South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-14
NSTALLNnENT NO. =.
your head2" smiled Poe.

IN your neaQ ennlleQ roe
"Oh. no. In the fioor-of course
Its absurd; 1T can't be that Ninon
Sicolette is"
a kIeptomaniacc supplied Chris
topher Poe.
Yes" Armstrong had no more
than sat down. He leaped 20 his
feet and leaned over Poe who was
seated looking deep into the in
scrutabie violet eyes OF the banker
detective. His fingers twitched nerv-
ously. Tell me was there ever the
slightest breath OF it, Have you ever
heard the faintest WHISPER Of it,
"Ninon a kleptomaniac2 %o!'
cried Poe with reassrriug smile 10
the yonger man.
Thank goodness" cried Arm
strong. Then he asked sharply.
None OF the family either. You're
sure?"
Yes. I am sure. As her mother
was twenty years in a convent and
her father as many years in prison
for debt I don't think either ever had
"A chance TO develop any such"
Then why did ysu suggest just
what I was thinking of 30 Armstrong
demanded suspiciously.
My dear boy" said Poe. "sit
down Sit down and hold your hand
calmly while you county 20. You are
even doubling my friendship I told
you IL was a woman worrying you.
Listen, You rush into my room like
a mailman and demand 10 know II
ever heard anything lTeathed
against fair Ninon. ] notice ut once
that the Great Diamond Table is
missing frcm its pronss and that in
your excitement you have failed TO
remove the empty bard. There is a
particle OF towel-liut Adhering to
one Of the proDgs. which shows that
you have gone homo 10 wash and
change your afternoon clothes. I
imagine you did that so early in the
day in an effort to refresh and COM
pose yourself after scme excitement.
which must be that Of j sing your
wonderful stone. Then YOU stammer
strangely about sfair Ninon and
Immediately imagine she : the only
one you suspect. That is why I sug-
gested kleptomanla. Now tell me.
why do you think for a minute that
Ninon-"
ooh. I don'tv" Armstrong burst
out Only" he wavercd for a mo-
ment and finally recountcd the whole
story to his friend.
Poe whistled his surprise at the
end OF II. It's an interesting prob
lem" he unused. running his long
nervous fingers through his grayish
hair and twisting his lips in a re-
Elective pout. "A man runs Il 10 sec
a lady whom he adrires. She Is a
prominent prima donna. SIZE asks
10 see a famous diamond ne is wear
ing. He remarks that the stone is
loose. While she is looking at the
stone. touching II even, the light
above her mysteriously goes out. In
the darkness. just before the man
reaches his trousers pocket for a
match he feels another hand touch
his-of course that may or may not
have been the lady's, but no one else
was in the room or the apartment
the maid was out When the light
is turned on, presto the stone is
gone! The floor is prefectly me etched
waxed hard wood. Everything i:
searched, the rugs. divan, corners
everything. even the lGdy's dress and
the gentleman's pockets. Interesting
Entertaining" AS he paused hi.
forehead suddenly broke up int
sharp wrinkles. his short eyebrow
jerked down contemplatively. "Oh
7 say. Armstrong. what clothes die
Ninon have on?"
Just simple silk dress. Only
a little trimming on the what yol
call 1.-THE bodice. aEd there was n,
chance for the stone 10 have odge,
there and escaped her search"
And you had on?"
Just a Ioung suit comfortable,
cut; she 'phoned me at the club tina
might call If came at once.
didn't have time to cdange
7 see" Poe pushed rack hi
chair. stepped to "A corner OF tn
room and turned on an electri
light jutting from the wall. Push
ing back two chairs. he dragged M
a lounge. threw a rug in frort OF il
dropped back among the pillows
and requested Armstrong 20 assum
the position he had been i'm in re
latiOn 10 NinOn Armstrong drew
up a chair and leaned Onward in il
Wait a minute, Pull down tina
blind" requested Poe.
The blind was pulled down so Ia
that no light came IN from outside
the room being Illuminated only b.
the electric globe.
Now this is good deal like tn
general situation at Nlnouso'' ask
ed Poe
Almost Identical"
Then show me yoUr ring tn
way"
Armstrong had leaned forward Z
simulate his former nuSition whe
the electric light suddenly went out