Evening star., 1922-05-28

pretty young woman wore as a
pendant upon a platinum chain a
single but magnificent black pearl Of
pear shape, with a ring of tiny dia-
monds set around the small end.
had noticed it on the first night
at dinner and I saw that others of
the house party had noticed it, too.
On the seventh evening 1 had
dressed rather early and gone down
into the great hall to await our
hostess and the others. I was the
first down. when suddenly Mrs. Osler
appeared, and 1 saw she was rather
pale.
"Oh. do you know. Mr.. LIE Queux,"
don't know what to say-or what
to dol'
Trouble" 1 echoed. "Over what?"
my black pearl! I can't find it..
Neither can Martin, my maid. 1t has
been stolen"
Stolen" / cried. again echoing
her words quite unconscfeasly. i
Hush! Somebody is coming. 1
don't like to raise an alarm for the
old lady's sake. I'll see you alone
after dinner. I want you to advise
me. Will you?"
Certainly" said. utterly as
founded.
DINNER commenced, whom sudden
ly the yellow-haired old countess
of course she wore a wig. but / do
not write with any disrespect, because
she was the most charming old-world
dame I have ever met-looked along
at Mrs. Osler, and said:
Dear, you are not wearing your
black pearl which we have all ad-
mired so much"
My table companion drew a long
breath. but instantly recovered her
self.
mo-" she replied. MY maid put it
out and really forgot to put 1t on"
She glanced back meaningly to me.
and saw that her face had changed.
I wondered whether it had really
That Mrs. Osler was the young and
petted wife of a very wealthy man
who was at present in Italy on busi-
ness concerning a government loan
there, I had been told by Raymond.
Yet, she had not breathed a word Of
her loss to him. Apparently was the
only person she had taken into her
confidence. Why?
After dinner, while the party was
dancing, flirting or playing billiards,
I managed to get Ena Osler into a
large book-lined room at the farther
end Of the house, in a wing into
which none of US ever penetrated. 1
knew Deene, and>I knew of that room.
once the study of the late earl.
Well she said. excitedly.- "it was
like this: Last night when Ltook on
my pendant I locked it away in my
jewel case, as I always do, and 1
foolishly left the key in a little draw
er under the mirror Of the dressing
table. Martin always has it, but I had
sent her to bed and put the key in the
drawer. I thought nothing Of it tal
just as began to dress. told Mar
tin where the key was. She opened
the case and my pendant was gone!
I really don't know what to do. AL
fred, my husband, gave it to me on
my wedding day three years ago. 1t
belonged to a Russian princess, and
he bought it from jeweler IN the
Rue de Ia Paix. It is supposed to be
one Of the finest black pearls. known" :"
'The position is extremely awk-
ward I. said. "If you proclaim your.
loss you throw suspicion on every
body, as well az the servants"
That's just it. 1 thought of telling
Raymond, but hesitated to do so be-.
fore had confided in you" +
Are you quite sure it IL not mis-
laid somewhere in the ROOM" I
asked.
"Quite. Come up to my room and
with Martin we'll make complete
search"
r ACCEPTED her invitation. and for
an hour we all three searched the
place. being careful that no other
servant or visitor had any knowledge
Of what we were doing The woman
Martin was about thirty Ave, evident
ly q maid Of the first order. Her mis-
tress had ordered her to be silent,
and she had bsen.
I was shown the little drawer whore
rsAsf ooooiow sIdInd sua 10 Iss sq,