Evening star., 1922-04-23
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Continued from Second Page,)
tention was momentarily disengaged,
pardus would be enabled to swing
over the TOP. work at his leisure, and
at another propitious chance swing
the top back again and latch 1t fast.
How those two metal-bound violin
cases could have been prevented from
sliding or falling during the opera
tion, I will confess. puzzled me for a
time. But the Natural answer to that.
and, as it proved, correct one, was
the employment OF a concealed mag
net.
"It seemed a fantastic theory" he
concluded, modestly. but Miss Edge
water had told me of meeting you
few days ago coming out Of that Sth
avenue establishment which makes
speciality of supplying trick furni-
ture and other devices of the sort to
magicians and sleight-of per-
formers
But what does it all mean de-
understand it
"It was a practical joke" Again
Achison chuckled. And one which 1
think you will agree was carried out
rather successfully"
Without a trace Of confusion or the
least decrease in his arrogant assur-
ance, he met the astounded indigna-
tion in the musicians gaze and the
stunned incredulity in Roses.
"Of>course"-~ith one OF his grace
full, negligent gestures-"I did not
intend that you. Ramsey. should be
permanently under suspicion. l used
Pardus. as you have indicated. and
paid him a small sum for his part in
the affair. L intended to return your
money to you when / explained the
joke, which 1 meant TO do at a little
gathering of us four. But"-with a
shrug of his wide shoulders-"you
forestalled me, young fellow, me lad"
a joke" Erland burst out. furi-
ously. you call 1t joke! Why. you
stole my violin. my Stradivarius, and
let me think l might never see it
again."
Roso laid hand upon his trembling
arm.
But you have it back. Herr Erland,"
she urged. you have. recovered it
safe and unharmed."
True" He yielded to her gentle
persuasion. There is cause for thank
fulness-I have my Stradivarius sa :"
He hugged the case to his breast. Il
n 1ol
cannot play the violin. but, about you
L am not SO sure. You have tempera-
ment: you defied Erland ito his face.
Listen, will give you a hearing, and
at it sou shall play on my Stradi-
variuA
But as for you" He flung out his
hand scornfully toward Achison. II
will not play in your house-I will
have nothing to do with you; I never
want to see you again"
THERE was a moments pause after
he had stalked from the room
then Rose stepped over and stood be-
fore Achison. looking up into his
face.
You didn't really do it? You
wouldn't do such a thing?" Her voice
was broken and passionately vehe-
mont. If any one else had told me
I would never have believed it,"
AS Achison gazed down at her his
expression changed. There was pain
in it, and perhaps regret.
oil IA
plantations are due to you alone. For
| long time this man Ramsey and /
i have been at odds. But l lacked the
proof to establish on suspicion: he
has been too cunning to be caught.
1T troubled me greatly. therefore.
| when L saw that the fellow had
I; caught your interest, and recognized
also that he meant to win you IL he
| could. II he succeeded. it meant that
spring would altogether vanish from
| my life. So felt Justified in playing
| this trick on him, regarding it as no
moro than a fair reprisal for the
many annoyances, he has caused me
! in the past by his intrusion into my
! affairs"
His rich voice, which had SO often
thrilled the courtroom and had held
juries spellbound, had never been so
deeply, knowingly persuasive.
| Perhaps. Rose, some day. when
you have learned more of life, you
may find 1t In your heart to forgive
the man who tried to rescue you
from a Gate which, am sure, can
only mean misery. cared and care
nothing for Ramsey or Erland in the
matter; I only want you to realize
that this poor, crude stratagem, with
the violin, was a clumsy effort on my
part to protect you from an unscru-
pulous adventurer. 7 hoped that In
the revolsion Of feeling his appar'
ent theft would naturally cause. you
would come to know your heart more
truly and discover how transitory