The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-05

look, nevertheless. went slowly out Of
his eyes.
You are entirely mistaken" he saio
with quiet dignity. For I have given
the lady you mention no such jewel"
| I could afford to laugh.
Would you care to have me describe
t." inquired.
at would be interesting. perhaps"
he blandly Acknowledged. but alto
gether superfiuous. And I'm going to
ask you to pardon my absence for a
moment or two" -
He left me standing there. like a
peddler, a little taken aback by his
sudden movement. But knew. in my
bones, that he was already busy at the
| telephone.
1t was three or four minutes before
he reappeared. HIS face was more
mask-like than ever. He was plainly
waiting for me to speak.
Then I am to infer that you're not
interested in the recovery of this
jewell" I asked.
MOT in the least" and his stare was
plainly an unspoken dismissal.
I went down to my waiting taxi
climbed in. and drove home. 1t was
halfway between midnight and morn
ing, and the city was very quiet.
noticed, as 1 alighted, that a second taxi
had again followed me to my own door
I went to bed and slept soundly with
the stolen pendant under my pillow
and q number Of unanswered questions
at the back of my head.
It was almost noon when Weakened
1 Weakened, in fact. to the shrill of my
call-belI. and found Sloan himself at the
other end Of the wire. A Fifth Avenue
4 a1ar h. 4A1I -
the theft Of o canary-colored diamond
and two emeralds from one Of his
clients.
That client, Balmy, Is a Broadway
actress named VacheIl, and they were
lifted in the. Byzantine Room of tha
trottery you were telling me about last
week. So you'd better get busy on tht
case"
"AH right" said as hung up the
receiver.
began by taking a taxicab to tina
resplendently duplex apartment-hous'
where Verlyn Vachell held forth IL
state. 1t was two o'clock in the after
snoon by this time.
Miss Verlyn Vachell, notwithstanding
the hour. was still in bed when she re
ceived me, quite plainly resenting al
intrusion at that unseemly time of day
She didn't even smile when 1 nearE
fell over a florists box OF American
Beauties almost as long as a CONN
For there was voluptuous disarra.
about that chamber which for a mo
ment rather overawed me.
Are you a newspaper woman" sh
sharply and suspiciously demanded.
MOT altogether" temporized
You're the photographer % she sug
gosted, almost hopefully I thought
I
trouble In the wind. r =,
Not even that" acknowledged
though I spend most of my time Il
gathering proofs"
Miss vachell, last night Carpente
Cairns gave you a canary-colored dia
mond set between two emeralds,"
said.
She looked at me for a moment o
two out Of wonderfully steady eyes.
you are entirely mistaken" she said
with superior and commiserative sor
OF smile.
But that pendant was stolen las
night from your handbag" argued
when lose any of my things lik
that" she announced with large uncon
Germ. It usually recover them througl
my jewellers"
IT'S quite plain that you've talke
this over with Cappie," I softly in
formed her.
II know Mr.. Cairns only in a bust
ness way" she frigidly announced.
Then am / to understand that yo
deny he gave you a heart-shaped yello1
diamond and that it was stolen fror
you half an hour after you received 1
from his hands?"
why shouldn't I deny it," sh
languidly demanded. And it's all So
so awfully absurd" ....
The situation has actually becom
humorous. She was afraid. Just a
Cappie Cairns had been afraid. and
knew it. The two people most inter
ested in an incompatible fine damon
were denying all knowledge of it's e1s
istence and all desire for its recovery
A fiawless reputation. after all, had t
be counted even before a flawless stone
And the one thing to do. I then an
there decided, was to take them at thei
own word.
e found myself hailed by a taxi-drive
standing beside his cab. But it wa
not the driver 1 had instructed to wal
for me.
r Your shoffer, ma'am. ran out O. ga
e and cut for the garodge, to save hi
: fine" explained this placid-eyed sub
stitute as he swung the door open 70
I me. Told me to wait and finish GU
8 your trip"
You'll do" I assured him. But be
lore could climb into that taxi a pale
aced girl in a blue serge suit, who
g been standing at the edge of the side
I walk, stepped over in front of me.
I've got to talk to you'll" she de
p! clared, with note Of desperation in he
i voice.
= About this terrible thing that Wi
: has done" she brokenly replied
I'm the girl who-I'm Barbara Hill
n ton And I've just got to"
L Wed better not talk here" I sus
d gested.
Then let me ride with you" sh
pleaded. "for only ten minutes in III
Park. or III never be able to face hir
Il again"
I told my driver to take US a
I through Central Park somewhere The
I I climbed into the cab after the Wal,