Evening star., 1921-08-10
l HOW MANY CARDS?
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER
Island of Intrigue Suspense "Ahes to Ashes ETC.
II Copyright, Robert N. Mcbride
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

starting at the slightest sound.
remember warming him against late
hours and overdolng things general
ly, and suggested a sea trip to pull
him together, but he only laughed at
me and said he never felt more fit in
his life
Did you speak to Mrs. Creveling
about it,"
The physician hesitated.
Il believe l did mention the advis-
ability of a sea voyage to her, not
a yachting trip, with its usual social
accompaniments, but a long, slow,
restful journey. preferably in the
count than her husbands. however
these society women burn them
selves out and wonder why they are
old at forty. Mrs Creveling has
done too much this season and was
on the point of breakdown even
was why she closed the establish
ment here and went to visit friends
on Long Island month ago."
"Shes not too sick to see me now
for minute, 1 hope, doctor?' Nc
Carly asked.
Before the former could reply Roll
lins appeared upon the stairs.
You can go up, SIR" he an
nounced.
'Do not remain any longer than
necessary, please, and try to avoid
exciting Mrs. Creveling. if you can,"
the physician admonished. II have
just given her something to make
her relax and sleep. She is keep
ing too tight rein upon herself; if
we are not careful the tension will
snap"
Just what do you mean, doctor?
Brain fever?" McCarty paused on the
lowest step of the stairs
"IheTe is such disease known
in materia medca' - The other
smiled. "It exists solely in fiction,
my dear sir. No, Mrs. Crevelng is
in danger of nervous prostration.
Please make your interview with her as
brief as possible
McCarty promised and the physi-
clan turned to the door which Rol-
Inns was holding open for him while
the eX-roundsman proceeded up the
stairs. He had learned little of i'm
portance, owing perhaps to the reti-
cence of the medical man. but the
buffers interrupted confidence had
suggested a new train of conjecture
1t was the first he had heard about
the disappearance of any jewels
What had Mrs Creveling done to the
any, could the girl have had in the
drama of the previous night?
At the head of the stairs he found
a trim but white-faced young
French woman awaiting him and
was conducted to the boudoir of
the apartments he had visited twice.
There he found Mrs. Creveling re-
clining upon a couch, with start
lingly thin, sinuous red-haired woman
coifed gracefully in a big chair beside
her. The latter glanced up at him in
bored, contemptuous manner at his in
green. feline eyes and the curl. of vivid,
narrow lips.
"T"m sorry to bother you. ma'am."
He paused before Mrs. Crevelmg,
who acknowledged his presence by
ward chair. 'T wouldn't have come to
you again today, but there are few
things I'd like to ask you--'
Il wish you to have all the in
f1rmation mcGnr.S you sna Tay require; tI', Mr.
cold. level. self-contained tones of
the morning, but with a drowsy
undernote. The doctors medicine
was evidently beginning to take ef-
feet. II want only to learn who
killed my husband"
himself on the the edge Of the Chair chair
and reluctantly relinduished his hat
to the maid who had followed and
held out her hand for it. Maybe
it'll seem to you that I'm asking a
lot of foolish Questions that have
uONAlHS ~ uO WIN the case, DuC
I'll ask you to answer them, just
the same. without taking up your
time now to explain. It's come to
our notice that some jewels were
supposed to have disappeared from
your house some time during the
past winter. Is this true, ma'am p"
Yes. The set of emeralds and dia-
monds which I had taken from the
vault at the trust company to wear
at Mfs. Fales Ogden's pageant in
February" Mrs. Creve1ing replied
quickly, her apathy stirred by sur
prise at the question. ut was re-
ported to the police and one of the
servants arrested and held for trial
but she succeeded in obtaining bail
and then disappeared, forfeiting it.
You remember the woman, Stella !?
She was Swede and of quite strik-
ing appearance"
She had turned to her companion
and the latter nodded with cynical
smile.
"Quite too striking" she murmured.
II am always suspicious Of servants
who appear out of the picture"
''This lady is Mrs. Douglas Waver-
ly," Mrs. Creveling exp1aind as if in
an afterthought. "She is quite in my
confidence and you may speak unre-
servedly before her."
lcontinued in Tomorrow's star.)