The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-05-29

! mans, a Mr.. Harold GreyeS, asked
| me to show him thu pearl necklace
which had been Norman's present to
me. I took him at oAee into the
/ little room where the wedding gifts
! were set out. There was 4 small
/ gathering Of guests there. nearly all
| of whom were known 20 me At the
far end of the room. seated in a chair
ard apparently taking little interest
/ in the proceedings, was the detective
who had come from Scotland Yaro
to watch over the jewelry.
I know that you have only a mo-
ment to spare" Mr.. Greyes said to
me. II will just look at the pearls
and be off"
I pointed to where the necklace
was lying in its case. My companion
/ glanced downward. frowned, adjusted
his eyeglass, dropped it and turned to
me with a little smile.
Quite a reasonable precaution "
he observed, but was ii necessary
with a detective in the room?"
It don't understand" I told him,
a, little bew5ldered.
The substitution of the necklace, '
/ he explained.
leaned down and felt a sudden
thrill of apprehension. The necklace.
which was twined around its setting
Of ivory satin, was one which I had
never seen before.
called to the detective.
MY pearl necklace has been taken
within the last half hour" I ex-
claimed. This is an imitation one
which has been substituted
The detective first closed the door
and then came back into the room.
Besides myself and my companion
Mr.. Harold Greyes, there were pres
ent a very charming girl called Bea.
trice Kindersley, a great friend of
Norrnan's, an elderly lady. Mrs. Phil
npson, and a slim, soldierly-looking
man, who was a complete stranger to
me.
Dear me-" the latter exclaimed,
this is very distressing. A great
many people have passed in and out
during the last half hour ,
1T is only within the last three
minutes" the detective said, that I
have moved to the farther end Of the
room. May I ask, Lady Greyes, If
every one here is known to you?"
Miss Kindersley. certainly" I re-
piled, and Mrs. Phillipson. I don't
think I have met you, have y" I
added, turning to the man.
He looked at me with a rather pc
culiar smile. I cannot say that he
actually reminded me of any one; yet
something in his appearance filed me
with a vague sense Of unseasiness.
Il fear that I have not yet had
that honor. Lady Greyes," he ac-
knowledged quietly. Your husband,
however. IS an old friend Ny name is
Escombe-Colonel James Escombe Of
the Indian Army"
If you are unknown to Lady
Greyes, I must ask you to remain IN
til Sir Norman arrives" the detective
said.
Beatrice Kindersley, who had been
standing looking on, suddenly began
to laugh.
Poor Colonel Escombe,r she ex-
claimed, passing her arm through his
Why, he is one Of Dads oldest
friends. He hates weddings and func-
tons Of all sorts, but I persuaded him
TO come here with me because he had
met Sir Norman in India once. Please,
Lady Greyes. may I take him away?
We promised to call for Dad at his
club. and we are half an hour late
already"
The detective was obviously dis
appointed. murmured- something
conventional and shook hands with
both.
I may be permitted, although a
comparative stranger" Colonel Es-
combe said as he bent over my fin.
gers. ito wish you all the happiness
which I am sure you deserve"
They passed out. without any I'M
due haste. laughing and talking to
one another. The detective hurried
away, on the track of some fresh in
.quiry. moved back, urged by some
irresistible impulse, to the case where
the imitation pearl necklace was ly-
ing. For the first time I noticed a
little label attached to it. I turned
lit over and read wo words, written
in a familiar handwriting: M chael's
Gift"
Suddenly Norman came hurrying in,
already changed into a gray tweed
travelling suit. He thrust his arm
through mine and swung me toward
the door.
Janet, dear, he said, you have
exactly a quarter Of an hour"
"One question, please."e begged.
did you ever know a Colonel Es-
combe in the Indian army?"
Never in my nfe,' he answered
saw the detective hurrying toward
US and I clutched Norman's arm.
Norman" I whispered, "supposing
the necklace
well. dear?"
"Supposing it was stolen?"
His grasp on my arm frightened.
Il shouldn't care a hang. sweet
heart" he whispered, so long as we
catch that train half an hour and
have you all to myself for the rest of
my life"
Michael Resumes
The greatest genius in the world
cannot foresee all contingencies. 1t
has always been my practice to leave
something to Fate. How on earth
was going to get out of the house in
SoUthwell Gardens, if the theft of the