on the circumstance because it prompted an idea which suddenly
set me to laughing. Genevieve looked at me in alarm.

"What in the world!" she marvelled, for the silence had been very
sedate.

"Little girl," I at last enlightened her, "it will pay you to go with
me when we leave here--to the Central Station. There 's something I
want us to enjoy together; it will compensate for a deal of your late
trouble and anxiety."

"What is it?"

"I want to hand Alexander Burke these papers, tell him they 're what
was hidden in the table--then quietly watch him while he reads."

I meant to do it, too. But Genevieve failed to enter into the spirit
of the suggestion.

"Mercy!" she shuddered. "I don't want to gloat over the poor wretch."

I said no more about it, but--well, the result was all that I had
anticipated.

Genevieve reminded me that we should be thankful for having been
relieved from a final perplexity.

"I don't understand," said I.

"Why, we haven't the ruby to dispose of; that would have puzzled even
you."

"I don't know about that. Royal gave it to me. I see where I stand to
lose a fortune. Five hundred thousand--_whew_!"

Suddenly she snuggled closer and clasped her hands tightly upon my
shoulder. Her hair teased my cheek, and the delicate perfume of it
made me light-headed. Twisting her pretty head sideways, she flashed
an arch look at me from under her lashes, then glanced quickly away
again. Blue eyes and long dark lashes are a potently disturbing
combination.

"Well," she sighed, "the Page case may have cost you a fortune, but--it
gave you _me_. And _I_--for one--am very content and happy, Mr. Swift."

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's The Paternoster Ruby, by Charles Edmonds Walk

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