1914-02-07 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

SHORT STORY.

THE QUEEN'S PEARL.

BY EDITH ́MACVANF.

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circumstances:

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1914.

Wilmbutz

your cigarette-c 185!"

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"Bat the very fact of the crack," cried Raoul," proved that it wasn't a pearl at all ! " -

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ix Raoul will be downstairs"

raised for an instant, fixed them rosy and sparkling in her white nese von Wilmhuis? " Safor ten minutos Fanny talked. For an instant he stared at her calves fiery on the oigarette in cloak, Fanny Gordon entered the Fanny nodded. Her bright Ting!

as if she were mad; then, with Fanny Gordon's band,

room. The waiter closed the eyes danced with triumph. Ber The gilt clock on the chimney, admirable sang froid, drew from "Read the card, Baroness, and door. Fanny ustered a little gasp youth, the consciousness piece chimed one. Half past six bis pocket a oaso of plain burnish you'll understand what a mistake of delight; for there on the table, success, made of her an entrano

Fanny started. Then sheed silver, which he opened and you've made!" said the latter amid the glistening whiteness of ing vision. swallowed hard, licked her dry politely presented to the young sweatly.

linen and crystal, she beheld tho The Vicomte lang out his lips into a smile, and leaned girl. With a swift geature the The Baroness, covering the valise of Toglish leather which hands in token "of surrender. toward the other woman: Belected one of the gold tipped pearl, picked up a card that lay she herself and carried from the And I-I thought you were a

Say, but I've pretty nearly cigarettes within, replaced it with beside it. She sorted. Bushing Gaie du Nord to the Gare de fool!" talked you seleep, haven't I? And the slightly burned cigarette an angry red. Then, thrusting Lyon.

"But you didn't know all the Mademoiselle began the foots! "returned Fanny eagerly. I've talked myself dry, I know she carried in her hand, sapped her recovered treasure under her that. Say, maybe you're right the caso ebut, and restored it to arm, she forced herself to calm inspector, with unconcealed on-" You see, the other day, after the

good. him.

ger, "I hear that a very grave adventure of the piano, the about cigarettes being

Into your inside pocket! "It was a mistake. Mademo. blunder has been made. It you'll let me, I'll try one!

The Baronesa divined that I was after selle. I withdraw my charge. Swabian porrl, for which the the pearl. So she muzzled me in And, laughing, she stretched Quick!" Concluda from last Saturday)

Mon Dieu, mademon sile! Good evening!" And, drawing reward has to-day been raised to a manner that was a compliment That afternoon, after two hours original and artistic," she out her hand toward the case. In painful and iolence thinking in a obsevad. "I don't wonder you spite of her languid grace, the But you Americans are born her cloak about her, she swept up half a million france-I repeat, to to my character-by presenting half a million francena de me with the pearl itself, to keep was mad!'

the ball toward the lift darkened rooin, Funny Qurden were ready to eat these two brats Baronesa" von

Novertheless, he obeyed her, For once in hise, the Vicomte liberately been given back into for her. So there I was, bound The next justant the door of the de Chatellerault came near to the hands of the thief, while in honour, bound hand and foot! leaped from lier sofa, snapping when they ron ff with it this quicker than her guest.

"Permit me, ch rie!"

He Monsieur the Vicomte de Chatel- Then, by accident, I dropped the ber fingers like one who has found morning. May I look at it?"

And, selecting a cigarette with lift opened, and a tall figare, losing his self-command.

long wrap of black walked up to Fanny, His face lerault and I are sent about like pearl. It cracked. My despair!" an answer to a knotty problem. And with a sudden gesture ebe And, sitting at her desk. so resched out I er hand and picked a burnished tip, she passed it wearing a swiftly wrote the following 13: up, the cigarette-case from the amilingly to her guest. Then, satin and fur, emerged and almost was white, bis eyes glittered like porters, carrying piecos of old

"We have been working on the wide arm of the Baroness' ebaise-triking a match from her little ran down the ball. Fanny, with two pin-points of rage. He spoke luggage about Paria-

Fanny Gordon raised her wrong track. Pleso be in the longue: A sharp sense of adven- gold box, she performed the slow step, as if her walk had under his breath;

been an uninterrupted one, stroll- "Mademoiselle, I trusted you! quivering hand. Her voice was "So I learned when I carried hall of the Astoris to-night at half tara posaraved ber, born of two graceful service of lighting it.

it to Cartier's to be mended. And the Biri nesa' On the table, like a little ed on toward the door. With And yet, having obtained posses. shaky, b'r colour was high,

"Please, monsieur," she beg- I learned moreover, that they past six beside the desk "of the clerk. I have information for quick breath, which had in it frontier province between two furious haste, the Baroness von eion-of-of it, you deliberately

Wilmbutz swept up to the deek, gave it back to that woman!" ged, "won't you open the valien themselves had obtained that something indescribably menac-hungry powers, by the case. you."-FG.

Whatever was Foleno's inward where the clerk, sleek and Though Fanny's mien was one first? Afterward you can acold magnificent piece of spoof for a lady, a client of theirs, only the This missivà she despatchol lying and savage; and a flashing special messenger. Then, having vision of the morning's strange nude, her outward calm was prosperous, sat watching over the careless and delicate coquetry. me as much as you like."

her roply was a frantic force. The inspector, grunting, drew other day. So I eaid to myself: stool for an singt deep in scens, of the upliftad iron poker, superb. "You make me quite "omfort of his guesta.

**Monsieur, I demand that you "Vicomte, obey We hava bunch of skeleton-kye from What is her motive in placing ext detain that young American lady no recondo lose! Take bis pocket In a few moments this falso pearl in my possession thought, she unlucked her trunk and the flwrds shrieked at envious. I must have a smoke

tco!' she said. The and took from it a stationer, the little dogs,

Search he taxicab, gire the man a loui- the valise, sprawling open, die-And where is the real one, the "It's 60; recions to me! "sigh- moment it was with diffionity Call the police! of cardboard, ab ut eight inches. by sin. The cover, when sho re-ed Helene snimentully. You that Fanny restrained herself from search her room! She has stolen for extra aned, drive to the Gare played a highly coloured and con- great pearl of Swabia? Not in pearl worth three de Lyon! Udroll that cigarette fused assortment of such articles her possession. So much your moved it, disclread tho interior know why, cheriellero-please brieking aloud; for her hostess, from me a

with them when elaborate search had proved. carefully selecting the longest million franos!"

I gave you. pressut the alip of a ladies curry? already packed neatly with tissue give it back to me!"'

For an instant there was silence. paper at the consigne. Take the they travel.

Then all of a sudden I remember- With a sympathetic smilo that cigarette, plared its dull gold tip

Swiftly the contents were hurled that valise the valise which paper and white absorbent cotton. Taking

a sheet of note paper, she veiled a sigh, Fanny laid the open daintily between her rouged lips. Then the foyer hummed with article to which it entitles y burriedly wrote a couple of linos fo upon the table. After all, and, striking a war match, touch-excitement. While Fanny Gordon, Then, on driving back, call for a od out to right and left over the she herself was afraid to approach, the centre of all the excitement, member of the Storat Police-th dainty settings of the dinner-and had employed me to carry upon it. signing the name of as it not possible that the Baro-ed the yellow flame to the tip

The tip glowed red The turned deliberately and walked Chief, if possible! Then to the table: ilk stockings, lingerie, for her from the Gate du Nord to Hazel Perkins. Laying this spoke the truth ?-since a message on top of the tissue minute, ex muntion if the cig. wbi spiral of smoke what up-back to the desk. The Vicomte Ritz-engage a private dining yellow-backed novels, satin slip the consigne at the Gare de Lyon where thieves hide their booty, paper, abe tied up the box with rette-care had proved the absolute ward. Fanny trombled all over. de Chatellerault, standing digni- room. I will join you there ipers, silver and orystal toilet the consigne of Paris, monsieur, nonexistence of any reason, except-Пelene's-IR-ga gray oyes metfiedly aloof, groaned within him- an hour's time. If I am late, boxes, a morocco jewellry case.

Upon this last the inspector even murderers their dead!"- flung himself. It contained a watch 'The Vicomte nodded quickly. the sentimental one alloged, for hira, it mad to her that she self. its amazing preciouaness to its in them a cold and con

and chain, set in turquoisos."Yes, even last week!: "But ga owner. Lining it had one, or ir aptuous defianco.

With a mattered explosion, be on." Bib! Mademoiselle, thees seoret pocket; nor the slightest possibility of any contente ex-Fench c'garettes are no better capt its nornal und legitimate one thao poiron. Fling yours away of a row of gold-tipped Egyptian like this!" and, suiting the Botion to the word, she pinched cigarettes,

With a greedy gesture, the the smoldering tip of her cigaretto Baroness stratobod out her hand and tossed it behind her.

There it lay on the rug. For Lo snatch up her treasure. Then, catching Fanny's ore fixed upon an instant Fanny contemplated her, ehe sermod by

professional neatness and a large

number of accurately made red seals. Taking up the pen again, she wrote the address:

Baroness Helena F.' Wilmkutz

Hotel Astoria.

The package thus completed, she carried it downstairs to the clerk, and bade him put it at once into the salo; then at eight o'clock, when the Baroness came down to dinner, to deliver it per sonally into her hands.

This little affair concluded, she went f, deep in thought, to her singing lesson.

The lady who represented the object and intention of these lessons did not, however, appear. The lines on Fanuy's white fore bead deepened, Rat an hour later, whoe, with her lule dug andor her arm, she knocked at the door of the Brones' room, nothing could have succes to the caro f.eo ro-izees of her gulich' beauty.

Sty, Bironhan ! I've got just the dandiest now ever-a leller from momma. She'll be horn te- morrow. night! ., Isn't „grand ?"

"Then ad ou to our charming intimacy, dear child!" Baroness, a beautiful picture in her tea-gown of white satin and fur, moved languilly on her pink silk cushions an! sighed.

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She smiled winningly at hr hostess "I'm going back to my room

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her head whirled, her pine wa the only straw in sight, and Fanny to her now. graspol it.

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flang it to the floor. Raoul mean- So this morning my opinion while, with eager hands, was was confirmed.. By accident, an opening and testing, the books. odd little adventure with my dug The inspector, with a grim face, caused her to betray the immense began on the orystal pomade-value she attached to her ciga- boxes and the rolls of lingerie.rette-case which could not pos

wait for my coming before open She's bangled it! That's ing the bag. what I get for trusting an Ameri- The Vicomte, listening to her can: She'll get us into the papers, coldly, shook his head.

"Pardon me, mademoiselie, ba: and spoil all)

Search her!" domanded the I have time for no wild-goose "Beizs her obases to the Gare de Lyon Baronere fiercely. Telephone for the polios! Now that I have seen the pearl "Mademoiselle!" tesought the with my own eyes, it shall not slip horrified proprietor, I am sure, through my bands as you lot if you will, you can explain this slip through yours. No; now Fanny, very white, ran her sibly contain the pearl itself, and disagreeable circumstance bave the certainty of its where hande about the lining of the therefore must contain the key

to its possession! " Fanny Gordon, with anruffled abouts, I telephone to my Chief valise Nothing! D great the use of violence. But not

from this very hotel. I remain' "Mademoiselle, I hope you are Softly the Vicomte clapped his muscular effat to dominate her only was the blonde Baroness calm, turned to the clerk,

"Monsieur, will you kindly here, and we take decisive mea- pleased with the result of your hands. "Well reasoned, made- betraying agerness, iostower larger and more powerful then

cleverness!" snarled the inspec-moiselle Goloo!"

What else ie there to tell? merely a light cross upon her Fanny, but, if she acquired fetch the package that I gave you suren to-night!"

"Itke full responsibility for tor, in a bitterness of disappoint- belovel convenir, and ank back notiety in the police courts, this afternoon ?"

Io a moment she ment that overcome bia good When I wrote you this afternoon to ask you to be at the hotel at again among her embroidered Fanny would entirely ruin her The fat little Frenchman turned the Baroness.

Raoul said nothing; but, bie half past six, it was to tell you cushions. By some strange en per- future with the S-cret Service of to his superior. "Monsieur, it is will dent on her way to the manbers.

in the safe. If you will have the are.de Lyon. For the love of sense, rather than by the exercise Paria. No; softly, softly-

goodness to help me open it-"

God, Vicomte, do as I say-go!" blue eyes, fixed in silence upon that our search must now be of her actual sight, Fanny was

A moment later they reappear By the very intensity of the her, made her realize that she directed, not toward seeking the Queen's pearl, but a claim- awere that the gray eyes smiling

to dress now," she an-ed, the clerk currying Fanny's will power that bluzed from her had lost his respect, Ho sweatly upon her were on

And yet," she said, with tears check on the consigne at the Gare dark eyea, by the icy fore of her nounced: And say, when are nearly sealed stationery box. "Monsieur, one icatant. guard like those of lion-tamor.

whispered command, be bent in her eyes," it is impossible that de Lyon; a elip of white paper "When mymail como, we you going to let me give you

I should be mistaken in my three inches by two. Had the innst all go to the opera ovezing. back that pear? Three million what hour did I give you that the unwilling young man

Baroness Helene, in rolling it into obedience. With the helplos reasoning-"

“Mademoiselle,” returned the a cigarette, clipped a quarter the begio. Then suddenly her francs-" She stopped short, packa :o?

"At four o'clock this afternoon, gesture of one who despises him. voice wavered, her colour rose. Into the back of her brain shot a

reallection of cert in words of mademirelli !"

self for obaying, he repented her inspector brutally, it is not inch from its length and gilded She caught her breath.

"And with what instructions?" directions, turned, and swiftly your reasoning that we are ite tip with gold lest instead of th.t "Towser, hero, you qu't biting the Bironess, that night she bod

ordinary gilt paint, she would "That I should give it to the vanished through the hotel door. seeking, but the pearl-" my shoo!

she cried, with n poke come to the young girl's room

FannyGordon, deep in thought, Suddenly, with a little cry, probably never have lost it. How- of her font at the tiny Pomeranian with the pearl. She had been Baronese von Wilmbu's when she

As she Fanay flung berself on a pair of ever, she neglected these little Thon, with the garest is in the shaking with horror-of what?ome down to dinner, mademi-returned to her room.

While on my Tho

Tumblad with her key, the door satin slippers, each on its tree, precautions. world, she continue to ouling And was that horror real or salle"

"Very well. You may give it of the room opposite suddenly which had been flang into the side, had luckily taken my pre- schemes of "cut inment. But feigned? At any rate, here was

opened and the Baroness slid cut heap of searched and rejected cautions against the purpose with The Baroness, taking the box The next instant Fanny's wrist articles. With swift hands she which I was sure she had put the For only in that intent has hor "Three million francs," shy with obvious reluctance, hesitated was seized and, with a dexterity jerked out the wooden forms false pearl in my keeping; this "Now, madaine, don't say

that spoke of expat knowledge, from the slippers. The second is, if necessity arose, to charge that!" returned Fanny, with an yes taken in the fact that of whispered. It's more than one and turned away

"I'll take it to my ro mh," she Rsool's cigaretie was extra sted tree, turned upside down, proved me with its theft. As you saw, I the half dozen cigarettes in the person is meant to have the embarrassed air, "I'm sure meme'll be avery, bit na crazy open care of the Baroness Helone, responsibility of and I aid, with a coldly shrinking look from it. The next instant the to be roughly hollowed out bo-had already placed it in the hands. opposite door was closed and the neath and filled with cotton wool. of the clerk, with a little message "Pardon me, mademoiselle!"inside: 'Ask Cartier to buy about you as I am myself! And, one was fully a quarter of an inch Baronesa there at your fool! A at the crowd about her..

Fanny raised her hand. "No. corridor was as lonely as before. anyway, we have to practise our linger than its mites, and tippel rat A big gray rat!" duets. O, koy! why weren't with all instead of with burnish The foum echced to the Bro-Stop! Monsieur the proprietor, the Fanny gasped. But for the van- The inspector had taken the tree another one for you, and send the

· ́ed goll.

ness' answering atriek. Gather Baroness von Wilmhniz has jabed cigarette, she might have from Fanny's trembling hands.bill to me! So, seeing I know you there t'is afternoon, at this

ing her white sutin, spero publicly brought against me have thought the incident a With a fork from the dinner of her fraud, she swallowed her

table, he carefully pried out its defeat in silence." 10 son at Calderoni's?”

The Vicomte leaned across the Fler lips continued to move, about her, she sprang ninibly charge of the almost gravity, I dream. The Baronessigkod ngain

Then she grinned. "It tegina closely packed contents. Then, an upon the table. And Fanny, have the right to demand that

beard." delicately. "I don't know. I oqlining the schemes of

he said in a low voice," that the lidn't really feel in the mood. automobile excursion with " mom-burling herself forward, snatched my vindication to as public. to look as if my theories might with a swift touch, he unrolled table. "I suppose yon to Sint-Germain-en-Laye, the coveted cigarette from the Demand of madame that she open have some basis of fact!" she the cotton wool.

"Nom d'un nom d'un nom!" Prince Consort, grown desperate, Faid to herself. And, ontering And then, I've a bit of a core the while her mind worked busily. cart 38, and fled toward the door that box!!!

For there, upon its bed of wired to-day that the reward had "In this woman before me it In the instant in wh'e' she Before the proprietor could open her room, she made a hasty toilet

white wool, shining with a white been increased to half a million VIIL

lustre that held in it something francs. You, mademoiselle, de- is evident that I am dealing with fumbled with the knob, ber back his mouth, the Baroness turned for dinner. an intelligence of the very firet ward glancing eyes beheld an with a look of disdain. "There

must first pass through the handa rler. Such intellects, wa are infuriated woman with a knife is no need of this theatrical dis At eight o'clock, with a dis-of enchantment, lay an immense serve it all! But, unluckily, it told by foremost students of crime, upraised in ber hand.

play," he said. "If you insist, oreet dinner drese of dark blue pearl. The do'r yielded. Fanny slip-of entrse I will open the box hero, iridescent embroidery under her Half an hour later, in the of the police. But, I vouch for it, cloak, Fanny Gordon entered the crowded dining-room of the Ritz, your share shall be no less than a "Too many of those," she said hide their objects of value by

Fanoy Gordon and the Vicomie hundred and thirty thousand acousingly. "You're amoking not putting them in hiding-places ping through, slamm dit tshiad Give me a knife!"

Awkwardly her soft hands cat Ritz. at all. Cironmstance, however, ber. The thought in her mind

his "Please take me to the private de Chatellerault eat faging" each franca." them all the time. Of course, has force one to betray that was: "How lucky that I kept the knots, In spite of

The colour deepened in Fanny's you've got no voice left!

Jacs. Never had she looked more "Which being true," smiled her cigarette case is the hiding-on my street clothes, while Helone deliberately assumed indifference, dining-room of the Vicomte de other at a little flower-trimmed

Raoul de Chatellerault was among Chatellerault!" she commanded table. the Baroness Heloue, "I might as place of something exceedingly must wait for a cloak!"

Down the corridor she flashed. those who crowded up to see what briefly.

fragilely feminine, "Not bad, a I cinnot understand-" well profit by the fact to take precious. And now the question another!" And, stretching ont is: who is going to win out, she Luckily a lift was de coding, the opening of the box would

She signalled it, and a moment disclose. The next moment the nebered into a small dining-room Fanny laughed. "One pearl, week's work !" she mused. Then a creamy and jewelled band, she or [?"

Meanwhile, with her eyes on lator found herself downstairs in blood rashed into his brain. For furnished with great elegance in Vicomte," she corrected, "and one she raised her glass, with a little

triumphant smile. helped herself to a gold-tippel

the clock, her sudden thought the ball of the hotel. Reoul, that there, when the tissue-papor the English style; while on either exquisite piece of imitation !'"

The Vicomte drew a long" Come, Vicomte, let us drink cigarette.

good Raoul! Sure enough, there wrappings withdrawn, his strain-side of the prettily set table stood ran:..

"Twenty after six. No, she's he was, standing by the deak.ing eyes descried for a moment the Vicomte de Chatellerault and breath. "Then that was the pearl to the two much coddled little adaaporate woman, Beat for me She walked up to him, smiled, the white and luminous catlines a short, stout man with fierce which the inspector took off with pets that we have saved from him just now? And the imitation disaster the Swabian Heir Ap Here is the young lady, In- which you restored to the Baro parent and the Peace of Europe not to move alone. At half past and spoke in a swift nadertone of an enormous pearl. Then the moustaches.

Vicomte, quick! Give me Bircness' beautiful gray eyes,

apestor 1 "' ssid Rosul peasily, an,

throat-"

The young judgo printed severely at the elegant trifle of braided grass and turquoisos, ly. ing open on the ten-table besile

.her hostess.

Fanny, stooping, gave sugar lo the little dogs. Her eyes were, however, on the cigarette-rose.

What a perfect alunner it is

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The next moment she" Bat mademoiselle, two pearlal disarmingly youthful, more

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