Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-11

Grace did it, Tom said. "She stayed
with us until we reached the hospital.
Then she was anxious to do something
more, so l let her stay. 1t was well I
did, becauseI had to have a witness to
that confession. Something told me
that we shouldn't want airy outsiders
to hear what he had to say"
isn't Grace an outsider?" Di asked
with stress on the name.
she is now. but she won't always
be-" Tom declared boldly. "She is the
bravest little heart that ever beat" he
added, 'and some day before long you
can look for another stenographer,
Larry"
By this time Tilton was at the tele-
phone. Fortunately Mrs. Richmond had
special arrangements with the tele-
phone company for all-night service. 1t
was fully half an hour before he finished
giving descriptions and instructions at
police headquarters, In the meantime Di
and Tom talked in low tones on the
other side Of th Groom. 1t was two hours
past midnight, but no one wanted to go
to bed. They went over and over Toms
adventures of the evening.
AS neither could read the shorthand,
Tom told the salient points in the docu-
ment:
MorelI was a fugitive from justice.
He was very much wanted by the Eu-
ropean police for card swindling. He
had heard from the Spanish woman, who
was a former accomplice, of the Won
derful collection Of Jewels that Lady Ban
lister was bringing to the United States
from England. The woman had com
manded him, at all hazards, 40 procure
them for her. Morell said he didn't know
whether she had married the late Earl
Of Hardcaster, but he thought she had
not. She had sung for the soldiers in a
hospital where Hardcaster was a patient.
With nothing bigger in mind than the
soldiers pension, she had managed to
get q proposal from the sick Earl. An
ticipating the event by a few hours she
had administered a deadly headache pow
der which took effect a little too soon,
upsetting the wicked womans schemes.
When she learned after his death who
he really was her fury can be easily i'm
agined.
AS MorelIs death drew nearer Tom
and Grace tried to get him to tell them
what the Spanish woman's plans were.
BY what route she was returning to the
city. Whether she was going back TO
Europe; where she was staying in New
York: the name Of her companion or
but villain as he was, he would not In
form on his friends.
Larry and Di had listened 10 the re-
cital of Morell's viilainies without com
ment. The three sat in silence for severa@
minutes, each too fun OF his own
thoughts Suddenly Tom said:
THAT was a great stunt OF yours on
the veranda, Larry. II you hadn't bun
gled It, You must have felt sour when
lie
poor Fih."
The lawyer looked sharply at Tom and
then at Di An inquirlng gaze from her
indicated that she had not told heF
brother anything about the change of
boxes.
What do you meant" he asked who
told you about the veranda incidentf
"That rascal, Morell, chuckled afte.
death was on his face, at the thought
Of your chagrin when you went to dig
up the box" Tom replied
Larry leaned forwfrd and grasped
Toms arm like a wise.
How did he known" be asked breath
lessly.
why, no saw you change the boxes,
and when you got back to the house he
returned, dug up the one you had taken
from him and buried the one you gave
him. which I suppose contained Fiji.
Say what's the matterf'
Larry had given one bound from his
seat, grabbed Di and was Waiting her
around the room.
without 3 word OF explanation. they
bounded out OF the room and darted
across the lawn In the direction OF the
moss rose bush.
"Where are you goingf What's up7"
called Tom, running up behind them.
Get the spade quickly" Di said but
when she came up TO the spot Larry
was on his knees, tearing up the soil
with his hands. A minute more and
the box was in his grasp, and they all
raced back to the house. II was the
work Of a moment 10 unfasten the lock.
One glance at the contents of the box
drove all the excitement from their faces.
They stood and gazed at each other. the
awe that comes with victory over ter
rlble obstacles In their eyes.
There lay, undisturbed, the wonderful
collection Of emeralds and diamonds. For
the possession Of this treasure a man
had perJured his soul and lost his life
to crafty q willful woman who was
unworthy Of the sacrifice.
Tom was the first TO recover his
voice.
81 don't understand" he said look
ing from one to the other in perplexity.
"How did this happen?"
Di had dropped Imply into the near
est chair and sat gazing into vacancy
as though her mind was far away from
me present scene. SO Tom turned his
wondering face to Larry.
"Morell told me positively that he had
fooled you and given the jewels to his
friend Were his words only the raw
ings Of a dying man?"
There seemed nothing for 1t but to go
over again the incidents of the evening.
So Larry explained how Di had seen
MOrell watching her through the win
dow, and her plan TO outwit him by
changing the box in her wardrobe and
giving Larry the jewels to bury As
she didn't tell Larry what she had done
he seized the opportunity when he saw
Morell coming from Dis room to change
the boxes on the veranda.
He had no idea that Morell had seen
him. Consequently when he told Di
later what he had done, she told him of
the exchange she had made, and so the
loss Of the jewels seemed certainty
until Morell's confession that he had re-
turned and changed the boxes, and I'M
restored the precious collec-
ton to its owner.
$50 Di originated the idea of chang.