e ill.

Annie went upstairs to summon her mistress.

A minute later the party below heard a scream.

Then Mrs. Stevens appeared. She was very pale.

In her hand she held a small object wrapped in paper.

"I have just found this upon my daughter's pillow," she said. "I have
not removed the paper, but I know instinctively what is within. It is
another jewel."

"I am equally sure of it," cried the colonel. "Open the package, Mrs.
Stevens."

"My hand trembles so," the lady began.

"Don't open it now," said Nick, "wait a moment. I have a suggestion to
make. And, at any rate, we all know what is within.

"Colonel Richmond. I suppose it is useless to plead with you further?"

"Quite useless," said the colonel. "Millie shall have all the jewels. I
am determined to buy them of my daughter, and make the transfer at
once."

"Well, I am beaten," said the detective. "The case has gone against me.
But I will still try to help you. I wish to call your attention to the
legal aspects of this case.

"They may surprise you, but, before, going further, I think you should
know them. You will not accept my authority, if I state the facts as
they are.

"Mrs. Stevens, is it not true that you have one of the judges of the
Supreme Court as your neighbor?"

"Yes; Judge Lorrimer is our next neighbor on the south."

"Will you kindly send your servant to his house, or perhaps--"

He glanced at Horace.

"All right, I'll go," said Horace. "I know the judge. But I don't see
what you are driving at, Mr. Carter."

"I want to persuade Colonel Richmond to get the law in the case before
he goes further. He should consult an authority about this transfer
before he makes any more promises which may or may not be legally good."

"I think it a good idea," said Colonel Richmond. "Horace, go over to the
judge's house."

During the interval while he was gone very little was done. Mrs. Stevens
sat holding the package, and apparently deeply moved.

She several times declared to Colonel Richmond that she did not wish her
daughter to get the jewels in such a way, and that she was still
convinced that human beings had planned and executed the whole strange
series of robberies and surprises.

"If it should prove," said Nick, "that this is a conspiracy, do you wish
any arrests?"

He turned toward the colonel as he spoke.

"If it does," said the colonel, with a smile, "you can arrest me. It
won't."

"But I am serious."

"So am I. Of cou