The Washington times., 1937-01-09

mo, they didn't. They aren't
such fools, They put an investi-
gator on the job, and he came
snooping here this afternoon.
Thinking he was an ordinary
caller, the maid let him in"
And he's with Claire now? Is
Lolly there too?"
shes out. Mercifully every
body's out but us. Bernice is at
the doctors. Your mother at a
luncheon party. Not that you can
hope to hide it from them! I
guess everyone in town will know
pretty soon"
"And there you're dead wrong!"
Ann said with spirit. "I'm going to
set this thing straight" She swept
past the bearer of bad tidings into
the big, shabby living-room, to find
Claire staring wretchedly out Of
the window, with Redeemed eye
lids, and a grim-faced man stand
ing on the hearth-rug.
Without preamble, Ann ad-
dressed him in business-like tones.
You're the investigator from the
insurance company?"
"Yes. My names Beacon. I'm
from the Adjustment of Claims
office" He nodded over AIMS
shoulder in the direction of Carol
Ditmar, who, anxious to miss moth
ing that would humiliate the Dela-
fields, had followed Ann into the
room. Il came here to find out all
I could about Miss Delafield's lost
ring, and first thing I saw was
the dead spit of it on the hand of
-Mrs.-Mrs.-"
"Ditmar," said Carol.
She added eagerly: And he ad-
mired it, and not knowing what he
was after, 1 took it off my finger
when he asked me to, and let him
have a look at the mounting, and
the initials Herbert had had put
inside it-C.D. Carol Ditmar."
These are Claire's initials, too,"
began Ann. Then she saw a wry
twist of the face of the investi-
gator. From his pocket he pulled
out a photograph Of the ring. Miss
Delafield," he said, will remem-
Der this picture being taken in OUR
office when she came down to pay
the premium on the ring, which
she claimed was her own prop
erty."
Ann looked at her eldest sister,
felt a queer tug Of compassion
draw her over to the despondent
figure.
Have you anything to say,
Claire?" she whispered, putting
hand on her shoulder, to reassure
her, make her understand that
she was with her, happen what
may.
Doesn't seem much good my
talking, when Carol and Mr.. Dea-
con-Beacon-have settled it all
between themselves" Claire MUIR
INJURED.
Carol bridled. well, must say
you're not showing much graft
tude! How was I to know what
was in the wind? Or that you'd a
ring that looked like this and with
the same initials in it? How was
1 to tell Mr.. Beacon anything diff
ferent from what did, which was
the absolute truth?"
"You loaned this ring to Miss
Delafield?" he repeated, his gaze
resting appraisingly on Carol, who
shrugged, rolling her eyes towards
the ceiling.
Ann interVened.
Now that the rings been found,
Miss Delafield naturally drops her
claim against your company. She
was going to notify you, of course,
and save you the bother of coming
here. We're really sorry to have
given you so much trouble. And
now" trying to carry it off nat
urally-"I'll have to get back to
the store. Perhaps I could drop you
off at your office, Mr.. Beacon?
The International Insurance Com.
pany is on my route"
Mr.. Beacon stuck the thumb of
each hand into the armholes of
his vest. This sort of thing had
been happening too frequently up
and down Park Avenue lately,
among the needy elite. Not that
this shabby flat looked like Park
Avenue, but the girls themselves
had the society" stamp. They
needed lesson, and would get it..
He hardened his heart.
Sorry, but it's my duty to make
full report to the adjuster of
claims. We've had too much hanky-
panky of this nature. In order to
protect the company We'll have
to prosecute Miss Delafield on a
charge of attempting to get money
out of us on false pretences and
Misrepresentation. It's a clear
case for the district attorney"
my sister had a perfect right
to insure the ring when it was in
her keeping, and to go to you
when it was missing it was
missing for time" declared Ann.
THE mistake was in not telephon.
ing you when it was finally found
and returned to its original owner.
You have no case whatever for the
district attorney. Claire -Carole-
come to the bedroom right away
with me and put on your hats and
coats and we'll all go to the insur.
ance Offices" Before either of the
young women could recover their
voices she had swept them out of
the living room. telling Mr.. Bea.
con over her shoulder to please
wait a minute, and they'd be right