New Britain herald., 1924-07-12
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

made some reply, trying 10 keel
 my voice from shaking. For nnde
 cover Of the darkness l was substi
 tuting the paste ring which Mrs
 Adams had 30 sweetly loaned me. fol
 the Grand Dukes ruby.
 But in the darkness my fngeri
 were clumsy. True, managed tt
 put the genuine stone in my waist
 coat pocket, but the imitation slipped
 from my grasp, and fell upon the
 table.
 What was that" asked Miss Ker.
 nochan neryously as the ring hit the tabletop.
 T dropped your ring; I am sorry,' I replied.
 As I spoke. the lights came on again The ring was not upon the table. For a moment there was si- lence; then vantine's pop eyes grew hard.
 T don't see t4,e ruby. Mir. Ainsley." he said suspiciousy.
 Tt must be upon the floor" I re- piled. tried to keep my voice steady, but failed lamentably At any rate, Vantine crossed the room, and before I realized his intention, had locked the one door of the room.
 Tt will have to be on .he foor," he said.
 I stared at him. What do you mean?" I demanded.
 "Nothing-if the ring is on the floor" he retorted.
 will say for the kernochans that they were embarrassed by the sud- den situation. The daughter spoke. of course it's on the floor, Ernest, We'll find it."
 "You bet we will" assented Van- tine.
 I had not liked him before; hated him now. Yet, trying to assume an air of injured innocence. joined their search. And there was no make believe in my aid. I knew that un- less one of us found the imitation ring. would not be permitted to searched, and that might be danger ous.
 Yet after fifteen minutes in which all four of us had combed the rugs and the corners of the room, Vantine up.
 Well, we've given you a fair chance, Ainsley," he said. Now we'll really look. for it. He ad- vanced toward me.
 I clustered, but he cried me down. His hands were reaching for me, and I cursed the greediness that had made me retain the ring I could have slipped it out of my pocket at any time during this past quarter of an hour, but had been certain that we would find the paste copy. And then, just as I was tightening my prepared to fight my way out of the situation from which wit had failed to extricate me, Kerpo- chan cried out in excitement. He was weasing an informal sort of even- Ing dress, a baggy affair of heavy ma terial, the dinner suit of man who wishes to be extremely comfortable. l The soft material had cuffs on sleeves and trousers ,and into one of these | atter my paste ring had fallen. Ker- nochan bent over and retrieved it. | There was an embarrassed silence, | turing which my pulse stood still. | Then Vantino grinned feebly.
 "I beg your pardon, Mir. Ainsley," he said sheepishly.
 l stared at him. >~'I fear that it | be granted" said stiffly. l turned to my host. You will for | give me if, under the circumstances, am forced to withdraw my accept ,nce of your invitation to spend the night"
 It was a situation to which Ker- lochan was unequal. He had been ust as suspicious of me as his pros oective son-in-law. and he had not | he tact wherewith to meet my at- itude. He looked hejplessly at Van inc. also looked at vantine.
 Unlock the door," ordered the detective,
 He shrugged, flushed more redly, md walked to the door. The key vas almost in the lock when his iancee screamed.
 This isn't my ruby" she cried.
 T UT all HIS CluIlSy bulk, N6nt1ne vas quick of movement. Key in land, he leaped to her side, Its n imitation" he declared. He glared t me. Very clever--almost clever nough, my sneakthief! But you're leaing with Ernest Vantine. Now, will you be searched here or at the 'olice station?"
 I f1atter myself that it is in mo- nents like this that l rise to my ,reatest heights. stimulated a weary contempt. I walked across he room, and if my brain seethed with wrath at myself because l had 'een fool enough to think that the could deceive people who lad held the original in their hands
 moment before, do not believe hat my face reflected my thoughts.
 Upon the table lay a vanity bag hat Miss Kernochan had carried. I ut myself between my three ac- users and the table, half turning, as
 did so. My right hand was hid en from their view for less than a uarter of second, yet that was time nough for me to effect transfer of he Grand Dukes ruby from my faistcoat pocket to the vanity bag. hen. contemptuously, facing them A-f. T II.