the work laid out for the morning, and dashed off in a
taxi on a moment's notice. Clo's little face at the window of a
tenth-rate boarding-house told her nothing new. Clo was always pale.
When the girl dropped to her knees it looked to Ellen as if that
attitude were more convenient for throwing down the bag. No sound of a
pistol shot reached Ellen's ears over the noises of the street. She
heard only the "teuf-teuf" of her own taxi, and the snort of a big gray
car which had at that instant come to a stop close by. Miss Blackburne
was used to odd adventures, and prided herself on "keeping cool," but
she could not help giving an undignified jump as a man sprang out of the
gray limousine and laid a hand on her arm.

"What is in that bag and where are you taking it? I've a right to know,"
he said sharply. "I'm a friend of Miss Riley."

Ellen grabbed at the door of her taxi. The man was about thirty or
thirty-two, she thought, certainly a gentleman and rather handsome. "I'm
acting for Miss Riley," she returned as sharply. "My name's Blackburne.
Clo's in a hurry for me to do an errand. If you're really her friend,
you'd better let me get away while you look after her."

The two eyed each other for an instant. "You are Miss Ellen Blackburne,
the pearl-stringer?" the man inquired.

"The same," she answered.

"Then go on her errand!" he exclaimed. And while Ellen stared, he ran up
the steps of the house where a companion had already rung the bell.
Neither of the men looked again at her. Ellen waited for no more. To
save delay and further suspense for Mrs. Sands she drove straight to the
Park Avenue house, in order to string the pearls there: for she had
hastily collected her materials before starting. It was a blow to hear
from the hall porter that the Sands had already left New York; she
decided on going up to get further information. She even thought of
sending a long-distance message to Beverley from her own flat; but the
grim personality of Anna Schultz banished this idea at a glance. Ellen
realized that if she asked to enter the apartment she would be regarded
as a suspicious character. Important business with Mrs. Sands would take
her to Newport immediately, she told Miss Schultz. If there were any
letter or parcel to be sent she would carry it.

Anna's reply to this offer was a stiff refusal, but Miss Blackburne had
not reached the lift when the woman came after her. "I've just
remembered, there's a telegram for Mrs.