The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-11-15

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tho performances ~ tho ChiraneD
that kVn3ehan had HWindled Adams
widow, he deserved % lose the ruby.
There was something else. TOO. Van.
tine was "a famous detective. az sell
az haorsh cheat A least. Doe had
Inherited a great detective agency
lio had thought me a stupid gul it
would afford mc "A certain peculiar
satisfaction II I repaid hls opinion %
.mo hy taking his nauCst's ring
80 not mind losing d wager 90 gen.
tlemau. but a man Win will inNrisic
strangers into unfair speculation. e.
a cad and deserves punishment
Besides n ! must b0 honest
q affords me. who ann a thief. a ps
cullar SOY 70 indulge myself. ip thgss
msmoirs. IA tho unusual luxury ~
houssty-iho Grand Dukes ruby was
worth three hundred thousand dol
larr ! know no arguments that could
seem ~ potent 90 me,
So behold me. two weeks later. driy
ms into the Keruochan estate az
Greenwich. !. who had Fons n year
without being able 90 afford a ride
IN a ta1lcab. now sat behind the
wheel ~ my roadster, on tho trunk.
rack behind was box IA which
we're evening clothes. lounge -suiis,
shirts ~ finest linen. tIlktn socks.
and all those other cuncomitAnts ~
wealth. WcdEcd IN tho seat beside
me we're my E0lf-atieks. I looked.
with all nay furnithiuEa what was
a gentleman. also looked what ]
was not millionaire
] had taken the prrcaution % tsls,
| phnninE from tho nearby town 81
I Stamford. and 90. when I arrived ~
Tho yulEarly oatsntatious residence u
Keruochan, Vnntiun was there. II
vas Saturday. and I had felt fairly
certain that the detective would spend
n weekend NJ the home Of his faucar.
Ny logic was Justified by tho event
For Miss Esrnochhn had answered
my telephone call. had Invited mo 20
luncheon. and had assured mo that
Vantlus would doubtless be willing 20
offer mo revenge
I Nantino was willing: indeed. 10 was
anxious. We arranged that We should
play on the course 81 nearby club.
Immediately after luncheon.
u irked mo 20 accept tho Kcrno.
chan hospltallty3 but pll professions
have their diBErerahia sldcH, And
60 ate their fosds with relish. l
viii say Tor KeruIghAn that hts cool,
was good. That n about ali I can
say Tor him. Tor not merely was hs
boastful AZ 70 his wealth. bu, hs
showed an uuparionRblc curiosity 20.
ward myself. I INDUCED myself IN a
certain gitt Tor fiction. 1 named n
city IN tho West as my home. skill-
fully created tho impression that /
was Immensely rich. that a wound re
celyed Ia tho war had lncapacitatsd
mo for active work. and that dlyid
cd ms time between America and Eu.
rope. wandering wherever though,
I might find amusement. told them
that had acquired my car az Pine
hurst and had motorcd north. go,finr
on the way, Also 7 warned Vantns
that my game had improved. and
EuEgcstcd that VIC mako tho stakes a
thousand dollars this time. lie &C.
eeptod with citation.
Three hours later on tho fifteenth
green. handed him a thousand dol.
lars.
Il can't understand g." said pct
ushly. II Just can't set going TO-
day"
IIs grinncd. Had he chosen. he
could have won earlier. and my OK.
cuso was ridiculous. I'VE might play
again tomorrow. no suggested
For two thousand dollars" cried
He turned away TO hide smirk.
Just as you say. no replied.
had yielded 10 Kcrnochan's sole.
ltous Invitation that dine with them
and play some bridge later. In ad.
dition TO his other disqualification.
kcrnochRn was Bnob. And / fear
that my careless mention OF certain
names highly placed In International
society had given tho Kernochans a
false idea Of my own social position.
They were not going 20 let depart.
too easily, ono who might graclously
open doors forever barred 20 a certain
class OF broker. and to detectives.
At dinner Miss Kcrnochhn wore
her ruby ring. had not invested in
n motor car. nor In n golf.mhtch with
Nantino. In vain. Before dinner wAg
half over. Kcrnochan. learning OF to.
morrow's match. insisted that mus,
spend tho night in his house. could
offer no valid exouso; and 30 upon my
acceptance, tho matter was settled.
Not until, Miss Kornochan and my
self having lost a rubber, we were
cutting again for partners. did ap
pear TO notice tho ruby ring.
Il sec TINT you've had tho setting
fixed" then remarked
Kernochan nodded. "DaraEon'a Of
fered mo three hundred and twenty
five thousand for that ring" no dc
clared. But II amt for sale. guess
my girl ia good enough TO have n ring
like that for herself"
She simpered. not prcttily. / could
not but contrast this insolent and
communicating woman with the
swcotly dignlfled lady from whom, by
chlcnnery. the ring had been taken.
/ whistled Three hundred and
twenty-five thousand dollars! I ex
claimed. ut doesn't seem possible
still, II is beautiful" leaned over
looking nj the stone. Miss Korno-
chan did tho obvious thing. She slip
ped tho ring from her finger and
handed II to me. Now. l had not
intended to put into effect certain
plans, which had brought mo 70 this
house. 80 soon. But n storm had
been brewing during dinner: II burst
now with a clap Of thunder and n flash
Of lightning. And n moment later
tho lights in tho library went out.
Miss Kcrnochan screamed in alarm.
Her father laughed. They'll be on
again in minute, Alice" ho told her.
This often happens during q storm,
Mr.. Alnsley.," no said TO me.
IfnnttpnHJ a., n,,r Nat T..,A