d shall I tell you why? Even if,
which is not likely, there was something reverting to me over the
purchase price, it would be a paltry thing compared with the mine. I
have a wife and children. If I have worked for them all my life, could I
stand back now at the last and see them robbed of their inheritance by a
black-hearted scoundrel when I could still lift a hand to prevent it!
I had one way left. What is my life? I am too old a man to cling to it
where they are concerned. I have referred to my insurance several times.
I have always carried heavy insurance"--he smiled a little curious,
mirthless smile--"THAT HAS NO SUICIDE CLAUSE." He swept his hand over
the desk, indicating the papers scattered there. "I have worked late
to-night getting my affairs in order. My total insurance is fifty-two
thousand dollars, though I couldn't BORROW anywhere near the full amount
on it--but at my death, paid in full, it would satisfy the note. My
executors, by instruction would pay the note--and no dollar from the
mine, no single grain of gold, not an ounce of quartz, would Markel ever
get his hands on, and my wife and children would be saved. That is--"

His words ended abruptly--with a little gasp. Jimmie Dale had opened
the cash box and was dangling the necklace under the light--a stream of
fiery, flashing, sparkling gems.

Then Wilbur spoke again, a hard, bitter note in his voice, pointing his
hand at the necklace.

"But now, on top of everything, you have brought me disgrace--because
you broke into his safe to-night for THAT? He would and will accuse me.
I have heard of you--the Gray Seal--you have done a pitiful night's work
in your greed for that thing there."

"For this?" Jimmie Dale smiled ironically, holding the necklace up.
Then he shook his head. "I didn't break into Markel's safe for this--it
wouldn't have been worth while. It's only paste."

"PASTE!" exclaimed Wilbur, in a slow way.

"Paste," said Jimmie Dale placidly, dropping the necklace back into its
case. "Quite in keeping with Markel, isn't it--to make a sensation on
the cheap?"

"But that doesn't change matters!" Wilbur cried out sharply, after a
numbed instant's pause. "You still broke into the safe, even if you
didn't know then that the necklace was paste."

"Ah, but, you see--I did know then," said Jimmie Dale softly. "I am
really--you must take my word for it--a very good judge of stones, and I
had--er--seen these before."

Wilbur stared--bewildered