The Washington times., 1937-01-11

Carol. mo ones going on theil
knees, but you're going back If
that living room and corroboratt
what 1 Just said to the investigator
that Claire did lose the ring anc
was frightened to death to tel
you, but notified the insurance
company, as was proper"
Carols eyes narrowed. sc
they'd try to force her hand?
IF you want me to do you q
big favor, you're going the wrong
way about it, commanding me
Said Ann: Il do command
you. Else"
ELSE what?"
She looked Carol in the eye
her young face like steel.
You just mentioned your
good name. your home, and your
husband. You have these to con
slider. Then what about that
weekend in Atlantic City with
Captain de Freyn?"
Carols mouth fell open. A
slow, blazing red crept from the
V-neck of her dress up to her
very forehead.
How dare you say such a
thing" she Missed at Ann. Its
libel! II could sue you for it!''
GO ahead. I'm sure Herbert
would be interested to know that
when you said you were in BoS-
ton, at the ball game, you and
Captain de Freyn were at Allan
tic City. You see Cora Schwartz,
from whom you bought that very
bag you're carrying, happened to
be right at the hotel desk beside
you when the captain regis
tered"
1T was somebody else, I tell
you," stammered Carol, crimson
no longer now, but deadly white.
"On the contrary, Cora was
quite definite it was you, Carol"
said Ann. "You we're wearing
your red hat that matches your
bag she nodded at it-"and
your squirrel coat and muff.
She saw you again at dinner in
the orchid sequin and the wrap
with the dyed ostrich feathers.
If it comes to a showdown,
there's no question about wit
nesses, Carol"
Ensued a pause.
Discretion was the better part
Of valor. Carol admitted to her
self that she should have
thought of that before her trip
to Atlantic City, as most GER
tainly she was to think Of it now,
when caught red-handed.
Its silly of us quarreling over
nothing" she said shortly, when
all 1 want to do is get Claire out
of the mess she's landed herself
in, over the ring. I'm sure hope
thisll be a lesson to her." She
marched back to the living room
Ann following close behind her
and up to Mr.. Beacon. ut won't
be necessary for me to go down
with you to your company, for
what you've been told is perfectly
correct. The ring was lost a couple
of weeks ago, and Claire worried
to death about it, and then she
found it and gave it back to me,
not telling me it had been missing,
and meaning to notify you, and
then. I suppose, forgetting about
it. So the claims dropped"
"And now, Mr.. Beacon" Ann
said quickly. the instant Carol had
delivered her say7so, perhaps
you'll accept my offer Of lift in
the taxi I'm taking DOWNTOWN"
CHAPTER XVII
The offices of the international
Insurance Company were miles
away from her department-store
upon the Avenue, but Ann in
tended sticking by the investiga.
tor so that the two of them might
face the Claims AdjuSter together
E. tell the same story that would
lift the stigma from her sister.
There was no time left that
day to return 10 the store.
AIMS interview in the Adjust
ment of Claims department OF
the insurance company took
longer than expected. not that
time mattered when it came to
the clearing of her sisters repu
tation devoted to her family as
Ann was, she would have spent
days and weeks, if necessary, in
defense of the inSanely reckless
Claire.
Terrible as the incident had
been. throwing a highlight on
Claire'S character and obvious
lack of scruples, Ann realized
that out of evil, a three-fold good
would doubtless spring.
Claire's eyes had been abruptly
opened to Carol Ditmar's false
ness, to the knowledge that their
friendship had been built upon
the quiCksands of mutual liking
for gambling, and that-lacking
AIMS championing-Carol would
have seen Claire go under with
out eXerting herself to avert the
disaster. Claire could never again
regard Carol as a true friend.
Secondly, there was the expos
ure Of Captain de Freyn. His trip
with Carol to Atlantic City must
to Clare's eyes, put the final seal
upon him of underhandedneSs, OF
complete lack of principle.
Thirdly-and most important
to AIMS mind-Claire's main
awakening lay in her narrow es
cape from justice. BY the barest
margin had she avoided trip tc
the district attorney. 1t woulC
give her food for reflecting. ..
swerve her back into the right
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