Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-01

had not heard her, only she was pres
emily to know that he did Embedded
> in the center of it is an emerald OF
two or thre karats 1t is claimed that
e nature could not have put it there; that
{ the two jewels are too foreign to each
/; other for such thing to have resulted
' from natural causes; that the art of
| some ancient and skilled lapidary must
( have accomplished it. But the fact re
mains that it is there. Very we'll" He
, caught his breath sharply and was very
pale. You say that you have seen
it,
; Then, in that case, you know that
it is here, at inquest, now, don
you
NO" she replied. I'm fact am
almost sure that it is not.
You know that it is the property
of Nine. Savage. don t youg'
Yes but ] also know that she keeps
it in one of her safe deposit----'
"You are mistaken, Mrs. Harvard.
She does not. 1t is never out of her
possession. She carries it with her
wherever she goes-just as she carries
always with her that other rare gem
described in the newspapers. But for
that. barring its value in cash, | would
not give flip of a coin
He got up from the chair and began
to pace the floor at the opposite side
of the table from Katherine.
LET me ten you, Lady Kate. that !
would barter my soul--if ] have ONE
to possess the Eye of Nadia. as it is
named in IIindustance. Twice have
had her home in the city searched by
men in my pay and under my dircc
ton. Twice have engaged women
crooks to drug Nine. Savage and search
her. For more than a year | have kept
at least one and sometimes three women
in her home. as maids. to spy out the
hiding place of the wonderful jewel.
They have seen it. but they have never
been able to convince me that she takes
it with her wherever she goes and
that it is never far out of her reach.
So | knew, when | discovered that she
was coming down here, that she would
bring it with her. q
VERY well | came to inquest
primarily to get the Eye of Nadia. |
believed that because of the threat !
could hold over you | could compel
you to aid me i'll securing it, but |
speedily changed my mind about that.
But came here also to keep an eye
on the madame-to be close to her
where | could watch her-to study her
and to determine because of that close
observation what her method and means
of COncealing the jewel might be. | am
an expert at that sort of thing. 1t has
been a life study. If man who car
ries a large sum of money in one of
his pockets is under my observation ten
minutes | can tell you in which pocket
he carries it. 1t is science that l
have mastered.
Il know now. therefore, am con
WINGED that | know-where to find the
Eye of Nadia; | know what Nine.
Savage does with it when she stays
at a place like inquest. ] am sure
that | can get my hands on it and get
away with it within two hours after
you let me out of this place tomorrow
night or the following one.
There you have it, Lady Kate
and | have your promise that you will
impart no warning whatever of my pur
pose.
Twill you tell me" Katherine asked
coolly, why you have waited until
now to take the jewel if you have been
so sure of how to take it?"
II waited because l had to wait
because ! was stupid-because it was
not until you had succeeded in locking
me fast in this chalet of yours, where
| have been in absolute solitude. that
| have had the sense and the wit to
apply all of my brain power to the
problem. 1t was not until after ! was
imprisoned by you that | was able to
deduce the truth from my study of
Nine. Savage.
Are you satisfied now that You know
how and where to find the ruby
Il am sure of it.
"If | should consent to grant YOU
the two hours liberty you desire, would
the theft of the Eye of Nadia be all
that you would attcmpt-wbether you
succeed in securing it or should not
succeed?"
YES. I will promise that-and 7
will keep the promise"
II place little value upon your prom
ises. Mr.. Bclknap; you have assured
me that they are Of little value
II will keep that one"
Does Nine. Savage conceal the Jewel
on her person.
"No. / don't think that she ever
does that; nor in the room where she
sleeps. I am so certain about that
that | am willing to agree not to 20
to her room when you set me at lib
arty. unless you are considering the
project of conveying some sort of mes
sage to her about it"
II have already given my promise
as to that. Mr.. Belknap--in case con
sent to your proposition. will not
even mention the name of the jewe
to anybody in that case.
"Well. them"
lis your coFetousnesS of Nadja's Eye
/, your only object in being at inquest?
Yes"
What about card cheating and youl
/, suggestions of blackmai?"
Merely by yproducts, Lady Kate
Pastime."
Il can believe that. What is Senoritf
CervanteZ to you?'
Bclknap was startled by the suddcI
question and showed it, but he replied
without hesitation