aken a resolution.

"You made a good guess at a woman in the case," he, said. "And you call
this a coincidence? She'd say it was a case of intuition. She's very
strong on intuition and superstition generally." There was a mixture
of tenderness and bitterness in his tone. "Chance brought that
advertisement to her eyes. A hat-pin she'd dropped stuck through it,
or something of the sort. Enough for her. Nothing would do but that
I should chase over to see the Owl Building bunch. At that, maybe her
hunch was right. It's brought me up against you. Perhaps you can help
me. What are you? A sort of detective?"

"Only on the side." Average Jones drew a card from his pocket, and
tendered it:

A. JONES, AD-VISOR

Advice upon all matters connected with
Advertising
Astor Court Temple 2 to 5 P.M.

"Ad-Visor, eh?" repeated the other. "Well, there's going to be an
advertisement in the Evening Truth to-day, by me. Here's a proof of it."

Average Jones took the slip and read it.

LOST--Necklace of curious blue stones from
Hotel Denton, night of August 6. Reward
greater than value of stones for return to
hotel. No questions asked.

"Reward greater than value of stones," commented Average Jones. "There's
a sentimental interest, then?"

"Will you take the case?" returned Kirby abruptly.

"At least I'll look into it," replied Average Jones.

"Come to the hotel, then, and lunch with me, and I'll open up the whole
thing."

Across a luncheon-table, at the quiet, old-fashioned Hotel Denton, Kirby
unburdened himself.

"You know all that's necessary about me. The--the other party in the
matter is Mrs. Hale. She's a young widow. We've been engaged for
six months; were to be married in a fortnight. Now she insists on a
postponement. That's where I want your help."

Average Jones moved uneasily in his chair. "Really, Mr. Kirby, lovers'
quarrels aren't in my line."

"There's been no quarrel. We're as much engaged now as ever, in spite
of the return of the ring. It's only her infern--her deep-rooted
superstition that's caused this trouble. One can't blame her; her father
and mother were both killed in an accident after some sort of 'ghostly
warning.' The first thing I gave her, after our engagement, was a
necklace of these stones"--he tapped his scarf pin--"that I'd selected,
one by one, myself. They're beautiful, as you see, but they're not
particularly valua