Evening star., 1921-08-25
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

halted McCarty in the middle of a
busy street, to the imminent danger
of his neck and the wrath of the
traffic policeman. Urged to action by
hind his ear, he spranG mechanically
for the curb and continued his way as
though in a daZe.
Creveling had opened the jewel case
when he took 1t from the safe to give
it to his wife and she had mentioned
that she intended to have the stones
reset almost Immediately, but he had
tried to dissuade her from doing so.
Had his disapproval been merely be-
cause their antique setting appealed
to his artistic sense, as Mrs. Creve-
ling said, or had he another reason?
Were the stones in those old settings
the same ones which she had placed
in his charge only few days before?
There was another problem. too, in
McCarty's mind, which bore more di-
rectly on the murder. but he thrust it
for the moment aside. He had felt
from the start of the investigation
that Hill held a possible key to the
mystery if only he could be persuaded
| to speak: would he break silence now
II he might thereby save his wife from
going to trial?
When the former valet was ushered
into his presence at the Tombs Me-
Carly. beamed at him in a guileless.
friendly manner.
Hello. Hill.' he began genially. 81
guess you knew we couldn't hang that
murder charge on you for long. didn't
your
The mans face was drawn and hag-
gard and he raised burning eyes to meet
the clear blue ones which smiled at him.
,,s.,sIas1t What does that mat. matter he asked
~ did, but she got away from me
Friday night" McCarty said frankly
Got away" Hill clutched suddenly at
chair as If for support.
She's down at headquarters now:
that Hopkins woman on the floor below
you has been taking care Of her. but she
gave herself up when she heard that you
| were charged with Creveling's murder,
SO that she could prove your alibi. Here!
Buck up, man."
with a groan Hill had sunk into a
chair and covered his face with his thin
hands.
That's why you took me up" he
said. You did it to make her show
fherself! Oh. why did she do it? Couldn't
| anything happen to me than that she
should be caught
Twas the very best thing that she
could have done!" McCarty asserted
later. and that with her jumping her
! bail and all it might have looked pretty
black against her, but now since she's
| come clean. Hill. l don't mind telling
you that If your wife's story is straight
I'm going to back her up. I'm going to
see what Creveling himself might have
| had to do with the stealing of those
emeralds!'
For an instant Hill looked up with
| a CLEAN of hope in his eyes. Then
they darkened sullenly and he shook
It's only another trick!" he NUT
tered. why would any one think
that Mr.. Creveling would take his
wife's jewels? We'd have had no
chance to convince people without proof.
only go harder with her"
"'Tis no trick" McCarty protested.
Il know that Creveling needed money
Money!? Hill interrupted him in
surprise. why. we thought he had
given them to another
| He stopped with his lips pressed
| tightly together. but McCarty finished
| the sentence for him.
Hill, I'm speaking the Gods truth
| when 1 tell you that If you'll come
| across with all you know about Crew
| cling I'll do my best to clear your
wife of the charge against her and
can only be done by finding the stones
or proving who took them and what
| became of them. I'm willing to say
right now that I don't think your
wife is guilty. but you'll have to help
| Once more Hills haggard eyes
studied his face and after long
minute he drew a deep breath and
Strengthened in his chair:
| "Yes, sir" he said. Il believe you
now, and if you'll only get her free
| Eugene Creveling"
] Continued in Tomorrows Star.)