The Washington times., 1935-12-28

expecting her any time" said the
maid pleasantly.
The minutes passed. Vernon
grew restless. She rose and went
over to a bookcase that extended
from the fireplace to one wall.
It's top shelf being about four
feet from the level Of the floor.
Her eye ran over the titles. The
books evidently had been bought
more for their appearance than
for reading.
Finally she found one with an
interesting title. She took It over
to the couch and proceeded to
glance down at the first page
Something fell from the inside
Of the book to the floor. Vernon
stopped to recover 1t. It was q
parchment booklet Of some kind
1t had opened as 1t fell. There
were two small photographs
gummed in the inside Of 1t.
Light from the lamp at her
elbow fell full upon the pictures
as she lifted this document. Wit
startled eyes she found herself
gaT'ng not only uoon the likeness
OF Mrs. de BrNv but also that Of
Pr'1ce Karinoff!
Good heavensI- AS her eyes
raced over the document-the
pal" were MARRIED
Vernon's heart thudded with
excl ernent as she stared at the
passport.
Marie Metchseva"? There was
a familiar sound about that
name? Where had she recently
heard It?
Why! the stout lady by the
desk in the hotel in Hot Springs.
who had greeted Mertina de Bray
as Madame NTet"haeva" only
three niThts ago. 4
Prince Karinoff. too. had de-
parted speedily
They were MetchaeVas then!
It wasl t feasible that Mrs de
Bray (so.called) had divorced the
Prince" in that period and mar.
rleo q de Bray.
She stuffed the passport in her
handbag. and slipped that thrice.
blessed book that had contained
It. back IT. the case.
She was thankful when the ele.
vator disgorged her and she was
out in the open street. She hailed
a taxicab.
The first thing to do was have
a photostatic copy taken Of the
open passport!
Vernon rose at 8 o'clock next
morning. Her plans had taken
shape the day before. She would
make q flying trip Of inveStiga.
ton back to the hotel in Hot
SpringsI
From the detective agency EN-.
ployed by the company with
which the Karinoff necklace was
insured, Vernon had engaged
by the day--a reliable detective.
chauffeur.
She had decided she would
take this trip without consulting
her parents.
For the first time in the past
48 hours, she felt as though a
wretched load had been lifted
from her mind. That everything
must and would be completely
cleared up. The sense Of swift
motion--knowine she was on her
way-the fresh breeze through
the open window with a hint Of
frost in it-were like q tonic.
Absorbed in her own thoughts
and plans, 1t was almost Q o'clock
before she ordered McGraw to
stop at a wayside inn for break.
fast. Immediately she telephoned
New York; fortunately 1t was her
fathers voice she heard at the
other end Of the wire.
He had taken the precaution Of
telephoning his chauffeu" that he
might take the day Off would
think OF something to tell Sadie
later on.
You're an angel, Dad. Don't
worry about me. Put q call
through to the hotel in Hot
Springs around four this after.
noon. If I miss that call, I'll
telephone you.
She must proceed carefully. Be
diplomatic. Perhaps the unknown
woman was Of the same type as
Mertina. and--scenting something
wrong-might even communicate
with her2
AS she signed the hotel re-
| giSter after her room had been