Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 119: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Zozomee ‘These ain’t so fine as what they look.”’ “Tt has been in the family for years.” “Ves. Iknow. I know all about family jewels. They are never what the news- papers say about ’em. I give you a He named the price. She shook her head slightly and made no comment. It was hard to bluff with Kase. ‘“How’d I know you didn’t steal this?” he demanded abruptly, accusingly. To himself Guinnell said— “He knows that she did.” The girl replied angnly— “T don’t think it would make any differ- ence to you whether I stole it or not.” “What! You accuse-me of dealin’ with crooks! If I thought you was a thief Pd have the police this minute. This minute. But I tell you what V’ll do. I think you are a good, honest girl that needs some helpin’. Pll give you = Kase counted out the money from a thick wallet while she signed in the register. The girl swept the bills into a hand-bag, stuffing them down; then she dropped her veil and hurried out, eager to be gone. Guinnell came f&ito the room and close up behind Kase. “Oh—you,” said the old man, surprized. “You don’t make so much noise as a shadow, * do you?” ‘Who is she?”’ Gunnell asked. “Ho! You was peepin’. She is a slick one. Andpretty. There’s her name—” he pushed the book toward Guinnell. “It don’t mean nothing—a name in this book. Any old name goes.” Kase chuckled sluggishly as he lifted the necklace to the light. Guinnell read— Mrs. Harrison Webster “The ——,” he cried. ‘This name— She was no more Mrs. Harry than I am!” “What is it? What is it?’ Kase asked heavily as he bent over the book. “Mrs. Harry—a little brunette—a sleek thin, little brunette——”’ Kase’s large, short body began to shake like jelly in anervous hand as he chuckled. ‘it’s the Websters I’m visiting to- night,” said Guinnell. ‘““Ho-ho-ho-ho! It is a joke. lace—it 7s Mrs. Webster’s!” This neck- “No?” Guinnell was astonished at the girl’s impudence. “Sure. Some Webster jewels was stole 8 113 three or four years ago. I saw this necklace then. Ever’thing was recovered an’ no questions asked. The rewafdl was big. Webster wanted ’em back-’cause his grand- mother wore ’em.” “But her cold nerve—to write down Mrs. Webster’s name and address! Who is she, Kase?”’ “You think I ask my customers a lot of questions that ain’t none of my business? I am discreet.” | ‘“She’s worth knowing, Kase. I would like to meet her. That hair— I wonder who she is.” “You go and get skirts tangled in your feet—zowie! Watch your step where there are skirts.” Guinnell laid the necklace across the fin- gers of his left hand and held it to the light, examining it critically. It was an old- fashioned piece of jewelry made of coral, sapphires, diamonds, ornamental settings and a pendant rose diamond. “‘There’s been no report of robbery.” ““My boy, maybe Mrs. Webster don’t know what’s happened yet.” “Then,” said Guinnell, “she has been clever to get away with this and not makea noise. Mrs. Harry is not a silent loser at whist, jewels or—love. Just now she’s playing a desperate game.”’ Kase eyed him shrewdly, asking— ““She’s a brunette?” “Black as the Queen of Spades—inside and out. The devil’s daughter and must play with fire.” ‘““And Webster?” Kase asked. “Webster? A little stupid but a gentle- man.” : “Bah,” said Kase. “You gentlemen make me tired. You’re always doin’ what you. should be ashamed of but ain’t. I don’t like gentlemen. I like fellers you can always count on.” _ They went through the dirty little room by which Guinnell had entered the office, crossed the hall and passed into the manu- facturing jeweler’s, where Guinnell critic- ally examined many new ornaments. "8 THE Harrison Websters were giving Bag a lawn-party in the glow of electric- ally lighted paper lanterns strung by the hundreds about the house and dangling from shrubs. A reporter spoke of it as “literally a bril- ~ liant affair;’ and so it was. Very much of GomiGcdooks (C@