Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26

crisply.
"He gets money when 1 have to have it. He
got $4,000 on the diamonds and kept his PERI
centage He told me 1 could pawn my sable
coat before Rowlie saw how we'd substituted
glass. But there trouble with the storage
company couldn't get my coat out yester-
day They'll let me have it today Honest
truth, tried-"
Sure. you tried lot" agreed Maud. And
you'd better try again. Ill give you two
hours to have those diamonds the real ones
this time-delivered to my apartment"
1.-TWO hours!" Gladys had thrown herself
back on her couch
"Two hours repeated Maud Then, ON
impulse: by the way, what is this jewel
syndicate that's been bounding ycu?"
"Just me and Igor," said Mrs. Rowland
family.
You mean you wanted to scare your hts-
band so you wouldn't have to wear the brace
let. You and that Van Nee schemed it out?"
"Dontl" begged the woman on the chaise
tongue.
"Whv not? Do you know Van Nee shot
my husband this morning? Over a string OF
glass beads"
mol" Gladys sat up.
eyes. For a string of glass beads you almost
took my husbands life. He thought, of course,
that the bracelet you pretended to lose was
genuine. He rlsked his life to get it back"
did Igor"
who cares about Igor?" Maud shrugged
her way out of the room. Behind her she
could hear the inSistent cry Don't tell I'll
get them back to you Please dont!"
(HOING down in the elevator Maud knew that
the diamonds would be at her door on
time. She had played on the cowardice Of that
woman upstairs, beaten her down
On her way home she went to q booth and
did her telephoning. She called Grantburg
Rowland's office and told him where the dia-
monds would be delivered. The last job was
the hardest Mr.. Cheever head of the de-
tective bureau. wasn't easy to talk TO- He
seemed censorious when she Informed him
that her husband had been shot Why hadn't
anybody told him? But when she told him
Hector had recovered the Diamonds he was
satisfied
A boy with an enevelope called at AIS. Maud
took pains to count Is diamonds before she
signed the receipt. They were queenly stones
compared with the limitations Before Mr..
Rowland arrived. she had borrowed a tack
hammer from the cook and broken out all the
grass; the bracelet hung limp and empty as so
much wire. Then Grantburg Rowland came
Iney tell me you got em back" he said,
grudgingly
MY husband had to fight for them" said
Maudie He was shot, Won't You have a
cigarette Mr.. Rowland?"
mo, thanks. Who shot him. Mrs. StoatSs
The crook who stole the bracelet of course
Mr. Rowland iEritated her. Hector came back
with bullet through his arm But he had the
bracelet That's the kind of man Hector Is
Just then Mr. Cheever was shown in.
MI CheeVer," said Mr. Rowland "they tell
me your man got into a shooting scrape and
proognt back the diamonds What want to
Know Is. who took EN- in the first placer"
Mr.. Cheever answered in riddles: ."rhevAve
gwen Dugan the third degree. He's split on
the gang We expect a roundup tomorrow
morning."
Then both sat gazing at Maud waitip~ AR
her to speak. How easy it would be, she tho,,pht
70 tell the truth about Gladys and Van Nee
But she had given her word Even To GLADYS
one must be little chivalrous
Sne opened the envelope and handed Is eIec-
Hic-snapping stones into MIR. Rowland's hands.
TO this she added the empty platinum bracelet
and stood watching the effect Mr.. Rowland
counted MS treasures, clicked his cheek against
his teeth.
They're fast workers." he said to Mr..
Cheever.
Hector stoat,s faster" replied Mr. cbeever
Maud could have kissed him for that.
Wen" decided Mr.. Rowland, "T don't under.
stand it."
You've got your property back" said Mr..
Sneever, almost killed one of our men,
You ought to be thankful"
We'll, am" Either the lecture or the SAal
OF the diamonds in his hand had the effect Of
melting him. 1T was mighty good work Mrs
StoaG You might tell your husband for me
TOT = while thought he couldn't do anythina
He arose to CO. and Mr. Cheever followed him
shadowlike, into the hall, where he took his hat
and stick Eyes, Mrs. Stoat," he repeated. ait
was pretty good work."
at parting.
of days" 'oupSe
What dOctor?"