Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-11

warn her - beg her to give it back. /
wanted to slap her face with all my
might and demand that she use the
good sense the Lord had given her.
wanted, in short, to save her from her
self, which is the one thing nobody can
do for any other. But as a matter of
fact. did nothing at all except sit
perfectly still until her light went off
and then creep up to bed, white and
shaking, and at a loss as to what course
ought to take.
By eleven o'clock the next morning,
was still undecided. But my bags
were packed and all but one, closed. I
was dressed and ready to leave and
indeed could easily have been on the
road good hour earlier, except for the
fact that could not bring myself to
move until I had made some definite
step about the situation in which I
was leaving Marcia.
If only for her fathers sake, / felt
obliged to act. But how was still a
mystery when I started down to get
out my car and bring it around to the
front of the house. Somehow, since my
quarrel with Marcia, I had not cared
to call upon her servants. But on the
landing at the top of the stairs, I was
halted by the sound of voices in the
hall below. Prince Mario and Marcia
had come out of the drawing room and
stood directly below me.
please don't say things like that to
me-" the Prince was begging her. 'It
embarasses me terribly, and it must
hurt you to remember them"
But I do like you an awful lot"
Marcia said. why shouldn't l say
it,"
He gave a self-conscious little
laugh. you're too gracious to mel
And now I'm afraid you'll have to
excuse me - really. I'm due at police
headquarters.
Police headquartersw she echoed,
but why?"
About that pendantr' he said. his
voice suddenly hard. They think
they have an idea of who took it."
But surelyr' Marcia's voice held
note of alarm. Surely you haven't
turned the case over to the police?"
Young lady. you don't seem to
realize that this particular jewel is the
most significant thing in my family.
I've got to get it back"
E But the police" said Marcia
again. "How do you know the Duchess
didn't sell it?'
There was a moment of dead silence,
which was finally broken by Mario
saying in an icy tone: "You seem to
forget that you are speaking of my
aunt. And secondly. she could not sell
it because it did not belong to her.
The pendant is the gift which we have
given our brides for generations"
''Ohr said Marcia.
Naturally I've called in the police,
and I'm hiring a flock of detectives.
too. I'll find that pendant if have to
tear the State of Louisiana apart to do
it" There was another pause and then
he spoke in his natural voice. PLEASE
forgive me for getting excited. And
tell Christophine hope she feels
better soon. I'll call her again to-
morrow"
The moment they walked out of the
front door, I few down the stairs and
made straight for Marcia's room. Now
knew what must be done. must get
that wretched ruby cluster and, with
it in my hand, face her and make her
give it back. Her bedroom door was
open. went straight to the drawer
where had seen her hide it, and felt
among the ribbons. But the pendant
was not there. So went looking for
Marcia, but she, it seemed, had dis
appeared. At length I returned to my
own room, where to my amazement I
met her coming out of the door.