Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-15

in response to her invitation, and al
no one followed us, I drew her back
into the shadow of the curtain drap-
cries, and. clasping both her hands in
mine. I said earnestly, "Anne, you
don't know where the pearls are, do
you
Her hands turned cold in mine, and
the color died from her cheeks.
Glow dare you!" she whispered.
rWhat do you mean? What are you
in,plying?"
"Nothing.' And, unable to control
myself, ! clasped her in my arms.
3ut only for a moment, and then, my
senses returning, L, released her. and
said, CALMLY 81 mean. nothing Anne.
Forgive me. 7 lost my head for a mo-
ment. But you must know what I
you, and l shall yet wiz you. Hush,
don't answer me now! But just re-
member that I have utter faith in
you, and because Of that faith l shall,
probe this whole mystery to its
furthest depths. I shall learn the
truth, the whole truth, and then,
Anne, when it is the proper time. I
shall claim you, and you will give
yourself to mel"
have wondered since how 1 had
the courage to make these state
! IHeIlS,. 1OI kAllHS- gave IIe III cIiCOul0
agement. She merely stared at me,
her dark eyes securing to burn like
! GOALS of fire in her white face. But
as finished che gave a little despair
ing sob, and said pitifully, "Oh, Ray
mond, you don't know, you don't
know"
And then Beth Fordyce came up to
the gallery, and both Anne and 1 con-
trolled ourselves sufficiently to speak
casually, as we all continued our
search. The gallery was six feet wide
and extended across the whole n of
the room, except for a space of about
four feet from either side-wall. It
rested on six enormously heavy
brackets; and its railing. about three
\ feet high. was also heavy and elabor-
railing in despair. I'VE never can
look into every Granny Of those
brackets she said.
I'VE can do it by ladders from be-
low" I returned; but I will say that
/ never saw n room so marvellously
well provided with hiding-places."
Anne stood at the end of the gal
lery, but not the staircase end, and
looked at the great %cartouche that
formed the corner of the cornice, but
which was SO massive that it's lower
end was on a level with the gallery.
"I.can't reach it," she said, stretch
u scroll-work: ''but the pearls could BIZ
in any of those gilded crevices."
"And there are four of those great
ornaments in the ROOM" said I, look
ing hopelessly around at the cornice
but II Mr.. Ven Wyck secreted hil
Jewels in one Of then4 he must hay'
had a long ladder; and where is thu
!, LADDER"
"He might have had a rope-lad
!. DER" suggested Mrs. Stelton.1 looking
self-conscious. as IL she had voiced {
!; !; 0r' "Bas. even ven: %, must be some
!, the sort" T said.
We'll, the search lasted all thu
morning, without the least result
!, And, to my surprise, after luncheon
Mr.. Markham. proposed that w
: should search the other rooms Of tn
!, house. II have my own reasons TO
| this" he declared, and as this wa
the first time I had known him to as
!, sumo the mysterious air which is par
!, of the stock in trade OF every self
respecting detective. I began to hop
|, his reasons might be sound ones 5
|, No one was enthusiastic about I
further search, but all agreed to II
except Anne. She declared that tn
privacy Of her oyh rooms should no
|, be invaded. and she refused to ALLOW
search to be made in them. b
!. At this, / saw Archer look at he
! ~intently; / saw Anne flush with ange
!. and dismay; and / saw Mr.. Markham
!, alertly observing both./
sit Is a mere matter OF form, Mr.
Van Wyck,n he said: "but I must In
!, sist upon 1t. And of courseSyou mu
see that to close your rooms to on
: search would look He hesitat
|, ed. even he could not voice the impli
|. cation he was aboutssto rake, In tn
face of Anye's scOrn.
THAT will do. she said coldly. ant
at once led the way to her Owl
!. apartments. sgJS
Her bedroom. dressing-rObrn. an,
bathroom we're subjected to = search
: but, on tho part Of most OF us, II wa
perfunctory and superficial. Excep