Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
of the Emeralds.

>
Marshbaldons guests. This is very
queer crowd"
Nine. Catalani would sing again
One song and one song only. TIL,
next minute she was Mimi of LIZ
Boheme," and-if a man shut his eye:
"a sweet and dear delight. Then the
chattering world came back. No. she
would not sing again. She would like
glass Of hot lemonade before she
| went to bed.
Reggie opened his eyes. Lady
Marshbaldon had begun setting PEG
pie down to bridge. He found him
self at a table with the admiral and
Lady Rootham and the Divorce OF
the moment. Everybody was set
down, though Gilrea made an inge.
NOUS effort to escape to the society of
Nine. Catalani, grimly determined on
lemonade. and Lady Vera. whose com
plexion was known always to demand
its beauty sleep. They only def1ed
Lady MarShbaldon.
The game had gone some way. The
admiral. his face a little congested
was lying back in his chair to stare
at Reggie. when a shrek rent their
| ears.
whatever is that?" said Lady
| Marshbaldon. do ring, Lord Gilrea.
Oh, no, the servants will all be in
bed"
THE men ran upstairs in a crowd.
l. In the corridor above. Nine. Gaia.
| lani flung wide her arms and ap.
pealed to many saints. Lady Vera
came out Of her bedroom and ran to
her.
Reggie and Gwent reached her first.
| II.
say, what's up. Fortune?" said Gwent,
sustaining her, for her remarks were
| in Italian and French.
shes lost her jewels" said Reggie.
Her jewel case has been taken"
Her jewel case" Lady Vera gasped,
and fell back against the wall. Other
| women scurried to their several
! rooms.
event abandoned Nine. Catalani to
encircle Lady Vera's more graceful
form. Hello, ". what's up?"
(which is your room. MADAME"
Reggie asked. She pointed dra-
matically at an open door and
again stated fervently that her jewels
were gone. Reggie went into the
room and. coming out again, met
Gilrea.
We'll, Mr.. Fortune. what about it?'
| the little man said eagerly.
THE window Is fastened" Reggie
mumbled. Not that 1t matters"
Don't it, thought" Gilrea laughed.
Means the fellow didn't get away by
the window. eh?"
"Oh. do you think SOP" Reggie muir.
INJURED.
Lady Vera gazed at him.
"If the windows shut. he came out
by the door" Gilrea argued. Into the
corridor-here"'
at say, the Johnny might he here
now" event cried. and relaxed his
tender hold on Lady Vera. Hunt the
other rooms. what?" But relieved
women hurried back to report all safe.
HAS any one been upstairs since
d-dinner?" Reggie asked.
Lady Vera. still gazing at him,
nodded. Yes. I have" the voice was
faint. II saw man. l thought ne
came from Nine Catalani's room. He
Went in there" she pointed to an
other door II thought he was carry
ing something"
"Miserable" Mime. Catalani pounced
on her and shook her.
IT say, I say. say" Gwent parted
them.
Lady Vera shrank away to the next
nearest man. Mr.. Fortune. II didn't
know" she said plaintively. II didn't
think it was anything" She held on
by his arm and put her head back
and looked UP at him with the puzzled
appealing eyes of a child.
"Of course. not" Gilrea hustled for.
ward. THAT room, Ell, Lady ".
whose is it,"
TITS my sisters, IL you want to
know" Jimmy Merton faced him.
well, guess Hilda won't mind"
Gilrea chuckled. and turned the han
die. Locked. Jimmy. You might ask
Hilda il she's got the key"
How could she have the key?" Mer'
ton cried.
event came between them. while
you're babbling, the Johnny's of and
away" he said, and flung his solid
bulk at the door. 1t held fast. Some
lock!'
"I wonder" Mr.. Fortune murmured.
"One moment" He used the key he
had found on the divan. The door
opened. He slipped the key in his
pocket, switched on the light. and
went in. The room was empty. Gwent
dashed past him and made sure Of
that. thrusting a fist into the ward.
robe and the curtains. "Chappie gone
by the window. Fortune, what? It's
open" He leaned out. mot more
| than an easy drop"
II wonder" said Mr.. Fortune. He
| was contemplating something on the
couch at the foot Of the bed, a large
jewel case of green morocco.
well. I'm bowed" said Gilrea, at
his elbow.
You think so?" said Mr.. Fortune.
| well. well"
The rest of them were crowding
into the room. Here. madam, is
this yours?" Gilrea called.
Nine. Catalani gave scream and
flung herself at it. But she was
caught by Reggie. Don't touch it,
please" he said. IT want to go over
it for fingerprints."
"Fingerprints, what Is Zat?"
1.-THE prints of the fingers Of the
person who stole it," said Reggie care.
fully.
"But my jewels. are zey taken. are
zey Zere?"
Reggie tried the lid delicately. 1.-THE
case is locked, madam"
II go to get my keys" She rushed
out.
Yes. Do you mind going down.
stairs?" he said to Gilrea. do you
all mind going downstairs? want
| to have look at this ROOM.
| what ho!' said GWent. THE
police have several clews." and he led
the way out.
| A S soon as they were gone. Reggie
- fell on his hands and knees. He
did not bother to shut the door. While
the talk and the footsteps receded. he
could hear Lady Vera telling once
again how she saw a man go into the
room and didn't think anything Of it..
He continued to crawl. They were
all on the stairs, except Lady Vera
and Gilrea. She was still telling him
all about it. Reggie crawled out into
the corridor. Lady Vera became
aware Of him and gave a suppressed
Ia, nd nl,