The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-02-28


me " Il n cheaper 20 get n divorce
n sanneld. once played golf with
him down AZ woung."
"stanncid7' she repeated. Was II
in his grounds near Working that
murder VAS eommllted-a policeman
was found shot thcrc7'
nodded. II was playing with Mr.
stanfield AZ tho time" told her.
And tho murderer was never dis.
covcrcdg"
"Soycrr'
Il wonder you didn't take an in.
tcrust In the e-Iso yourself" she re.
marked
Z did" / told her.
She made a little grimacc.
My fears for my necklace are 70.
awakened" she de- Jared. Surely II
ought 10 have been an easy task for
a clever man like you. one who used
10 be called really great detective,
10 discover the murderer
III is beyond my powers 10 bring
him 10 Justice. q, any rate" l re.
piled. 'erhcro are many criminals
walking about today. OF whose guilt
the police are perfectly well aware.
They cannot be arrested, however.
for lack Of evidence"
How thrilling she murmured.
"wil you ask me TO dine with you
some night and tell me some OF your
adycnturos7''
II shall be happy to do So" re.
piled. Meanwhile"
She accepted my departure little
unwillingly. ] am not a vain man.
and felt inclined TO wonder at a
certain graciousneas Of attitude on
her part which more than once dur
ing our interview had forced itself
upon my notice.
Later. about Z o'clock, a note Was
brought into my room:
Dear Sir Norman--A lady and her
husband who were dining. have dis
appointed me. Can you. by any
chance. be my gucst7 II 80. let us
meet at o'clock in the lounge.
Hopefully yours
'BLANCHE DE MENDOZA"
I scribbled line Of acceptance. !
felt. as / descended into the lounge
that evening. prcmonition that life
for tho next few hours was going to
be very interesting indeed.
At o'clock, precisely, Mrs De
Mendoza came into the lounge She
was wearing a white lace evening
dress, with an ermine wrap which
hung loosely around her, disclosing
tho pearls underneath. Her entrance
made n mild sensation. Mr. Stan.
field. who was seated in his accus.
toned corner, drinking his cocktail.
watched our meeting and departure
into tho restaurant with obvious sur.
prise
"Tho little man was there again
who staros ut me 40 much- Mr.. Stan.
field | think you called him7" she
remarked rs we took our places.
/ nodded.
II dare say he was surprised to see
us together" | said Il asked him
who you were, on the night OF my
arrival here"
"Why2"
For the same reason that a great
many other people ask the same
question" | replied.
She made n little grimace.
you are determined to pay me no
compliments this evening, and | am
wearing my favoritc gown"
Il admire your TASTE" assured
her
Anything else7'
"You are the best.dressed and the
est.looldng woman In the room"
TOO imper sond.' she complained.
/ turned the conversation to the
subject of the necklace, The pearls
were collected for her she told me,
by her husband. some in India, some
in the Malay states, some In Paris,
some In Rio. She spoke of him quite
frankly-A prosperous frutbroker
who had achieved sudden opulcncc.
1T was quite as much a change
for me as for him." she remarked 81
was typIst in Buenos Aires before
we were married. | have known
what II is to be poor"
She answered all my questions
without reserve, displaying later on
much interest in the recounting Of
such of my adventures as were pub.
lie property. I began to feel that
had been mistaken with regard TO
her, that she was really exactly what
she seemcd-a very wealthy woman
of adventurous type, suddenly re-.
leased from matrimonial obligations
and n little uncertain what to make
OF her life We took our coffee in
the lounge afterward, In the back,
ground my golfing friend, MIR Stan
field, was seated smoking II cigarct
in retired corner, and having the
air OF studying everyone who pissed
Continued In Our Next Ibsuel