r the
lights.

"This is the article you spoke of," said he. "Quite handsome. But I feel
sure that it is in no way connected with the unhappy affair at
Stanwick."

Ashton-Kirk took the jewels in his hand and examined them keenly. Then
he held them out to Scanlon.

"What do you think?" he asked. "I have only a description to go by, but
you must have seen the stones frequently at close hand. Are they the
same?"

Scanlon needed only one glance.

"They are," returned he; "I'd know this necklace among a thousand."

"The lady who left them with me," said Quigley, still hopeful, "was
quite respectable. I'd vouch for that at any time. She is a widow and
was once in good circumstances."

"You know her, then?" said Ashton-Kirk.

"Oh, yes; we have had a number of small----" But here the man paused
abruptly; then he began a fit of coughing which was unquestionably
intended to cover the break. "Oh, yes," he resumed, "I know her quite
well."

"You were about to say," spoke Ashton-Kirk, coolly, "that you have had a
number of small transactions with her. How recent were these?"

Quigley blew his nose violently and cleared his throat, as though the
coughing spell had left him in an obstructed condition.

"Why," he gasped, trying to assume a most confidential manner, "that
would be rather difficult to say. You see, I keep a very neglectful run
of these people, and my memory is really very poor."

"The necklace was not the only jewel stolen at Stanwick," said
Ashton-Kirk, quietly. "There were a number of other pieces, and I must
really insist that you cudgel your mind for the facts. You must have
entries somewhere in your books. I am asking this as a favor; of course,
if the police were requested to appear in the matter they would use
methods entirely different from----"

"It is barely possible that my clerk has some record of these things,"
said Quigley, hastily. "Just one moment, please, and I will ascertain."

He went into an inner office, took a book from a desk drawer and began
turning the leaves with a moistened thumb. Scanlon, catching the eye of
the investigator, winked knowingly.

"Why, to be sure," said Quigley. "Of course! Here it is, fortunately.
She has been in the office three times in the past week."

Ashton-Kirk stepped behind the counter and into the inner office, and
coolly looked over the broker's shoulder.

"Do you see?" asked Quigley. "Right here. There are three rings in one
item; and there is a