Show The H 71 j ur E Fiction FLASH OF BRILLIANCE By Richard H. H Wilkinson Corner I CONSIDERING the fact that the necklace was valued at and it was not insured Mrs Holbrook Hol Hoi brook should have been upset The fact that she wasn't astonished I even her husband for her bel husband knew her for fora a n emotional Minute excitable per per- 3 sO Fiction But BUt goo good goodlord goodlord d lord Dessl Bess You might at least act concerned I paid 50 grand for that rope Maybe you think Im I'm made of money That said Mrs Holbrook is the point Point What point Mr Holbrook Holbrook Hol brook was becoming irritated I mean said Bess Dess that Im I'm not the headed empty-headed Irresponsible Ir- Ir f responsible person you think me The diamond necklace wasn't stolen I 1 left It back In hi New York York York-lu In a safety deposit box You what The jewels that were stolen were imitations I 1 wouldn't dream of ot wearing the originals without haying hav hay ing them insured Mr Holbrooks Holbrook's mouth fell open So you see said Bess Dess It isn't as bad as it seems Rita Fenway one of the guests suddenly said But it doesn't alter the fact that theres there's a thief aboard And that means were we're all in danger of being robbed And the cruise wont won't be over for tor another week Of Ox course Mrs Holbrook said laid And nothing could be more satis saUs factory My dears consider that we are to be on the high seas for tor a week The criminal whoever he be is b will have to remain with us dur duro ing that length of ot time A week my dears will give live our clever and efficient captain ample opportunity to apprehend the thief An hour after Mrs Mn Holbrook had demonstrated her hidden genius she excused herself from a group in the main lounge and nd un n obtrusively descended to her hn cabin i After a moment she rang fang fo for th the captain Captain Talbert 01 my husband baa has undoubtedly told you about th the theft and instructed you to apprehend bend hend th the thief Yes mam i have hav two of ot th the crew making makinS a search now Instruct them to desist It will not be necessary But Dut Mrs Mn your JOur bus hua band said Never y mind hid what m my husband said Th The necklace h. h has been V re re- turned She Sh nodded toward a b box bat on her dressing table ReturneeS Returned The ne yeti 10 mean No The real ones Cap Cap- ta taut tarn D Talbert Im I'm going to take you Into my confidence The story tory I told about the necklace being Imitation was false Ive I've never worn worD false jewelry and I 1 IDever never Dever shall shaD I merely told that story so that the thief would think his loot valueless CAP CAPTAIN T A I N TALBERT'S face lighted And then you spoke about apprehending the criminal by searching for the imitations so that the thief would return Exactly The imitations weren't worth keeping and in order to dispel dis dis- pel pet the possibility of having them found in his possession he decided to return them In doing so he unintentionally un un- un intentionally returned the originals and and spared me the unpleasantness unpleasant ness ness of facing my husband husband husband-alon alone Captain Talbert nodded on- on He Be knew wh what t the word alone meant He Ile regarded Mrs Holbrook with willi frank admiration Sirs Mrs Do Hoi Hoi- brook allow aDow me to congratulate late you you yon and please understand understand understand under under- stand that Ihal you will have my mT fullest co ca After Aller a reasonable length of 01 time Ill ID announce that we have been unsuccessful In bu our search A moment later Captain Talbert went out Left alone Mrs Holbrook sat down before her mirror It ha bad been a strain strata A great strain She sighed wearily It was such suchs a relief to feel leel that once more she could return to the role of ot the irresponsible understood understood under under- ble spouse that her husband stood and expected |