Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

450 Raymond Bates and Harden Brooke were talking over the absence of the jew- els from the safe, and it was evident that the former was suspicious, yet Brooke’s reputation for absolute honesty and un- blemished integrity had spread far beyond the bounds of Bellsville. ‘But how do you account for it, Mr. Brooke?” Raymond demanded, as Letha reached the half-open door. “ You said the jewelry was in this safe, and-that the only reason you could not show it to me was that you couldn’t get the door open. Yet, when I opened it—very easily, con- sidering that you couldn’t do it with all your trouble, there was nothing inside but a few books and bundles of law papers. The question is, where are my mother’s jewels?” | Mechanically, Harden fumbled among the papers in the safe, while his mind worked busily. He could not see a way out, but it was some relief not to be obliged to look into Raymond Bates’s in- credulous face. Harden was not used to deception. “You can’t find them, can you?” barked Raymond. ‘No. They certainly are not here.” “Well, then, what is your theory?” Raymond Bates was the son of a wealthy man, and most of his time was devoted to the mere joy of living. But he had inherited the business instinct, and his tones were hard. “There is only one theory,” replied Harden. “ That is, that. the jewelry must have been stolen for the second time.” ‘That seems to be the only explana- tion,’ assented Raymond, with a keen look. ‘‘ Yet I don’t understand why you could not open the door, when it gave way at my first pull.” “That is very simple. Everybody knows that often a defective lock will stick fast for a long time, and then, all at once, without any apparent reason, yield of its own accord. This safe lock has its whims, like any other.” It was at this moment that Harden caught sight of Letha standing at the door, THE ARGOSY. He was quick to seize an opportunity, by speaking to her, to turn Raymond Bates’s thoughts in another direction for a few moments. “Good afternoon, Letha!”’ ‘““Good afternoon,” she responded. “TI -beg your pardon if I am intruding. But I could not help overhearing you say that you had missed some _ valuable property, and—” ‘““Mr. Raymond Bates—Miss Severly,” interrupted Harden, introducing them. She smiled graciously upon the tall Mr. Bates, and he, embarrassed by the unex- pected advent of a beautiful young wo- man, blushed until his neck, face, and par- ticularly his out-standing ears, were in a condition of violent inflammation. “Miss Severly is my cousin—several times removed,” explained Harden. “Indeed? You are to be pit—I mean, envied, of course. Ahem! Ah! I—er— beg your pardon!” stammered Raymond. While young Mr. Bates—never quite composed in the presence of a pretty girl —floundered miserably in his endeavor to present a graceful front, Letha conveyed to Harden, with a slight raising of her brows and a lightning dart from her dark eyes, that he must follow her lead. ‘Was it the beautiful necklace and things you showed me last night that you were looking for in that safe, Harden?” she asked, smiling. “Yes,” cut in Raymond, becoming more coherent when business took the place of social exchanges. ‘‘ They belonged to my mother. They were taken from our house by a burglar, who was captured. Later they were placed in the care of Mr. Brooke. I came here to identify them. But when we opened the safe—” “They were not there,’ interrupted Letha, still smiling. ‘I could have told you that before you looked.” “You?” broke out Harden. what can you know about—”’ “Mr. Bates,” she continued, calmly, ignoring Harden’s interjection, “‘ that safe is not-to be trusted. You have seen that for yourself. The jewelry belonging to 6c Why, comicloool C©