The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-21

it matter?"
Reassured by that interchange of
glances, the countess now did her
part as we'll or better than Mary
had done hers. Regally, she slipped
off the diamond circlet and laid it
in the girls hand.
But naturally" she said calmly,
giving her friendly smile, Il trust
you"
Bruce hesitated, obviously insure
Of himself. Mary was too quietly
exultant over her victory to be
other than magnanimous.
I'm sorry you have been-em-
barrassed," she said gently.
And beg your pardon" Bruce
replied bit stiffy. Then, evidently
coming to the conclusion that he
had made rather an ass Of himself,
he fairly bolted from the room.
Mary stood still in the middle of
the room, holding the bracelet to
her breast. She was trembling; the
thrill of victory racing through her
veins. First blood
She had tricked Louise out of
/ the most important piece of eW-
dence yet secured against The Fly
And the Fly did not know she had
it,
What was the best thing to do
with it? Where would it be safe?
There was a small cabinet safe in
Mr.. Jupiter's cabin on the Gypsy"
and it had able guardians. She re-
solved to put it there for safekeep-
ing at the earliest possible moment.
Eddie's I. o. u, too. That small
piece of paper had its Importance
also
/ CHE couldn't go out to the yacht
1 - now-it lacked less than an
hour of dinner-t time At the Jupi-
/ ter party was to meet in the lobby
of the roof dining-room. The Fly
had promised to be there, too.
Although she dreaded the en-
counter, it was just what she had
hoped for-an opportunity to disarm
/ the mans suspicious, if he had any
apparently his colossal conceit did
not permit him to fear detection).
And since she had come off so
well last night she had thought Of
an even more dangerous expert
ment which she meant to try with
out Mr.. Jupiter's knowledge, for she
was sure he never would consent.
She would wear the rubies tonight!
BY dangling them under the very
nose of The Fly, she was sure he
never would rest until he had got
hold of them. BY sharpening his
appetite, she might succeed in
hurrying him into an attempt to
make off with them.
And, if Bates and the others
would help her, lead him straight
into trap.
She went to her dressing-table
and put the bracelet in her hand
bag, where the I. o. u. already was
hidden. With the bag tucked under
her arm she went into the hall.
Louise, of course, was relying on
her TO return the bracelet when
Bruce's eyes were turned the other
way. She must have been surprised
at Mary'S unexpected support of her
lie, but she evidently considered it
just the quixotic act of one woman
helping another pull her chestnuts
out of the fire.
Mary disliked Bruce enough to do
it for the fun of annoying him, she
probably reasoned. She would go
on thinking SO until she found out
that Mary did not mean to give the
bracelet back. Then, look out!
Louise would have to account to
De Iona sooner or later for its
loss. If she were angry enough, she
might set him to get it back for
her secretly.
Unquestionably he would scent q
graver reason for it's being withheld
and then-she Shivered as she real
lied the lengths to which he might
go to recover it.
MARY knew she must act quickly
1VI if the bracelet were to be put
beyond his reach. She resolved to
go downstairs at once and put the
two objects in the hotel safe until
she could take item out to the
yacht
Bates was coming down the cor
ridor as she stepped into the hall.
He looked hot, dusty and tired. She
remembered that she had not seen
him all day.
Hello" she greeted him cheer
fully "Where've you been?"
"Oh, out and around" he an
swered economically. Here and
there. Come along and I'll tell you
about it,"
There was something in his man