Evening star., 1928-10-21

ment. However, Constantine We must
be careful what we say, for, of course,
you realize it was JuniuSr'
Il beg your pardon exclaimed Con-
nors. 1T was not l."
oh Junius," protested Belinda
you mean you don't believe me?"
mo, dear Junius, I do not"
THAT is not my method with ladies'"
he began haughtily.
at once was"
What do you know about my meth
ods Belinda?" he asked.
us your memory so short, Junius?"
she said. Don't you remember
house father had one Summer, with
French windows on the lawn?"
Good heavens" said Connors, II
had forgotten all about it. But that
was before you were married, Belinda" !"
"Yes," said Belinda pleasantly, land
unlike Mrs. Effingham, had encourag-
ed you, Junius-quite a good deal. But
you see how it was that ! knew you
weren't telling the truth about your
story, and that Constantine was. How
ever, this is not helping us to find
Mrs. Efingham."
Finding her." said Connors, 'I think
this farce has gone far enough. We
know-at least, we ought to know
exactly what is going to happen. At
any moment now she will come in-in
great distress-probably in tears-to say
that she lost her pearls, they dropped
off her neck into the water, or into
the sand, and, although she has been
searching for them ever since, she cam
not find them-they never will be found
one of those mysteries. Belinda, you
will never see your pearls again.
Sc lie nrin Ia
"They were priceless"
You think the lady has stolen
them?" asked DR.. WreXton.
Connors shrugged. II merely prophesy
what will happen" he said. you can
interpret it to suit yourselves"
Great heavens" said the doctor, "but
she seemed such sweet little creature"
But the risk-Junius-the terrible
risk, would any woman have the cour-
age to take it?" asked Ball.
BELINDA was silent, but her eyes
ID travelled from one of the ren to
the other-her husband, her father and
her old friend.
Connors laughed "There is no risk
involved, Constantine-none at all.
What can you prove? That she did not
really lose them? I don't know how
But even If you could prosecute her,
would you?-a pretty woman-a guest
at your house? And If you wanted to,
Belinda wouldn't let you, probably.
Think of the scandal-think how it
would sound in court--the ruby brace
let and all? No, she must have seen
that, If she gets caught, she won't be
prosecuted and, If she gets away with
1t she can join her husband in China.
There are wonderful methods for dis
posing of stolen goods in the East"
THE state of society horrifies me-"
said DR.. Wrexton. I'm my day, to ask
a man to your house indicated that
you had a certain confidence in him,
some knowledge of his antecedents."
"Oh, with a man, Shouldd," said
Ball. But woman's moral sense-what
will inquiry tell you about that? I
have seen the most honorable women
Belinda herself-smuggling, with the
expression of an angel"
This is a little different from SNUG
Cling" said DR.. Wrexton.
"It is pretty we'll recognized that, in
the matter of property rights, women
are without a moral sense" observed
Junius. And as for jewels-really, it
is like putting saucer of cream before
cat and not expecting it to lap 1t up.
For my part, hardly blame her"
Nor l." said Ball. 1T must be hard
for a lovely young creature like that to
forego all the natural ornaments of
beauty"
IT must confess" said the doctor,
"that think you have been very stupid.
Here is pretty young woman, separat-
ed from her husband, who accepts
at least, temporarily-a bracelet from
you, Constantine, and encourages Mr..
Connors to make love to her :"
"I cannot say that she encouraged
sion she described to Constantine was.