Evening star., 1922-05-28

case had lain all day. The case hae
not been tampered with, but evidently
opened with the key. the pearl abb
stracted. and the key placed back ir
the drawer.
1t certainly was mystery. and
advised the pretty little lady tt
breathe no word, but to await events
1 promised to assist her by keeping 8
watchful eye over everything.
Now. next morning, one of our fel.
low guests. a middle-aged man named
David Ellerton, a bachelor living in
London. received an unexpected tele-
gram calling him to his brother, who
had been taken i'll in Edinburgh
Everybody sympathized with him. for
he was an excellent companion. and
about noon he left.
Both Mrs. Osler and myself were
highly suspicious.
Our suspicious were confirmed wher
just as we had assembled for dinner
that night Mrs. Worthington- Pearce
the wife of the popular member OF
parliament, rushed into the hall and
in a loud voice, cried:
Somebody has stolen my ruby
bracelet"
Every 'e gasped.
"Stole.. your bracelet" cried the
old lady frigidly. sitting erect in her
thronelike seat. She was dressed in
white satin, and held an ancient fan
in her thin hand. "Whatever do you
mean? My servants are not thieves
she added with withering sarcasm.
We'll, Lady Cardigan, my bracele,
has gone. And it's a very valuable
one, too"
'And my black pearl has been
stolen also" declared Mrs Osler in 8
loud, clear voice, for she was unable
any longer to keep her secret.
Thieves about, without a doubt"
a man said.
Thieves" calculated Lady Cardi-
gan. you surely do not think tina,
we are thieves at Deene"
WELL" cried the rather coarse wife
of. the eminent politician, my brace
let has gone. That's all 1 know. My
jewel case has been broken open and
it is missing. Have you a telephone
here?"
NO" replied the old lady. "Such
abominations have never reached
Deene. I've forbidden it. People
chatter enough over it in London. A,
least we are uuiet here"
well, some one must be sent to
inform the police. My bracelet is
worth at least $4,000. Henry bought
it for me about a year ago when he
was in New York. The stones are
some of those sold when old Sultan
Abdul Hamid died"
But surely you won't create q
scandal by telling the police:'
shrieked the old lady.
'I certainly shall. want my
bracelet back, and Mrs. osler is with
me on that point, I'm sure" said the
stout, overdressed woman very
firmly.
"Yes," said Mrs. Osler. "The same
thief has no doubt stolen my pendant
and think, Lady Cardigan, it is only
right for you. our hostess, to allow
US to search for the thief"
7 quite right, Edna" exclaimed
Raymond. Fancy you. losing tina,
beautiful black pearl"" he drawled
II wonder who's got it, chr
Eve must find out" said peppery
old colonel, who snarled at every
body and was the bette noir of ths
party. IT'S abominable that ladies
jewelry should be stolen like this In
a noble household"
Remember" said another man
very seriously. "the only person who
has recently left the; house is Eller-
ton-who received that telegram this
morning
uIS words caused an instant sensa.
: ton. But nobody made any
comment. There is In English Law
clause against slander. Nobody
knows that, better than those who
move in the so-called smart set"
Who was David Ellerton? every one
began to ask. All that was known
of him was that he was a bachelor
and lived somewhere OF St James
street. 1t was his first visit to Deene,
but how Lady Cardigan had become
acquainted with him nobody knew.
He was . cheerful man and, very
good shot.