The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-03-02
The Kiss of
Judas
BY E. PHILLIPS oPPENHEIM
Copyright. 1922. by u. Phillips oppsnhsirn
ArrEt. n. Il, A. Service. Inc.


piled. Il will show you"
! led tho way down tho corridor
10 the exact spot whore Annette had
been attacked. and opened the door
OF the neares, room. ! saw Mrs. Do
Mendoza start when she raw the
heavy bolt which had been fitted 20
tho communicating door.
II came 20 tho conclusion" ! en-
planned. that the theft was com
mittod by some ono hiding In ono OF
these three roofnA and 10 tho fur
ther conclusion that tho necklace
had been hidden on the spot"
How did you EueHs thRt7- aho In
quired
Because tho thief made n slight
hlundor." l answered "For n Single
moment az l stood by Annstta'a
side IN the darkness outside. I saw a
light fash ont thru the tranrom of
this room. | must admit. however"
! went on. that II took mo four
hours 20 find the necklace"
Where was Il, thon7' she asked
carlously.
turned up the rug. In ono Of
the planks OF the wooden floor was
knot took little corkscrew GIN
let from my pocket bored into Il and
drew Il out Then I rnada Dclchester
push his finger thru. There was a
hook fastened IN the under sldo OF
the floor.
The necklace wns hanging there"
] told him. Il imagine Il would
have been found later by some ono
making a point Of occupying this
room. As matter OF fact. l believe.
Il was booked for tho first week In
June"
by whom Mrs De Mendoza de-
manded.
by Mfr. stanfield,- I replied. -He
is paying return visit in June. and
no appears 10 prefer this room TO the
one no 10 occupying at present"
There was brief silence. Del.
chester held out his hand
we arc very much Obliged 20 you.
Sir Norman" hc declared. our in
surancc, az you know. expired at
midday today. need not say that Il
win not be renewed. | wish you all
good afternoon"
He took his leave. The manager
appealed to me.
Sir Norman" he said. there Ia
great deal in this matter which IL IA
hard 20 understand. hope that you
win not consider Il n case for tho
police 2"
| turned TO Mrs De Mendoza
DO you wish TO prosecutor" /
asked. There IL certain amount
OF circumstantiai evidence which
might be collected"
Again whom7"
Against tho gentleman whom wo
have known as Mr.. Stanficld."
She laughed scornfully.
That funny little man who sits
about in tho lounge7 / would ma
soon believe that you yourself were
tho thief, Sir Normani / have my
necklace back. and that is all care
ooVhAf Blu NoHNluutus
The manager departed. very much
relieved Mrs. De Mendoza beckoned
me 10 follow her TO her suite. Arrived
in her sitting room. she closed the
door. She had rather the look of n
tigress as she turned and faced me,
Never was a woman born. OF more
splendid courage.
And the epiloguo7" sho asked.
y fear" ! replied. that tho cpl
loguc must be postponed. It was
only today. on Woking Golf Links.
Tint certain little scene OF IS
months ago became reconstructed In
my mind. I saw motiveless crime
explained. ! realized by whose hand
that bullet might have found It's way
into Iadbrooke's brain. and for
whose sake"
Yet you let him got" she cried.
II must admit that no has scored
n trick" said slowly. but you
must remember. or perhaps you have
yet TO find out, that the world where
such man can live, Is very small
place"
And what about me7" SHE asked.
From the moment when heard
that you had gone out with him
alone. I could foreseo what was com
Ing. Yet / was not afraid. waited
for YOU"
looked at the necklace and
shrugged.
ut In hard to leave n hundred
thousand pounds" ! pointed out |
"nnd 10 far an YOU realized. tho game
wns not up. Not n soul in this hotel
except myself knew that tho neck
lace had been recovered. Yot you
had courage TO remain and SEQ tho
thing thru. admit that"
She came llttlc nearer TO me.
Tho green lights In her eyes were
soft, felt the attraction OF her ms
sho meant mo TO.
where I love" sho said. II have
courage, and my love has every
quality which the devil over dis
titled, except consistency. Arc you