Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-23
CHAPTER IV-Continued

Il didn't know that your late hus-
band had brother" ne faltered.
THAT shows how much interest you
have shown in my affairs she leased.
ut wasn't lack of interest, Di. I'll
explain that later. but tell me about
your brother-in-law,' he said seriously.
Here was complication with q ven
geance.
He was the late Earl Of Hardcaster,"
Di began, "ifteen years older than my
husband, and it was supposed that he
would never marry because his lancee
was killed in an accident and he nearly
died of grief. In fact he told me so
himself
He sent TO the bank for the Jewels
the day before l was presented at court.
While he was putting Them on me he
said that as be himself never intended
to marry, the greatest tribute he could
pay to his family heirlO0ms was to
place them on my neck and brow. Those
vera identically his own words. It isn't
my fault if he changed his mind. Is it
really, Larrykins?"
what does he say about the gems.
now?' queried the lawyer, puzzled be-
yond words.
He can't say anything" Di said i'm
perturbably. Hes dead"
"Of course, I begin to see light" Larry
said, with a cheerfulness he was TAR
from feeling.
"NovR for The Spanish woman"
THE light you see comes from the
fire In my eye when I think Of that
woman" Dl said irritably.
I'm that case I'm glad she's in Spain.
I hope she will remain there" Tilton
said tartly
"Oh, hnt she's not IN Spain" Di in
formed him
do you know where she is?"
ITO the best Of my Knowledge, she is
on the Atlantic, following me-"
Hum. The plot thickens," Larry said.
pretending to take some notes, but really
thinking quickly how he could say dis
agreeable things to Dl without offending
her.
IF the Spanish woman's husband was
the late Earl Of Hardcaster she would
have prior claim TO his values. but If
the new Earl IS demanding them I see
no reason why you should feel that you
are giving up the gems 10 her" he said
Practically.
but You forget, Larry. the late Earl
didn't give them to her" hi reminded
him.
Yes, yes. I know what you are going
to say according 10 law they
belong to her She IS a horrid concert
hall singer She sang for the soldiers
Mt Gaupon. where nv late brother-in-
law WIS stationed She hyrooi;ged him
into marrying her The poor man was
on his aeathhed. II you saw her Larry,
you would never take sides with her"
She jcrked out these sentences angrily.
IT was in vain that the lawyer tried 10
explain To her that he was not taking
sides with the Spanish woman and that
he was Just looking the case fairly in
the face. She would not listen to him.
"Sre is the Kind OF q woman who
would bulldoze The gems from the old
Earl" Di went on RAPIDLY. "Do you
know, she actually boosted to me that
six soldiers had asked to marry her,
nursed I'm France for three years. until
I got ill.," The anger died out Of her
voire and a sob rose in her throat II
have watched with many dying soldiers.
Some poor boys passed away In my arms.
and some died shortly after ] had left
them. but none Of them ever wanted to
marry me A woman who talks as she
does is impossible, and you viii say so
when Won see her" she concluded.
Larry has listened patiently to her ir-
regular reasoning. puzzlinC his brains
to know how best to divert her mind
from it's present evasion of legal pro-
ccdure
81 think you are Understanding the
acquisitivenoss Of the new Earl he said
mdlciallv. "A man who would cause
such unpleasant publicity to n member
Of his family is not likely to relinquish
the prize l think 1t is quite safe To
turn the Jewels over to him. He will
know how to protect them from a mer-
Ceuary Spanish singer"
There was 4 PARKWAY look on Lady
Banister's face when Larry finished
speaking.
Il have an inward conviction that the
late Earl intended me to keep those
gems. or he would not have given them
to me-" she said decisively. "He firmly
intended to remain n bachelor, and he
believed that the family's destiny rested
with me. The present Earl is a distant
cousin. quite old, and with very little Of
the family blood in his veins. The title
dies with him, and I have very good
reason to believe that my brother-in-
laws wishes are not unknown to him"
'But he is distinctly unfriendly." Larry
argued zones bitterest enemy could
go no further to show it than he has"
st don't believe that the Earl has had
o,,-Fhircs to do with IL eba rnn1iad "ard