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

i mean IL IlOL HING d HAL III tIS
regular trade. 1t suggests the anna
teur, the hasty. ratified amateur.
Don't you feel that, Gilrea?"
Good heavens. man, don't know
the tricks of the trade!" Gilrea said,
with contempt.
mo. No. But it's a very curious
crime. Generous use of keys. The
| locked case. And the locked door,"
well. hang it. fellow wouldn't
want anybody coming. while he was
pouching the swag." Gilrea protested.
HE Just locked the door and skipped
out of the window with the key in
his pocket"
do you think so? found the key
Of the door down here"
Gwent frowned. He gave a long
whistle.
"Oh. you did. did you?" Gilrea cried.
you might have said so before.
Whereabouts did you find it,"
ION the divan, some time before
| the alarm"
ION the divan?" Gilrea laughed.
Where Hilda was sitting all the
evening""
How clever of you to remember"
Reggie murmured.
Hilda started up to face Gilrea.
|
came and insulted me-"
| "Oh. insulted you! You've thought
OF that rather late" he snarled.
What mademoiselle says, it is
true" Nine. la Generate came to her
side.
Hes made a dead set at me
everywhere since l turned him
down." said Hilda.
That's the story now, is it?'
Gilrea sneered. You're a bit above
yourself, my dear. That won't cut
much ice. Well. Fortune, have you
got enough? I'm off to bed"
| "Oh, don't CO." Mr.. Fortune stood
in the way II want the other key"
Gilrea drew back. What do you
mean, the other key?"
THE key of the case" said Mr..
Fortune.
"Madam's got that. you fool. You
| saw her open the thing"
| Yes. when 1t was empty. I want
| the key that opened 1t when 1t was
coat pocket"
I've got no key. Only my own"
He pulled out a bunch at the end of
a chain. Here you are"
"The waistcoat pocket" said Mr..
Fortune mildly.
Gilrea told him to so to the deuce.
INVENT embraced the little man
with one large arm. thrust
| fingers into his clothes and produced
small. bright key.
Mr.. Fortune took 1t and tried it in
| the jewel-case. The lock turned and
turned again. And the jewels. Lord
Gilrea?" he said blandly.
Il don't know anything about the
Jewels" Gilrea cried.
MY innocent che-ild!" said Gwent.
"Ill have a look round your
chamber" He turned, with his hand
on the door. ANY friend of the
Baron Gilrea's like to come and see
fair?"
I'll go with you. begad," the
admiral cried, and off they went.
Lord Gilrea likes to have rooms
searched" said Nine. Ia Generate
sweetly.
Gilrea had no ears for her. He was
occupied with Mr.. Fortune.
You're doing we'll, aren't you?"
His brows contracted about his little
eyes. THAT was an assault"
Yes. Quite. You'd better take
event into court. Plenty of wit.
nesseS."
"You put him up to it. You've
"Oh. no. no. Not me-" Reggie
protested. Natural curiosity"
You've put up a pretty game.
Who do you think you're playing for?
Why don't you tell the truth? How
did you know that key was in my
pocket?"
Yes. That's very interesting. Do
let's have the truth. How did you
come to have a key that opens Nine.
Catalani's jewel case? 1t shows great
enterprise"
II know nothing about the cursed
key. Lady Vera asked me to keep it
for her. She hadn't a pocket or
something. II you knew had 1t, you
must have seen her give it to me"
Yes. yes. 1t seems likely" Reggie
"A key?" she said. She looked
more puzzled and frightened than
ever. "Oh. yes. I gave him a key.
1t was upstairs outside Hilda's room.
picked 1t up from the floor. l was
just looking at II when he took 1t.
But didn't say anything. only Look
or something. He took 1t, and /
thought 1t was his. of course. Did
you see me. Mr.. Fortune? You do
see eVerytnlng!
Gilrea laughed. well. Fortune.
satisfied now?"
NO: Not satisfied. Only inter-
ested."
she found it outside Hilda's
ROOM"
You're so discreet, you know.
You've been carrying on all the
evening with a jewel case key that
was found outside Miss Merton's
room in your pocket and never said
a word You're too discreet"
II didn't want to make trouble for
any one"
Nine. Ia Generate laughed. "Ah,
We didn't understand" said Mr.. For
tune sadly. You ought to have ex-
planned. We don't really know YOU"
THE door few open. "The treasure
i hunters now return" Gwent
announced in a roar. with the
complete Doodle. First picture. the
Baron Gilrea's dressing case, closed.
Second picture. the Baron Gilrea's
dressing case. open." He flung open
the lid. A glittering confusion was
revealed. &c. you measly little
worm"
Gilrea gulped. TITS a plant" he
said. ITS a plant" He craned his
neck to look.
Mr.. Fortune held up a diamond
tiara. Nine. Catalani surged for
ward and fell upon the jewels. maxi
ing a joyful noise. Are they all
there. madam? Have a good look"
Eyes. ALL" she gasped between