ed', as our dear old fisherman calls it, when he explained
about the diamond cross. And as for Mr. Grafton, though he was mixed
up in the jewel part of the mystery, he was only acting to help Miss
Ratchford, as she wants to be called. Poor girl, she's had a hard
time, too! I hope she finds as much happiness as--"

"As who?" asked Darcy, as Amy hesitated.

"As I have," came the gentle answer, as Amy gazed with shining eyes at
the man beside her.

Langford Larch told everything in the brief time left him between his
fatal leap and the passing of his soul to a higher judgment than that
of the county courts. Some time before the events leading to the
separation, a meeting between his wife and Grafton had been witnessed
by one of Larch's hotel employees, who told of it, magnifying its
importance. Larch's jealous disposition was inflamed, and there was a
stormy scene between him and his wife. He knocked her down, and that
was the end, as far as she was concerned. She told him she would leave
him. She admitted that she still cared for Grafton, but denied any
intimacy with him. Then came the legal separation.

Before this, however, Larch had missed his wife's diamond cross, and
charged her with having disposed of it. During their final interview
she told the truth, of how it had been stepped on, and that Grafton had
taken it to be repaired. It was then that Larch saw his opportunity
for getting possession of the valuable stones, for his debts were
pressing, and, though it was suspected by few, he needed a large sum in
cash.

One night, partly intoxicated, which was unusual for him, and perhaps
on this occasion done in desperation, Larch called at the jewelry
store. Mrs. Darcy happened to come downstairs as he arrived, and,
knowing him well, admitted him, though the store had long been closed.
In one hand she held the Indian watch, perhaps picked up idly from the
repair table. In the other hand was the diamond cross.

This ornament Larch instantly demanded, but Mrs. Darcy refused to give
it up, not only on account of his condition, but because she did not
consider that he had any claim to it, knowing that it had been his
wife's before their marriage.

Larch was insistent in his demands, and tried to take the diamond cross
from Mrs. Darcy. She resisted him in the dimly-lighted and deserted
store, and he caught up the paper-cutter dagger and threatened her.

She backed away from him, toward the open safe, in