Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-21
CHAPTER XLVI.
Copyright, 1919, Star Company

"Oh, father!"
Desiree's exclamation of distress
made her parent regard her inquir-
ingly.
"Well?" he queried. What is
the matter?"
Il cannot bear to hear you speak
as if you thought that he-I mean
that anybody in our employ had
! taken my pendant 1t is hardly
fair"
Samuel Leighton drew his brows
together. MY dear child" he pro-
tested, Il am accusing nobody. But
l have common sense which tells
me that an article of jewelry does
not disappear by magic. Your ro-
mantle nature makes you very un-
practical at times. Just listen to
reason. Did not both of the maids
| come and go freely in your room
while the box containing your pen
dant was there?"
Certainly they did," Desiree ad-
mitted. But they have been in and
, out of my roQm for two years, and
1 never missed thing. Moreover,
Norah and Annie had excellent ref
erences from their former en-
ployers."
"Yes-which is all in their favor.
Nevertheless, l would like to know
Norah's present address. Have you
it?"
Desiree shook her head. mo,
don't know where she is
when you get a chance ask An
ME if she knows. Tomorrow will
be time enough for that-although
l agree with you that Norah is
probably innocent. The only per-
sons who handled that box after it
left your room were Smith and
Perry. The latter called my atten-
! ton to this fact"
But" Desiree ventured. "My
Perry may not be sure. One of the
| clerks in his store might have
opened the box"
Mr.. Leighton Is Positive
'Impossible!" her father retorted.
Perry took the case from Smith.
Nobody touched it after that until
he opened it and found it empty.
"All of which makes me repeat
my. statement. Smith must be
watched"
Desiree moistened her lips. They
felt stiff, and her voice was un-
steady as she remarked:
THE letter you received from
that man down in the South proves
that Smith is honest"
1T would seem So" was the calm
rejoinder. But there may be some
twist in the matter. 1 admit the
fellow impresses me with a sense
of sincerity. If he is not honest 1
am mistaken in my estimate of hu-
man nature. Nevertheless, appear
ances are not in his favor in this
case.
II intend to take no steps in the
matter yet. To do so would defeat
our ends. But l mean to keep my
eyes open. That's all. If Smith is
all right events will prove it be-
fore"-
He stopped abruptly. Smith stood
in the doorway.
II beg your pardon" the chauf-
feur said. 1 just wanted to let Miss
Leighton know that 1 am here if l
am wanted
Samuel Leighton looked slightly
embarrassed. Desiree sprang to her
feet.
"Oh, yes, Smith," she said hastily.
will you step into the pantry,
please? i want to show you about
arranging the glasses and punch
bowl"
Mrs. Duffield gazed after the man
and girl as they left the room.
DO you know"-with a nervous
laugh-"he quite startled me coming
in SO suddenly and quietly as he
ulu really Thought DIT HFSC tnat
he was guest-he looks so very
well in his evening clothes.
Don't you think, Samuel, that he
ought to have worn a different kind
of coat from that-a short tailed
coat, you know? Why, one will not
be able to tell him from one of the
guests of the evening"
Her brother did not smile "You
evidently did not notice that Smith
wore a black vest and a black tie,
which are not conventional in eve
ming Dress" he remarked. But he
certainly looked like a swell. That's
the trouble with him. He's too in
fernally good-looking. It's difficult
to believe that a chap like that
could have anything out of the way
in his character. It's especially
hard for a woman to believe it.
"Desiree is too romantic in her
notions. 1 could see that she was
quite disturbed by my suggestion
that he"-with a nod toward the
dining room-''might not be quite
honest. It's not pleasant thing
to consider, but one must take no
chances"
A Word of Praise
mo, of course not" Mrs. Duffield
agreed. yet l confess that when
l saw him just now it seemed very
ridiculous to harbor any suspicious
of him. He is very refined in ap-
pearance."
Samuel Leighton gave vent to a
snort that might have meant deri-
sion or impatience.
IT declare you are as bad as De-
street" he exclaimed. Just because
a fellow has certain air you are
sure of his morals. I admit" he
added more gently, that Smith is
good looking. And the friend from
whom he borrowed that suit that he
is wearing tonight must have a
mighty good tailor for one in his
position. l noticed the good cut of
the coat"
"I hope he did not overhear what
you said," Mrs. Duffield said, tenta-