The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-17

the act of going away with the man
that night of running herself for the
sake of that unconscious victim who
had blackmailed her. who held her in
his power. And at the last moment
she had struck him down in her hate.
he kept repeating in a tone Of anglish
will he die? VIII he die?' AS she
gave way to her agony OF fear and
remorse a small jewel box slipped from
her dress and its contents were scat
tered. Arthur picked them up. taking
his time, trying to decide what was his
duty To give himself necessary
leisure he appeared to examine the
Jewels, and it was that which gave the
woman her wicked idea, an idea created
by sheer terror.
IT cannot tell you how she broached
it. Arthur did not give me details.
she took advantage of his condition.
OF the obvious want, to offer him all
the Jewels If he would leave the man
sion by the way he had entered and so
create an obvious theory that thief
had forced his way in, had attacked
with the brass candle-holder one who
had interrupted him. had got away
with the stones. Such was the temp
tation she frantically proposed in order
to save herself. pressing the jewels
upon Arthur in a frenzy Of selfish re-
morse.
HE dallied with that abominable
offer. You will blame him. Who will
not blame him? But bitterly has he
suffered for it, you must allow.
HE tried to get answers to one or
two questions. The woman was guest
in the house. 1t was filled with guests.
She represented that her victim might
recover. And. indeed. if Arthur had
not been perfectly assured OF that he
could not for an instant have thought
of yielding to such madness. She in
sisted on the value of the jewels, which
would mean a fortune to him. She
urged that he would have plenty of
time to make good his escape. He
hesitated, turning the stones over and
over in his fingers. A fortune was
suddenly thrust upon him With his
great want came his opportunity. Re
fection showed him that it was
golden opportunity, a sure chance 1t
was proffered because the woman
dreaded having struck her enemy
mortal blow. But since Arthur knew II
was not that-and second exarnina-
ton convinced him of the fact-he per-
ceived that he must be absolutely safe
IIOIu pursuit. 4He man NO640 4NSONSA
that would be an end to the matter,
obviously. He would recover. would
stagger off to bed and wake to silence
on the point in the morning. There
would be no hue and cry; no following
of his-Arthur's muddy footprints by
servants or police. The whole thing
would be kept quiet by the two re-
sponsible for it."
Miss Bassett paused, very pale. her
voice descending to a piteous whisper.
She removed her macintosh, oppressed
| by the heat of our room. folded it
neatly and dropped 1t over the buhl
table at her side. Tredways drummed
with his finger tips upon the arm OF
his chair.
And wrayson accepted the offer, of
course?" said he. IT admit the temp
tation was strong. He fed with the
! jewels, as the woman suggested. IN a
purchased attempt to draw any possible
after-pursuit upon himself. Presumably
he must have run right into bad luck
at the very outset"
yes, he did. His furtive exit from
the house was noticed by a policeman.
He was accosted, ran away, was hunted
for couple Of hours. God knows what
the poor boy suffered during that time
AS for the jewels, he flung them away
in the darkness. He was captured
The foot-marks in the house were his
| The Jewels were found. He might or
might not have saved himself by relat-
ing the whole affair. Probably he would
not have been believed. Almost GER
tainly he would not. In any case he
accepted the risk, and when 1t defeated
him he could not go back upon his
temptress. She also kept quiet. Sh,
was bound to do that for the sake Of
her reputation, to prevent the scanda
which must have ensued."
At this point Tredways, who had
been leaning forward with a most in
tent interest sharpening his features
suddenly threw himself back with {
chuckle of unrestrained enjoyment.
And the man who was knocket
silly?" he questioned.
Nothing more was heard OF him. A.
Arthur believed, he recovered his sens
and held his tongue"
Tell me. dear young, lady, what it L
you want me to do?"
My poor friend is guiltless." wal
) the wistful response. He took wha
was given to him. The woman prose
cuted because she could not help it.
thought that some way of helping hin
might suggest itself to you"
why, certainly" Said Tredways get
ting up with a laugh. I'VE have onl.
to find your terror-striclen veile
woman and your dying man. Two won
. derfully smart jewel crooks, Miss Bas
sett. Two stars in their neither firrna
( ment, stars of rare magnitude"
) The girls lips parted, but amaze
: ment deprived her OF utterance. I an
E bound to admit that shared her be
r wilderment.
: II recall the case now" went o.
/. Tredways, bcaming with satisfaction
] TT was fixed in my memory becaus
1 one of the stones was missing Tia
! seemed natural enough since Wrayso
!. flung the lot away, But the jewt
: which was lost was worth all the other
over and over and over again. and
lump on top Of that. Was it not
4 beautiful unset rose diamond calle
I srHr i 81.