OCR Text |
Show J TEFRILL J CO 2 SYNOPSIS. At a private yoersonal view of estate, to be sold the Chaiworth at auction, the “Chatworth ring, known as the Cxew Idol, omysteriously disappears. Harry Cressy, ~who was present, describes the ring to his fiancee, Flora _Gilsey, and her chap»eron, Mrs, Clara Britton, as being like a meathen god, with a beautiful sapphire eset in the head. Flora meets Mr. Kerr, -an Englishman, at the club. In dis- «cussing the disappearance ef the ring, the <exploits of an English thief, Farrell Wand, are recalled. Wiefa has a fancy ethat Harry and Kerr know something vabout the mystery. Kerr tells Flora that the has met Harr¥ somswhere, but cannot jplace him. $20,000 reward is offered for ethe weturn of the ring. Harry admits to fora. that he dislikes Kerr. Harry takes iora to a Chinese goldsmith’s to buy an engagement ring, An exquisite sapphire set in a hoop of brass, is selected. arpy urges her not te wear it until it is reset. ‘The possession of the ring seems to cast @ spell over Wlora. She becomes uneasy and appreherisive. Flora meets Kerr at a box party. She is startled by the effect on him wtten he gets a glimpse of the stapphire. The possibility that the stone fis mart ef the yznuch -amxiety. Crew Idol causes - Flora, Unseen, Flora discovers Clara ransacking her dressing room. ‘2lora refuses to give or sell the stone to Kerr, and suspects him of being the thief. * lora’s interest in Kerr increases. She » decides to ‘return the ring to Harry, but pe telis ‘her to keep it for a day or two. fila Buller tells Fiora that Clara is setsiting her cap for her father, Judge Buller. d a * CHAPTER 4 Well, X1V.—(Continued.) Pll Jet you know if it makes « any difference,” said Hilla hopefully. Flora knew that nothing either of ~ €hem eould: say would make any difference :to Ciara, or turn her from the thing she was pursuing; but by speak. §ng she -rnight at least find out if Judge ‘Buller himself. were really her * MOJECE, f br i : still the quarry. For had not Harry, from the very beginning, known something about him? Hadn't he at first denied having seen him before, and then admitted it? Hadn't he dropped hints and innuendoes without ever an explanation? She remembered the’ singular fact of the embassy ball, twice mentioned, each time with that singular name of Farrell Wand. And to know—if that was what Harry knew—that a man of such fame was in a community where a ring of such fame had disappeared—what further proof was wanted? Then why didn’t Harry speak? An what was going on on his side of the affair? Harry’s side would have been her side a few days before. Now, unaccountably, it was not. Nor was Kerr’s side hers either. She was standing between the two—standing hesitating between her love of one and her loyalty to the other and what he represented. The power might be hers to tip the scales Harry held, either to Kerr’s undoing, or to his protection. At least she thought she might protect him, if she could discover Harry’s secret. Her _ special, authorized relation to him—her right to see him often, question him freely —even cajole—should make that easy. But she shrank from what seemed like betrayal, tray him even though she did to Kerr by name. not be- _ Then, on the other hand, she doubt: . od oes eee a ; nae ed how much she could do with HarHct) CLO’ Were ¢ Sh angor ‘ , ‘-pan up the steps Sf He: house again. ; 7%" > She. Wasn't Soa oe S ae ae - “tn a the hall pred nOShe had auc Shima hie no 2. desire ei ones presented ee her with ee | PTeP of theirs. to ee pique a card., him further by seeing too much of » ening pulse. “Is he waiting?” “NO, madam. . Me waited Lown s. Surely «Qught ‘again. Mr. Kerr has gone. half an hour.” went after not “In her spirits their last again. ‘ Yet interview she to be eager to meet him the morning,’ she thought, “and waited half an hour. How he must-have wanted to see me!” She didn’t know whether mot. “When did he « At 11: o'clock.” “a this she was MW she liked come?” that or returned to her. ing: rhe for ,the present to avoid Kerr. a feeling in her that ed—a feeling intoxicating senses,’ dazzling to the ting to the will. How if they were left alone, not take his the request, a OC eU oe jewel and to mind, the unknit- could she tell, that she might from hand her it eet Reh iG) Mien He she fear- neck, to ane soe at him—and ae oe ler ue ime, tonight? ©" 9°YRGSERT KERR. It was as if Kerr himself had entered the room, masked and muffled beyong recognition, and then, face to face with her, let fall. his disguise. She gazed at the words, at the signa- ture, thrilled and frightened. She looked at Harry’s note. hesitated; caught a glimpse of the two messengers waiting stolidly in the hall. Waiting for answers! Answers to such communications! . She made a dash for the table where were pens and ink and on one sheet scrawled: “Certainly. Bring him,” appending her initials; on the other the word “Impossible,” and her full name. Then she hurried the letters into Shima’s hands, lest her courage should fail her—lest she should regret her choice. “Anywhere, at any time, to-night,” she repeated softly. Why, the man must be mad! Yet she permitted herself a moment of imagining what might have been if her answers had been reversed. But no, she dared not meet Kerr's impetuous attacks yet. . First she must get at Harry. And how was that to be managed if he insisted on surrounding tle open himself party?” She found a with “a jolly lit- moment that evening in which to ask him to walk out to the Presidio with her the next mornings cB he was going Bur- to it! There was glanced as much up at the stair and visible taken of the Shima’s excite- she knew, passing and nodding to her, | f drawinghall he as was then, her ment, turning the troubling question over in her mind. She did not realize how far she had gone until some girl a pause— then Kerr emerged from the room. As he crossed the not She read the strange handwrit- all? ed it. called her out of her reverie. She Was almost in front of the University club. y A few blocks’ more and she landing. He had _would be in the shopping district. She for it, after -hesitated, then decided that it would \ ;be better to walk a little further and word would The vestibule door closed noiseless- jtake a cross-town car. ly after him, the outer door shut with ° __A group of men was leaving the a heavy sound. Yet before that sound club. Two lingered on the steps, the had ceased to vibrate, she heard it other coming quickly out. At sight of shut again. Was he coming back? him, she averted her face, and,hurryThere was a presence in the vestibule ing, turned the corner and walked very vaguely seen through the glass! down a block. Her heart was beating and lace of the inner door. Her heart rapidly. What if he had seen her! beat with opened apprehension. upon _ Flora The door Clara. precipitately retreated. She was more disturbed than relieved by the unexpected appearance. For Clara must have seen Kerr leave the house. Three times now within three days he had been found with her or inz-room a few moments the shopping-list, instead later with of-a ques- going to that dinner—and then the reception afterward? Her suspicion that he was deliberately dodging wavered before his boyish, cheer-. ful, unconscious face. And yet, following on the heels of his tendency to question and coerce her, this reticence was amazing. Tre next day the eye concealed woman on the behind next door. her, she She saw pass her by. Then she heard his‘ voice hind her: “Well, this is luck!” still be- She hoping was he might conscious of giving him ing?” She “Has would be reach—12 the mercy lost with Harry hours while Kerr of chance, and she beyond was at was at as I was it taken could you all the see she had morn- not fooled Kearney. I was in the car.’ “Why that—that is-—”’ Flora stammered in her surprise. “Then something must have kept him,” she al- tered ‘her sentence quickly. a she hesitated too long before going out he thing before her in a -mo-| had been the resistant Judge Buller, did Who not even hint at. this might be she She left it ever - ‘and the other with his brilliant But the little stare initi-| so sketchy. «ative attacking, always which Clara met it, the attacking ~ when he should have been hiding, had earried him off, ‘What had he done, « and how had he managed, when Har: Fy must have had such pressin g rea« #ons for wantine to stay? Ah, she : SEW only too well Kerr’s exquisite '¥nowledge of managing; but why must ‘ he make such a reckless exposure of Himself? Did he suppose Harry was “86 bo managed? Had he no idea where “Harry stood in this affair? In. pity’s @ame, didn’t he know that Harry had seen him before—had der circumstances of #wouldn’t talk? seen him unwhich Harry > , Scended upon her, she found that ‘t s8e things had-in-no Way: persuaded ’ eo then this #sarmonies the .was: herself, much concerned with modulations: her. ‘decade «hem, a creature the: primal of':life to! be: impressed ‘by set upon .This was that.self “Wehich -she She stood her ground, and Shima delivered the missive as if it were most usual to find one’s mistress with | beflounced in peignoir and petticoat s, amusement, hanging breathless over the baluster. the surprise, and the shortest possible little laugh, were guarantee that Clara had seen it all. She had filed out Flora’s sketch to the full outline, and pronounced it, as Flora had, an absurdity. But though Clara had laughed, she had gone away with her delicate brows a little drawn together, as if she’d really found more than a laugh, something worth considering, in Hlla’s state of mind. She heard the wheels of Clara’s departing conveyance. Now was her | was not far to the nearest booth, a block or two dow the cross street. She rang, first, the office. The word came back promptly in his partner ’s voice. He had gone to Burlingame by the early train. It was the same : ° Rae a RR ea et £ F @wd) WHI chance for an interview with Harry. She spent 20 minutes putting together three sentences that would not arouse CHAPTER XV. ‘| his suspicions. She made two copies, and sent them by separate messenA Lady in Distress.. sers, one to his rooms, one to the club, with Ske had returned, ready for pitched orders they be brought _' @attle With Clara, and on the threshold back if he was not there to receive “there had met her the very turn in them. Then—the business of waitythe affair that she had dreaded ‘all ‘ing in the large house full of echoes 3lorg—the setting of Kerr and Harry and the round ghostdy globes of elec» ipcn eachother. tric lights, with that thing around 2 These were two whom she had her “pert even in her mind—the man kept know neck for which—did they but of it—half the town would break to whom she was pledged, with whom in her windows and doors. she had supposed herself in love, and The wind traveled the streets withthe man for whom she was flying in out, and shook the window-casings. the face of all~her traditions | She She cowered over the library fire, had not serutinized the reason of her listening. The leaping flames set her sxtraordinary behavior; not since | shadow dancing like a goblin. A bell emmumerlat dreadful day when the vani shing} rang, and the shadow and the flame aystery : had taken positive for m in|} gave a higher leap as if in welcome of “Int had she daréd to think how she] what had arrived. She went to the elt about Kerr. She had only acted, library door. In the glooms and lights. cted; only asked herself what to do- outside Shima was standing, and two 2xt, and never why; only taken his messengers. It was odd that both wwse upon herself'.and made it her Should arrive at once. She stepped | wh, as if thea was her-natural right. back and stood waiting with a quicker ~aale could hardly.believe that it was pulse, Shima entered with two let3‘le-who had let herself g0 to this ex- ters upon his tray. She had a moot. <All her life.she had been do-, ment’s anxiety lest both her notes had| clie to public opinion. ‘bowing to conbeen brought back to her, but no—the| ventions, respectful of those legal and envelope which lay on top showed .gnoral rules laid down by-som e rigid Harry’s writing. She tore’ it open -qaterial spirit lurking in mankind. 5 now when the moment”haa come, “when the responsibility ~had de- butler! hastily. Harry wrote that he this eye- me with him?” “Never!” “You haven’t though she it had kept be by now. him anything?” face how of his put before her, for the first time, extraordinary her conduct must seem. What could he think of her? What construction would he put upon it? She blushed, neck to forehead, and her voice was scarcely audible as she answered “No.” But at that small word his whole mood warmed to her. ‘Why, then,” he began eagerly, “if Cressy doesn’t know—” “Oh, but he—’” Flora stopped in terror of herself. “I can’t talk of him, I must not. Don’t ask me!” she implored, “and please, please don’t come to my house again!” He gave his head a puzzled, impatient shake. “Then where am JT to see you?” days—perhaps —I will let you know.” had her package now. ting back her courage. further way of keeping to-morrov She rose. Sh She was ge There was n her. But he followed her closely throug the crowd to the door. ‘‘Yes,” he sai quickly under his hreath, “in a fe days, perhaps to-morrow, as soon ¢ you get rid of it, you won’t mind mee ing me! What are you afraid of} Surely not of me?” | sie ags She was, but hotly denied it. beneath sentence before’/she was and other voices took up with had some alarm forgotten its eye drifted about more or less and then ry, tracking on her her. that public, She an- was keepherself to through the crowd entertaining people, getting him by glimpses his of Har- burnished brown head, waiting her opportunit> to get bim corhered. At last she saw him making for the smoking-room. Connecting this with the drawing-room Where she stood was a small red lounging-room, walls, floor and ~ furni- ture all covered with crimson velvet. It had a third door which communieated indirectly with the receptionrooms, by means of a little hall. She was near that hall, and it would be the work of a moment to Slip by way of it into the red room and stop Harry. on his way through. She had not played at such a game Since, as a child, she had jumped out on people from dark closets, and Harry was as much told waist swered, laughing, that she ing Lent early, and allowed to rise. The incredulity, the amazement her : realized mo- “I’m evening.” started nervously “In a few astonished as she could remem- ber they had been. “What ‘in the world are you doing here alone?” He spoke peevishly. “T don’t see how a crowd of men can leave such a bundle of fascination at large!” She made him a low courtesy and Said she was preventing him from doing so. “It's very good of you, and you are very pretty, Flora,’ he admitted with a grudging smile, “but I’ve got to see a manin here.” His eyes went to the door of the smoking-room whence was audible a discussion of voices, and among them Judge Buller’s basso. She was between Harry and the door. Laughingly, he made as if to put her aside, wh@ thea -or through which she had tered opencG a2aHr eaki pw ly; and lerr came in. e me. I followed you,” he hen he saw Harry. “I—ha— been hunting for you, Cres- iy iy” > ae evening!’ ’ accepted the statement with al smile. It was too evidently him Kerr had been hunting, er the first stammer of embarit, the Englishman made no atto conceal his real intentions. words merely served him as an se not to retreat. This is a good piace to sit,” he aid, pushing forward a chair for flora. She sank into it, wondering of am? not atraid: of you. a afraid of them!” “Of them!” He peered at he weakly what daring or what danger “What are you talking about now?’ ==rhad brought him into 'a house where -#Ah, she had said too much! 9! he was not known, to seek her. He bit her lip. They had reached th... | sat down in the compartment of a corner, and the gliding cable car was. double settee near her. Harry still approaching. She turned to him with \ stood with a dubious smile on his : I face. The look ‘the two men exchanged # a last appeal. “Don’t ask come with me! Not car until did me anything! Don’t Don’t follow me!” she she was dare safely look inside back at the him. He was still on the corner, and he raised his hat and smiled so reassuringiy that she was half-way home be- would | fore be delighted, and might he bring a friend with him; a bully fellow whom he wanted her to meet?) He added. she might send over for some girl and | they could have a jolly little narty. Flora looked at this communication blankly. Was Harry, who had always jumped at the chance of a tete-a-tete, | dodging her? In her astonishment | She let the other envelope fall. She} uplifted good. a though this seemed the projavle ex-| vyyait,” he said in a voice that was planation she did not believepy Harty | auusiw te wes your pack: Seen Harry Clara’s around added, just she i che whole of She “But—” ment But] chain that broken surrounded; the chorus. he | age has not come. he had ‘ : ” “y ee wnevaraii tat time alone?” She looked at him helplessly, so at7 1 . I ‘li be {tractive and so inimical to Mr. Cressy -came.” her. -He d4o as if Tt . ora felt a cold thrill in her nerves, swung around; back to the counter, light of her latest discovery, though | bad been his face. It cost an effort | her the memory of how Harry and the and lowered his ‘Then Harry had come back! voice. | She “Did could never meet Clara in disa-| ‘0 Send down the cold fiction that What know she blue-eyed Chinaman had looked when I called upon you yesterday you had he come for? greement without a qualm. morning, she had turned from the But she| V@8 Bot at home, and she window and not also?” he asked. “He also would wait,” the Japanese made the plunge that evening, before | ¢°2Y herself the consolation could seen them standi ng together in the of lean-@xplained. . She nodded. Clara left for the Bullers’, while she| "8 °2 the baluster : of the! second back of the shop. “Mr. Cressy and I waited for you to@lora gasped. was at her dressing-table in the half.| ‘#2dimg, and listening for his step “They waited _ to“You do look ill? Clara in remarke d. disarray meether!y which brings out all the soft. | ‘2 ball below. But there was no move- “Why don’t you stay in bed and not gether. Did he mention it to you?” The Japanese shook his head: “They “No.” ness and the Her lips let the word disarming jehysical ment. out Could it be possible he was try to see any one?” je N ‘went away together.” slowly. charm of women. From her low chair| ¥14128 for her to come in? Flora murmured that that was Hush! her Flora she didn’t believe her ears. “That’s a reticent friend of yours!” spoke laughingly of Ella’s Haru that was the drawing-room door. “Mr. intention, but she was far from But speakKerr went away with Mr. Cressy?” turbation. The exclamation, and the truth of iby Clara paused, with Hig | instead of Kerr: Shima emerged. He ing the truth. Shé only waited to put her on her guard. — powder puff in her hand, while she | was heading The Japanese seemed to revolve for the stair with his lit- make sure of Clara’s being th in her own “T can’t discuss him with you,” she wroblem of mastery. “No, Mr. Cressy listened to Flora’s explanation of how ue Eee eae! upon ita note. rooms to get out of the house and said coldly. . wmccompanied Mr. Kerr.” He had Hila feared made some one aft- Ob, a renee eitow dared: he give telephone to Harry. er all these that years, be going might, :' @ delicate oriental distinction. “Yet to no doubt you have discussed ane her the lie. by the hand of her own It put It jnent. for I think you are mistaken,” Flora Murmured. “But be careful, and let me know-—’’ She had only time for ‘in anxiety. she could find oi wheis7 Ase” pystnise ) sO at ol Sa aceue uad’ toid: her distinctly pe: Wen to: Ella. Sh@ recalledit with difficur- |\{0 Bet the next morni She thous ye ng she looked at| ; Zolds ty. It seemed a vague thing in thet He in Burli mitbngame shop! and ‘there Tete Printed Lame: as wisttally frightened; danger days?” Then in a hot whisper: “Did vs >. ie es. her? ab hasn’t done one very much last night, and again this Morning, f may see you this evening, perhaps?” He was grave now. She saw that he awaited her answer “Yes. He was walking up Clay from with her petticoats. She was ready early, in the hope that Harry might come, as he had been wont to do, a little before tha appointed hour. But he turned up without a moment to spare. Clara was downstairs in her cloak when he appeared. There was no chance for a word at dinner. But if she could not manage it later in the wider field of the reception, why, then she deserved: to fail in everything. . But she found, upon their arrival, that even this was going to be hard to bring about. For she was immediately pounced upon—first, by Elia Buller. “Why, Flora,’ at the top of her voice, “where have you heen all these phe i : ike a feeling the probe of Clara’s eyes. “I’m now / nounce this sudden change of plan after her pretenses of the morning, but of late she had lived too constantly the Partly of her feeling ill. ‘I’m evening, either. Burlingame and ; town. I saw him just coming up.” “Are you sure?” Clara and Harry. That was a house Kerr did not know. It was awkward to have to an« veils. limp hand. He sat down on the vacant stool next hér, laughing. “You are a most remarkably fast walker,” he observed. | “I had to buy a veil,’”. Flora murroured. not going out this I think Ill ring up tell Harry.” It was j house. bulk two, “Oh, I don’t know,” said Flora vaguely. Clara gave her a bright glance. “But you weren’t at home to him.” “Tm not at home to any one this morning,’ Flora answered evasively, own for horde of She felt Kerr come in. How absurd to think that she could escape him! She turned her back and waited.a moment or on the steps. Don’t you feel there is something wrong about him?” than her the kept tion, offered a statement. “J don’t like than man,” she announced. NeW EO “That Kerr. I met him just now safer be better to fulfill her enand go to the reception with as if she had lost her identity. She went to the nearest counter and asked with relief, only one of a pricers, lookers and buyers. waiting for her. She wondered if Clara would ask her awkward questions. But Clara, when she entered Flora’s dress- be It would gagement brows to daunt her. The mere trivial act of being dressed each day was fraught with danger. To’get the sapphire off her person before Marrika should appear; to put it back somehow after Marrika had done; to shift it from one place to another as she wore gowns cut high or low—and every moment in fear lest she be discovered in the act! This was her daily maneuver. To-night she clasped She looked about—there was no cab in sight—the best thing to do was to slip into one of the crowded shops, full of women, and wait until the danger had passed. Once inside the door of the nearest, she felt herself, ae aes ie say Tae He was|in her mind that she might. manage | him. sar “! * ze Ca eZ 6 woefully sorry. It was ages since he! to make him a with . while I had a great many other things had had a moment with her alone, but Cae went oe Seay to do.” She was resolved not to adBt USE ed boo Hee that ere Burlingame! Harry!” ~ Clara mit anything. She had not forgotten? They | echoed in surprise. “Why, he’s in “No doubt, but I wanted to see you| ing. Kerr. On her own account she wanted) — roused With the feeling she was bewitched she took up the mysterious letter from the floor and open- and x “Quite so!” Said Harry, wit h | | she Straight Look at Kerr, that, in spite and more danger of gnt turn. she “Did you say you me?” he remarked. were looking for “Well, Buller’s they're trying to put up at the club.” “How’s that? Oh, yes! I rememper.” Kerr shrugged. “Never heard of him at home, and can’t vouch for clearly that this was the| every fellow who comes meeting him. He always! because he is English.” something out ef her and gave her anything If he dared her that beth carried it off less well. Harry, especially, bore it badly. of all been looking for you. He wants to had ne | know about some Englishman that she had urged upon him, he committed himself to any promise. And yet, she thought in dismay, he had almost made her give away Har-! ry’s confidence. She was seeing more a by chance, a realized appeared to her a prolongment of their earnest interrogation in the picture gallery; but this time it struck not should be seek at home! mever, | in re- her to-night Any place along just “Quite so!” said .Harry, with a Straight look at Kerr that made F.o-a | uncomfortable, | (TO BE CONTINUED.) ome ‘COPVIAGLL 7908 by AOD life. Then what was Harry? The bland implacable pronouncement of Shima had summoned him up to stand beside Kerr more clearly than her own eyes could have shown him Kerr, with his brilliant initiative, might carry him off, but Kerr was in town, in nae = ncnsnicinencntarcnesncininreiet estecniseneanasnaninT eo be She walked rapidly, — [ at the club. He must on secret business ye real than flesh and blood, and Kerr himself the most real thing in all her Ad & 6 “xiheliner “Take that back,” she said coldly, “and tell him that I am out; and, Shima,’—she addressed the man’s inteligence—“‘“make him understand it.” She watched the note departing. How she longed to call Shima back ea y MEE EEE stooped, and then for a moment remained thus, bent above it. - The superscription was not hers. The note was not addressed to Harry, but to her, and in a handwriting she had never seen before! Again the peal of the electric bell. Shima appeared with a third envelope. This time it was her own note Sicteminan vnnonationsae had obscurely cherished as no more real than a.fairy; but at Kerr’s acclamation it had proclaimed itself more |