wants to speak to Mr. Macdougal."

"He's gone out, sure," the elevator boy remarked. "Shall I wait for you,
Miss Lenora?" he asked, as they descended into the hall.

"Do," she begged. "I sha'n't be more than a minute or two."

She walked quickly to the back part of the hotel and ascended in another
elevator to the wing in which the servants' quarters were situated. Here
she made her way along a corridor until she reached Macdougal's room. She
knocked, and knocked again. There was no answer. She tried the door and
found it was locked. Then she returned to the elevator and descended once
more to the floor upon which her mistress's apartments were situated. She
opened the door of the suite without knocking and turned at once to the
sitting-room.

"I am sorry, my lady," she began--

Then she stopped short. The elevator boy, who had had a little trouble
with his starting apparatus and had not as yet descended, heard the scream
which broke from her lips, and a fireman in an adjacent corridor came
running up almost at the same moment. Lenora was on her knees by her
mistress's side. Ella was still lying in the easy-chair in which she had
been seated, but her head was thrown back in an unnatural fashion. There
was a red mark just across her throat. The small table by her side had
been overturned, and the chocolate was running in a little stream across
the floor. The elevator boy was the first to speak.

"Holy shakes!" he exclaimed. "What's happened?"

"Can't you see?" Lenora shrieked. "She's fainted! And the diamonds--the
diamonds have gone!"

The fireman was already at the telephone. In less than a minute one of the
managers from the office came running in. Lenora was dashing water into
Ella's still, cold face.

"She's fainted!" she shrieked. "Fetch a doctor, some one. The diamonds
have gone!"

The young man was already at the telephone. His hand shook as he took up
the receiver. He turned to the elevator boy.

"Run across to number seventy-three--Doctor Morton's," he ordered. "Don't
you let any one come in, fireman. Don't either of you say a word about
this. Here, Exchange, urgent call. Give me the police-station--yes,
police-station!... Don't be a fool, girl," he added under his breath. "You
won't do any good throwing water on her like that. Let her alone for a
moment.... Yes! Manager, Leeland Hotel, speaking. A murder and robbery
have taken place in this hotel, suite number forty-three. I am there now.
Nothing s