make every
thing clear. When Southpaw shut the
box and gave it up, on my demand, l
watched him pretty closely, and saw
him slip a playing card In with the
necklace. After got outside l 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"
tits a 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, IL you'll per-
NIT, establishes q secret bond Of I'M
derstanding 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