The Washington herald., 1922-02-14

Dut tuo paChcI was too pASs ~
though, curiously enough. the case
looked sufficiently capacious from
the outside.
The secret Compartment.
lingering its delicately wrought
gold and m9ther-of-pearl. she won
dered idly Why so much of the case
was purely ornamental rather than
useful, why the craftsman whose
skill had fashioned such thing
of beauty should have Wasted so
much space In his design. =.
Suddenly II occurred to her that
there might be another secret
chamber beneath the one in which
her jewels lay. Bonnicetti had
showed her the secret spring TO
only one-but perhaps even he had
never investigated the possibilities
of the little cabinet.
overturning the case, she thrust
her Jewels aside into a little heap
and lifted out the ruby satin that
lined the interior. With careful
Fingers she explored every fraction
of an inch Of the inner case.
The suddenpess with which she
toucheu ufooSh oPAhe S A
Gtart back.
The bottom of the inner case
slid slowly up under her fascinated
gaze.
She was almost afraid to look
into that doubiy protected sane
tuary. There was something un-
canny about the thought of this
unknown secret recess which some
cunning Venetian workman had de-
signed centuries ago for the safety
of a Borgia's Jewels.
Jeane felt the same fearful fasci-
nation as IL she were about to peer
into some tomb of antiquity and
see there a. little heap of ashes and
the remnants of silks and brocades
that had once been a splendid
shroud. 90.
But she brushed aside the fancy
and looked into the secret recess.
Jeanne's eyes were fairly blinded
by what they saw in the little jewel
casket Bonnicetti had given her.
1t seemed to her that the fire Of
ages, imprisoned there, leaped into
crimson flame as the light from her
own electric lamp penetrated the in
ner recess Of the little cabinet
With trembling fingers she lifted
out a strand Of magnificent rubies.
Against her white hand they were
like pulsing drops OF blood: and. re-
calling what Bonnicetti had said
about her resemblance to the Bor-
gias, she dropped them with shud-
der.
For a long time she sat there con-
templating the glittering, crimson
thing that lay coiled on the filet
lace of her drassing table.
Her brain was a riot Of conjec-
lures.
How had II got there in her Jewel
case? Was 1t, by any remote chance,
Bonnicettfs gift to her which he had
wished her to find undirected by him?
Or was II indeed a relic Of the Bor-
gias? Or had some later owner Sc
GREETED this treasure. and through
some rnischance never redeemed IT.?
Whatever the answer. wealth un-
told lay within reach of her hand.
For an instant she was tempted
to thank the fates that had laid this
prize in her grasp at the very mo-
ment when she had tasted despair.
But she knew she could not. bring
herself TO. take advantage of this
opportunity
It was inconceivable that Bonni-
cetti could have made her such a
1 magnificent gift There was a mis-
take somewhere, which she must
endeavor to correct. She must re-
turn the necklace to him, and he
perhaps would know its owners; at
least he would know where he OBJ
tained the jewel box
She lifted the necklace and held
it against her throat, where it was
pulsing crimson fire against white
velvet. She longed to wear it, just
| once.
She went to her wardrobe and >se-
lected gown Of white brocade,
slipped into it, and fastened the
rubies about her throat
To Be.Continued Tomorro,o.