"Can't you remember the least thing about him?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing."

"Where were the Crawfords?"

"I did not wait to see them. My cab was ahead of theirs. What shall

we do?"

"Notify the police; it's all we can do. They cost me an even ten

thousand, Kitty. And I told you not to wear them on a night like this.

I'm discouraged. I want to get out of this blasted country. I'm

hoodooed." Killigrew walked the floor. He took out a cigar, eyed it

thoughtfully, and returned it to his pocket. "Because they happen to

Advertisement..

be born in this smoke, they think the way they do things is the last

word on the subject. I'd like to show them."

"Dad,"--with a bit of a smile,--"I know what the trouble is. You want

to go home."

"And that's the truth. This is the first trip abroad I ever took with

you and your mother, and it's going to be the last. I can't live out

of my element, which is hurry and bustle and getting things done

quickly. I'm a fish out of water. I want to go home; I want to see

the Giants wallop the Cubs; and I want my two-weeks' bass fishing. But

I'll hang on till the end of June as I promised. Ten thousand in

sapphires you couldn't match in a hundred years, and Molly coming in

banged up like a prize-fighter! . . . Someone at the door."

It proved to be Crawford.

"Glad you got back safely," he said relievedly.

"Had her necklace stolen," replied Killigrew briefly.

"You don't mean to say. . . ."

Kitty recounted her amazing adventure.

"And my wife's ruby is gone." Crawford made the disclosure simply. He

was a quiet man; he had learned the futility of gestures, of wasting

words in lamentation.

"Good gracious!" exclaimed Kitty.

"The windows of the cab were down. I stood outside, smoking to pass

the time. Suddenly I heard Mrs. Crawford cry out. A hand had reached

in from the off side, clutched the pendant, twisted it off, and was

gone. All quicker than I can tell it. I tried to give chase, but it

was utter folly. I couldn't see anything two feet away. Mrs. Crawford

is a bit knocked up over it. Rather sinister stone, if its history is

a true one: the Nana Sahib's ruby, you know. For the jewel itself I

don't care. I never liked to see her wear it."




Most Popular