The Glenwood post., 1924-10-09

who committed suicide the other
night"
There was dead silence, a most
effective background for Lady Vic
toria's announcement.
"They tried hard to keen Il secret. y
she said. "but an English Journalist
discovered the truth. The mans name
was Zubin, and he was the steward of
two unfortunate ladies who live near
you. He had just arrived from Russia
with a large sum of money for them,
went into the rooms, gambled with 1t
and lost the lot. They say that it was
nearly three million francs and that 1t
was every penny those poor women
had in the world"
Christopher and Gerald wsrs taking
an early morning stroll and displaying
an almost feminine partially for the
shop windows. when the former sud-
denly felt his friends hand tighten
upon his arm They had paused to
look through the plate-glass window Of
a jewelers. shop in the Rue de Paris.
what Is 1t, old chap?' Christopher
asked
Gerald pointed to a pearl necklace
which hung In the window.
You see that?" he exclaimed trae.
ically. "That belonged to Pauline
to Mademoiselle de Poniere. And that
marquise ring below-I am perfectly
certain her aunt was wearing. Wait
a moment. old fellow"
Gerald entered the shop hastily. A
very suave Frenchman came forward
to meet him.
Can you tell me anything about
that pearl necklace and the rings be.
low?" Gerald inquired.
But certainly. SIR" the man replied.
"One moment"
He unfastened the window and
brought out the stand on which the
necklace rested. The color of the
pearls was wonderful. They were not
large. but they had an almost pink
glow.
Il have no doubt monsieur Is a
judge and need say little about these
pearls" the shopman began. II would
point out to you. however, that they
were matched for royalty itself, and
the quality of each one Is superlative.
If monsieur is a purchaser, / could
quote him seven thousand pounds, and
for that sum there is not such another
necklace In the world"
Il recognize the necklace" Gerald
admitted. II might. under certain cir
cumstances, be induced to buy it. 1
came in, however. to ask you how you
obtained possession of it. and the rings
below"
The mans manner changed,
Monsieur" he said, II am not able
to explain exactly how this jewelry
came into our hands. There are GER
tain condolences which. in the interests
OF our clients, we are forced to re-
spect."
Quite So" Gerald agreed, "but can
assure you that | am not an imperti-
nent inquirer. This is my name"-he
handed the man a card-"and I was
an acquaintance of Mademoiselle de
Poniere. from whom you must have OBJ.
tanned this necklace. l last saw Ma.
dame and Mademoiselle de Poniere
under very tragical circumstances, and
understand that they have now left
Monte Carlo. am most anxious to
obtain word MS to their whereabouts"
Il regret deeply that l am entirely
powerless in the matter. milord,r the
man replied.
Gerald held up the pearls and let
them slip through his fingers. He re-
membered something which Pauline
had once said to him-"Pearls are the
maidens' children They love and care
for them as SUCH"
Il have reason to surmise," Gerald
went on, "that misfortune has be-
fallen these ladies. II they had confid.
ed In me, 1t would have given me the
greatest pleasure to have offered them
assistance"
The jeweley smiled inscrutably.
i fear that 1t would have been use.
less, Milford" he said. II have had the
privilege Of knowing the elder Of these
ladies for some thirty years. and sup
piled the first string of pearls which
the younger lady ever wore, at the
time Of her confirmation. would will.
fngly have undertaken the payment Of
such debts as >were owing in Monte
Carlo, without security. but should
never have had the courage to suggest
1t. You will see an announcement In
the evening paper. Milford, that all
claims against the ladies' will be set
tied by me on demand"
IF ! buy the necklace" Gerald pro.
posed bluntly, will you tell me how
and where to find Mademoiselle de Po-
niere?"
The jewelers. bow was almost frigid.
My word is passed to these two
ladies', Milford. have no information
to give you"
You cannot even tell me what rela-
tion they were to Monsieur ZubIn?"
There Is no question of relationship.
Milford. Monsieur Zubin was, | under
stand, the steward entrusted with thp