Evening star., 1952-09-21

overconscentious in way but efficient had trusted her.
Yet soon as she spoke to me in that ezed way the
telephone knew what had happened had left to her to
check in the pearls with Mr. Wazey manager of the vaults
Ihad ovesepped Of attorney the of giving
him my key without which he could have opened the safe
deposit box Obviously Mr. Wazey had taken the velvet box
without looking inside it, returned to the safe deposit box
and gone home Miss Dune had taken the pearls.
Then overcome by she had tephoned confess
it and had jumped out of the window rather than face the
consequences It was tragic and pathetic this plain
hardworkng conquered by the beauty Of strand
of pearls.
And they were beautiful question of that But times
have changed. When Mrs. Wagstaf young then had
been given the pearls her husband had paid nearly quarter
of million for them knew that also knew that their value
nothing like that The od-tme high market for
pearls The popularity Of cultured pearls awIess
too, but plentiful. has done that
We arrived at apartment house not far from the river
Already the street was lighted up. Police and an ab-
lance were there, and there lights from windows all
around and heads cranng out of them.
ALEUTENAT of police big buy fellow who looked rather
strained and white asked me to identity the body and did,
The night seemed very cod my gray topcoat was insufficient
keep out chill that seemed to clutch my very bones Then
the ambulance moved closer went with the lieutenant to
Miss Dunes apartment on the ninth floor.
wasa small apartment bedroom sitting room with
tiny kchenette painsakngy and rather sparse
and meagre Like Miss Dune.
girl sat stiff chair; she in Irecognized
her only vaguely she worked in the bookkeeping department
of the bank, and rarely saw her.
I'm Muie Evans, Mr.. Wickwe, she said in low voice
She slender dressed simply red She wore stick and
matching nail polish, custom rather oppose in the bank
but certainly if the girls chose nose rings outside the
bank of my business However she was quiet and
webehaved in very trying and indeed terrible situation
nodded This is the young lady who reported it." told
the lieutenant I still felt cold and rather sick.
He removed his cap. Il have to ask you for statement
Miss he said Il realize it's been shock but -" He was
sorry for her; could see that.
She began to talk, and glanced around the room She had
replaced the telephone upon its cradle chair lay on its side
the floor 1t accounted for the dull crash had heard The
window long window, too the floor, was still open
Miss Dune telephoned to about eleven Miss Evans was
saying Il live here two streets north She said she
couldn't seep she was nervous and she asked come
didn't know her WELL but she rather important you see
at the bank, being Mr. Wickwres secretary Of course
came = and she told she'd taken the Wagsta pearls
They were in the vault and -"
I'm explain that told the lieutenant and did so briefly
lHE lieutenant said Take it easy now, Miss Evans Was
she hysterical?"
Yes Oh yes! didn't believe her She said she had to talk
it seemed to out in spite of herself She was crying
and I'VE didn't believe her. couldn't thought she
was ILL., nervous, something wrong Anyway went into the
kitchen. intended to make some coffee didn't know
what to do.
while was there heard her at the telephone She tele
phoned to Mr. Wckwre could hear her and started to
tell him what she'd done But then she dropped the phone as
if she couldn't go from the kitchen and and she
pulling up the window caught at the window and her
and Il don't know what did. But couldn't stop her