Part 23 (2/2)

”So that,” he murmured--”that's where this came from!”

Alison paid no attention. Of a sudden she began digging furiously in the debris in the box, throwing out its contents by handfuls until she had uncovered the bottom without finding any sign of what she had thought to find. Then she paused, meeting his gaze with one half-wrathful, half-hysterical.

”What does this mean?” she demanded, as if ready to hold him to account.

”I think,” he said slowly--”I'm strongly inclined to believe it means that you're an uncommonly lucky woman.”

”How do you make that out?” she demanded in a breath.

”I'll tell you,” he said, formulating his theory as he spoke: ”When I came home tonight, a man pa.s.sed me at the door, fairly running out--I fancy, to escape recognition; there was something about him that seemed familiar. Then I came up here, found my door ajar, when I distinctly remembered locking it, found my windows shut and the shades drawn, when I distinctly remembered leaving them up, and finally found this knot of ribbon on the floor. I was trying to account for it when you drove up.

Now it seems plain enough that this fellow knew or suspected you of hiding the necklace in the hat, knew that I had it, and came here in my absence to steal it. He found instead this hat, and knowing no better tore it to pieces trying to find what he was after.”

”But where--where's _my_ hat?”

”I'll tell you.” Staff crossed the room and picked up the string and label which had been on the box. Returning, he examined the tag and read aloud: ”Miss Eleanor Searle.” He handed the tag to Alison. ”Find Miss Searle and you'll find your hat. It happens that she had a bandbox the exact duplicate of yours. I remember telling you about it, on the steamer. As a matter of fact, she was in the shop the afternoon you ordered your hat sent to me, though she steadily refused to tell me who was responsible for that imposition. Now, on the pier today, our luggage was placed side by side, hers with mine--both in the S section, you understand. My examination was finished first and I was taken back to my stateroom to be searched, as you know. While I was gone, her examination was evidently finished, for when I came back she had left the pier with all her things. Quite plainly she must have taken your box by mistake for her own; this, of course, is her hat. As I said at first, find Miss Searle and you'll find your hat and necklace. Also, find the person to whom you confided this gay young swindling scheme of yours, and you'll find the man who was intimate enough with the affair to come to my rooms in my absence and go direct to the bandbox for the necklace.”

”I--but I told n.o.body,” she stammered.

By the look in her eyes he disbelieved her.

”Not even Max, this morning, before he offered that reward?” he asked shrewdly.

”Well--yes; I told him.”

”Max may have confided it to somebody else: these things spread. Or possibly Jane may have blabbed.”

”Oh, no,” she protested, but without conviction in her accents; ”neither of them would be so foolish....”

”I'd find out, if I were you.”

”I shall. Meanwhile--this Miss Searle--where's she stopping?”

”I can't tell you--some hotel. It'll be easy enough to find her in the morning.”

”Will you try?”

”a.s.suredly--the first thing.”

”Then--there appears to be nothing else to do but go home,” said the woman in a curiously subdued manner.

Without replying verbally, Staff took up her chiffon wrap and draped it over her shoulders.

”Thank you,” said she, moving toward the door. ”Good night.”

”Oh,” he protested politely, ”I must see you out.”

”It's not necessary--I can find my way.”

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