derheck listened with intense interest throughout the recital,
while a look of astonishment overspread her face as the narrative
proceeded.

The crescents were produced and Mr. Cutler brought forth the bogus ones,
which he still had in his possession, and the two pairs appeared to be
exact counterparts of each other.

The magistrate examined them with interest and care, after which he
placed them on the desk before him.

Mrs. Vanderheck's counsel then said that his client would like to relate
how the contested jewels came in her possession.

Permission being given for her to do so, the lady took the stand and
began:

"Three years ago the coming month, which, according to the dates just
given by the prosecuting counsel, was about three months after the
gentleman in Chicago was defrauded, I was boarding at the Revere House,
in Boston. While there I became acquainted with a lady--a widow who
called herself Mrs. Bent, and her appearance corresponds with the
description given of Mrs. Bently. I was very much pleased with her, for
she seemed to be a lady of very amiable character, and we became quite
intimate. She appeared to have abundant means, spent her money very
freely, and wore several diamonds of great beauty and value--among
them the crescents which were taken from me last Friday evening. About
two months after becoming acquainted with her, she came to me one day
in great distress and said that the bank, in which she was a large
stockholder, had suspended payment, and all her available funds were
locked up in it. She said she had considerable money invested in Western
land, which she might be able to turn into cash later, but until she
could do so she would be absolutely penniless--she had not even enough
ready money to defray her hotel bill, which had been presented that day.
Then with apparent reluctance and confusion she remarked that she had
often heard me admire her diamond crescents, and so she had ventured to
come and ask me if I would purchase them and thus relieve her in her
present extremity, while she offered them at a price which I considered
a great bargain. I said I would consult my husband.

"I have a weakness for diamonds--I confess that I am extravagantly fond
of them," Mrs. Vanderheck here interposed, a slight smile curling her
lips, "and my husband has generously gratified my whims in this respect.
He approved of the purchase of the crescents, provided some reliable
jeweler would warrant that