The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-15
cortinxss from Yesterday.

At sight Of Jenrics. the secre-
tary. Jeanne's heart sank.
His presence could -1ean but one
thing: her theft Of her own jewels
Fad been discovered. Perhaps he
had even told about the letter which
sht had taken from her husbands
mail.
'why-this Is really, n surprise"
she stammered. I'VE thought. Vic
and l. that you were golfng at Hot
SPRINGS. II is nice to have you
back"
There was no answering smile on
her mother-in-law's cold patrician
face. Barstowee. ST.. coughed I'M
easily and kept wiping his glasses
-nerYously with his handkerchief. A
cruel little self-satisfied smile how
cred around Vera Dayton's thin lips.
Inc secretary's face was as inscru-
table as Buda.
II seemed that by common consent
Mrs Barstowe was spokesman.
There are a number of things
which need explanation. Jeanne" her
mother-in-law said coldly. land while
we feel that II Is possible that we
nave made a mistake, we should like
you to reassure US"
Certainly" Jeanne replied. sink
Ing into the chair which the secre-
tary drew forward. She still wore
her street frock, her hat and furs
and her Eloyed hands played ner-
yously with the chain Of her mesh
bag.
She knew that her hour Of reck-
oning had come, but she was de-
termined to face il with head high
and smile on her lips. Even in
that futile moment she wanted to
be true to the proud ancestry she
had voluntarily Manufactured for
herself
She was devoutIy thankful that
she was to be spared the humiIia-
ton OF her husbands presence at
this expose. To have had Vic, with
his splendid ideas Of honesty and
fair play. listen to her denunciation
would have been more than she could
have gone through and preserved the
stoicism which she had vowed to
maintain.
She knew now what il was to
care what someone else thought;
once she had not believed that any
thing mattered except her own hap
piness. Now she realized that she
would rather die than have Vic suf-
fer as he would suffer when he
learned that the woman he loved was
only a sham and a pretense: a girl
VINO had bartered her principles for
the little glittering trivial things
which she thought spelled Life.
First" began Mrs. Barstowe. in
coldly concise voice. would you
mind telling US why. you. my sons
wife. should have visitel Senior Bon
ieetu alone in his apartment this
afternoon"
The Thrust r,yoz - -o-z....l
that II took Jeanne a minute or two
to rally.
How on earth could they know
where she had been that afternoon?
She looked at them steadily as
they sat in a row before her, grimly
accusing.
He mother and father-in-Iaw
had been out Of town not
they, surely
Nor Jeffries either. For she had
not made the appointment with
Bonnieetti over the telephone at
home
Then her eyes went slowly to
Vera Dayton and what she saw
there brought her quickly to her
feet. The furious blood mounting
TO her cheeks.
Vera Dayton was the traitor!
: 1t was Vera who had found out
about her appointment 1t was
Vera who had stole that ambigu 1us
letter from Dick Candy! 1t was
Vera who had been in her room
when she had hidden the empty case
that had once contained her Jewels
Could it be possible that this WELL
bred girl, driven to diabolic cunning
by her jealousy, was capable of
such infamy?
swer to anyone for my actions, Mrs.
Barstowe,' Jeanne replied quietly.
Il am not in the habit of doing
things which are unwarranted or
subject to questionable interpreta-
tton. My visit to Signor Bonnicetti
was purely a business one, and was
Imperative inasmuch as he is i'll and