The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-07-09
CHAPTER xIi-corslnued.


pearls, once he had got his hands on
them, never would return them.
Pearls are too easily disposed OF.
You've 60. to dig NJ better expla-
nation than that"
'swhat did Mr.. CASTOR thInk7 What
did he say when he found them
shere?"
'He had nothing TO say. He was
50 tickied at finding them again that
he hustled with them right away to
the safe deposit vaults and did not
rest until he had them sgfeiy locked
up. He took both jewel cases with
him and made me go along with him
10 protect them"
Didn't you look at all for the secret
passageway told you aboutf'
'sStiII dreaming about that. are
your scoffcd German. "No, we didn't.
ON the way up to the Granddeck the
cid man spoke about 1t and | told
him that In my opinion there was
nothing TO H. After he recovered the
pearls no was too excited to think
about anything else. II seemed TO
break him all up, and | took him back
TO his hotel and left him there. He
said he had some writing to do, and
that he would meet me at my Office
at noon today"
"How do you account for the re-
turn OF the pearis7p cried desperate
~. What's your theory about them?'
II haven't any" he replied. ats
mp 10 you TO explain II. Maybe by
the time come TO see you tomorrow
you'il have thought up new yarn
TO spin"
Please, please" ! called after him
as he turned away, "do look tomor-
row and see II that secret passage is
not where ! said II was"
lie walked away without answering.
Back once more In my cell, stretched
siyself despondently on my little iron
cot. and closing my eyes. tried 10
concentrate my thoughts on an at
tempt 20 solve this new mystery,
which ! could plainly see had all but
destroyed Germans faith In my hon
esty. | must solve 1t IL was to re-
tain him In aiding me TO get free, yet
the whole thing seemed inexplicable
could hardly blame him for doubling
me. The great value OF the pearls
had been motive enough for their
theft, but what possible motive could
there have been for the thief return.
ing thern7
With shock 1t came to me, too,
that the restoration of the pearls
practically upset the whole theory OF
my defense. II could have estab-
Iished the fact OF this theft, a Jury
might be persuaded TO believe my tale
of anonymous notes. mysterious whis-
pers, and secret passageway by
which the thief had gained access to
the apartment. but without the motive
of theft, my story, unsupported by
witnesses and uncorroborated by 9th.
er evidence. surely would be incred,
ihie OF belief.
| had just one hope left. old Rufus
must find that secret passageway and
see whittier II led. That, with our
knowledge of the identity OF the tele,
phone girl and the possibility OF prov,
ing Germans belief that Wick was
an ex-conyict. seemed likely TO be my
emily salvation. Old Rufus must fine
that passageway He must He must
For hours lay there racking my
brains over the unsolvable problems
My luncheon was brought In. but
waved Il away untouched YEARLY
wondered whether the recovery OF
the pearls had destroyed my aged rel
ative's faith In me, as It seemed tC
have destroyed Germans. / coult
hardly blame him II he doubted M,
after finding that my story OF the dis
appearance Of the pearls was appar
entity untrue. In my brief experlenc,
as a prisoner I had learned all toe
well the bitter fact that once mar
Is dlscredlted, heuceforth no on,
trusts him. II Rufus CASTOR failet
me at this juncture did not see how
I could possibly extricate myself un
scathed from the web that unseeer
hands had so sklllfully and mall
ciously woven around me. The onl,
ray OF comfort that / could find any
where In the whole situation was II
my firm belief that though old Ruff,
and German and the whole worlt
doubted me, Barbara Bradford--m,
Barbara. ventured to call her In m,
iinnermost heart-would continue I,
believe in me She would be sure, n,
matter lpw much Appearances wen
against me, that was telling tn,
truth. barbara and knew. Even /
she had not known that could no
possibly have fired the shot that klllet
Miss Lutan. was certain that sh,
still would have trusted me,
Thinking about Barbara | reca.ie,
that II was the day Of her sisters wed
ding. had one of the prison attend
ants get me the evening papers TO Sc,
what they had to say about 1t, 10
i was fearful lest some breath o
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