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

thing. Did GWent happen to be sure
the burglar was cat?
Reggie listened to this. The strident
tones Of Gilrea seemed to be gaining.
Reggie went into the room.
Nine. Catalam rushed at the case.
brandishing keys. Reggie's hand
went up. Yes. One moment. Has
anybody else lost anything?"
| Nobody, Mr.. Fortune, nobody"
Lady Marshbaldon cried, to q chorus
Of happy signs.
"All quite sure?" Gilrea said sharp.
~. You didn't let Hilda in her
room, Fortune"
'Oh. I'm so sorry!" Reggie looked at
the girl.
II haven't got anything to lose"
she said fiercely.
why do you torture me?" Nine.
Catalani cried in Italian. Let me. let
me-" Reggie took the keys from her
and opened the case. It was empty.
Madam flung herself upon the floor
and wept. Lady Marshbaldon said,
In tones of ecstasy: But how fright
full! What a perfectly awful thing"
and knelt beside the writhing victim
and embraced her. You poor, poor
dear. Was there really much?"
Madam poured forth catalogue.
How awful" said Lady Marshall.
don. enjoying herself heartily.
Nine. la Generate shrugged. "It
Is enough, in fact. But your dia-
friend"
Nine. Catalani clasped her bosom
and was a little comforted. But the
others! She wept for them again.
What about the jolly old police,
Fortune?" Gwent broke In.
Yes. l dare say we shall want
jewel expert in the end" said Mr..
Fortune slowly. and closed the case.
What are we going to tell him."
Your show. what?" Gwent chuckled.
Lady Vera saw man coming from
madam's room who went into Hilda s.
carrying something" said Gilrea.
She started. looked at him with
frightened eyes. gulped and nodded.
when was that?" Reggie asked.
on, early. much earlier. You re.
member. dear" she turned to Lady
Rootham. when I went up to set
those snapshots"
oh, yes. When we were waiting
for Hilda to dance. Jimmy had just
gone to find her."
There was moment of silence.
Il know" said Gilrea. Jimmy
went out to look for Hilda. Well,
Lady ". what was the man like?"
Il went into the garden" cried
Jimmy Merton.
Il know you did. Jimmy" Gilrea
nodded at him. I'VE all saw you.
What was the man like. Lady W"
II don't know" she said faint.
ly.
What" He was startled. you
don't know" he frowned at her. "Oh.
come. let's have it."
"I-don't-know." She brought the
words out with stubborn effort.
You saw him cross the corridor
from one room to the other, and YOU
don't know what he was like" Gil
r lea cried She shook her head.
That's rather steep, isn't it? l sup
pose there was a man."
she turned, hid her face in a cush.
ion, and cried.
You're a merry old detective, amt
you, CO." said Gwent. taking hold of
the little mans shoulder so that he
squirmed. Ease up. my lad"
There's no need for Lady Vera to
cry. No need at all--that know Of"
said Gilrea. Sorry to distress her,
but I'd rather like to get at the
thief. had a jewel robbery myself,
you know. Rather on the same
lines" He looked round the room.
1T was pretty much the same party
at Beavers last week, wasn't it?"
Not quite" said Reggie gently.
II wasn't there"
TITS pity you weren't. Fortune.
You're right in on this, Ell? What
about 1t? Last week my wife's
emeralds were stolen. The police
couldn't find a sign that anybody had
broken into the house. Tonight Nine.
Catalani's jewels have been taken.
Did you see any trace Of a burglar
getting IMP"
II didn't look. you know" said
Reggie.
II dare say not! Nine Catalani's
window was fastened. Whoever got
into her room got in by the door,"
us Eat so?" Gwent chuckled.
Lady Vera saw a man crossing the
corridor with the jewel-case in his
hands. He went into Hilda's room.
We found the room locked and the
case inside-empty. Curious, isn't 1t?
I wish Lady Vera had been upstairs in
Beavers house when my emeralds
were stolen. ! wonder who she'd have
seen there? 1t was pretty much the
same party"
II was there, II that's what you
mean." Hilda cried.
I'VE were there" her brother said.
What about 1t. Gilrea?"
&C., my lad. you're the limit"
Gwent growled.
The admiral found his voice. do
you mean to say one Of the company's
a thief"
Really, Lord Gilrea! How horrid
you are" Lady Marshbaldon flut.
tered with delight. How perfectly
awful