The Washington times., 1935-12-28

front McGraw, that redoubtable
detective -.
Ivan, come back. Well explain
everything. Poor little Vernon has
been frightfully misled," cooed
Mrs. de Bray, who was cleVerer
in q crisis than her accomplice.
Now, Vernon, this Is a private
matter between the five Of us. and
1t need never 60 any farther. if
you'll be a sensible child! Ivan,
show them your legal papers,"
she commanded.
Just as Jake Tyson was perus.
ing ii m carefully, Arlene
ushered two elderly ladies into the
drawingroom.
The stout one exclaimed to
Mrs. de Bray: why Madame
Metchaeva, we meet again!"
Said the thin one, raising her
eye brows and staring disapprov-
ingly through her pince-nez at
the Prince: 80 It's you, Mr..
Metchaeva-quite q long way
from Monte Carlo! I haven't had
the pleasure Of word with you
since the death of our mutual
friend, poor Prince Ivan Karinoff,
who passed away at Constanti-
nople!"
The so-cal1ed Prince Karinoff
turned a motely shade Of ereenish-
white at the apparently noncha-
lant WoroS OF the newcomers.
But his standby, the so-called
Mertina de Bray. shattered the
appalling silence. With a quick,
olro-like movement she put a
hand on the Princes arm. and
addressing the four women in the
room. said, in a staccato voice:
II you Will excuse my friend and
me. we would like a word in the
dining room with Mr.. Tyson"
In the dining room, Mertina-
again with her hand on the
Princes arm-was facing Mr..
Tyson.
you two are in league with
each other. It's no good beating
about the bush any longer. We
KNOW. I have the facts. I have
a detective stationed outside the
front door, SO you cannot possibly
get away. If you don't come
clean. I'll call him in now and
arrest you"
Mrs. de Bray, still with the
smile glued on her face, widened
ner eyes dramatically at the
speaker. "Vernon-my dear child
you've gone perfectly mad -
this necklace trouble has turned
your oraln:-why, I came here as
the friend I've always been
came to help you directly
learned from Ivan here that you
lost the necklace! Why, If II
only known sooner, I'd have bee,
on your doorstep several days age
See, dear, what I found in III
Gypsy Pavilion after you'd sor
that night!"-and to Vernnn
amazement, out Of her sm2
handbag she drew what appear
10 be an exact replica Of the me-
lace!
Jake Tyson took the diamond
from her, turning them over
the palm Of his hand. These a..
the real ones, you say?" He she
her piercing glance from unde
his shaggy eyebrows.
"Of course they're the real di:
monds !" exclaimed Mertin,
This foolish little Vernon mus
have dropped them just before
got to the Gypsy Pavilion!"
That isn't true. It's trumper
up yarn" Vernon cut in. The
necklace never left my neck until
this supposed Prince Karinoff
TOOK me away from the Gypsy
Pavilion. after he had put some
kind OF drug in my coffee! While
lay, unconscious and drugged,
IN his apartment to which I'd been
oelloerately taken by him. either
he-or just as likely you're
moved the real string of diamonds
during the night, and substituted
the false ones in their place! You
thought was fool-that the
Tyson family were a bunch of
fools who would hush the matter
up for fear Of a scandal! He
wanted that $50000 out Of us!
More. he wanted to marry me
bigamously-heaven alone knows
what enormous marriage settle.
ment he thought I'd get from YOU.
Dad! Then his idea was to bleed
us further to the limit, and then
clear out Of the county with you.
Madame Metchaeva, his legal
wife!"
What a fantastic imagina.
tion!" The woman gave q Shrill,
unpleasant laugh. With a swift,
panthertSh movement she snatched
the diamonds from Jake Tyson's
open palm and slipped them into
the hand Of her accomplice. "Ivan.
dear. I think we'd better 20. This
child simnlv doesn't want to be
helped! Well take the neckioce
STRAIGHT back to the jewelers."
"Oh. no, you won't. McGraw
won't let you leave this arart-
ment till say so." exclaimed Ver-
non. you stav right here till Mr..
Drouet himself and his mana Ger
come and identify the gems. I'm
not taking anv more chances"
Father, will you please te'e-
uhone Drouet's2 This is nv mess,
and it's uD TO me to straiGhten it.
# this necklace Is Q second feIe.
for the sake Of public safetv I'm
going to have you both arrested"
Mertina snapnAd. like
| trsDned pVthon. '"Then evervone