nt mystery of the florist was lucid when Jones found that the
hotel exchanged its shop-worn plants with the Greenwich Floral Company.
His roaming eye, keen for every detail, had noticed a row of tubbed
azaleas within the ground enclosure of the Denton. Recalling this to
mind, it was easy for the Ad-Visor to surmise that the gem had dropped
from the fire-escape into a tub, which was, shortly after, shipped
to the florist. Thus it was apparent that the three jewels had been
stripped from the necklace by forcible contact with the iron rail of the
fire-escape at the point where Average Jones had found the "color" of
precious metal. The stones were identified by Kirby, from a peculiarity
in the setting, as the end three, nearest the clasp at the back; a
point which Jones carefully noted. But there the trail ended. No more
fire-blue stones came in.

For three weeks Average Jones issued advertisements like commands. The
advertisements would, perhaps, have struck the formal-minded Kirby as
evidences of a wavering intellect. Indeed, they present a curious and
incongruous appearance upon the page of Average Jones' scrapbook, where
they now mark a successful conclusion. The first reads as follows:

OH, YOU HOTEL MEN! Come through with the
dope on H. M. G. What's he done to your place?
Put a stamp on it and we'll swap dates on his past
performances.
A. Jones, Astor Court Temple, New York City.

This was spread abroad through the medium of Mine Host's Weekly and
other organs of the hotel trade.

It was followed by this, of a somewhat later date:

WANTED-Slippery Sams, Human Eels, Fetter
Kings etc Liberal reward to artist who sold
Second-hand amateur, with instructions for
use. Send full details, time and place to
A. Jones, Court Temple, New York City.

Variety, the Clipper and the Billboard scattered the appeal broadcast
throughout "the profession." Thousands read it, and one answered it. And
within a few days after receiving that answer Jones wired to Kirby:

"Probably found. Bring Mrs. Hale to-morrow at 11. Answer. A. JONES."

Kirby answered. He also telegraphed voluminously to his ex-fiancee, who
had returned to her home, and who replied that she would leave by the
night train. Some minutes before the hour the pair were at Average
Jones' office. Kirby fairly pranced with impatience while they were kept
waiting in a side room. The only other occupant was a man with a la