he girl's
presence," she said, coldly. "I thank you for your sagacity in tracing
my diamond bracelet," she said, thinking it best to throw in a dash of
covert flattery, "and I shall be pleased to settle your bill whenever
you wish to present it."

The detective bowed himself out of her presence, and left the house,
musing on the mysterious robbery, and saying to himself: "I would be far
more apt to suspect the lady of the house than that young girl."

He sighed and went on his way; but all day long, while immersed in the
business which usually was of such an exciting nature that he had no
time for any other thought, the lovely face of Jessie Bain rose up
before him.

He threw down his pen at last in despair.

"I must be bewitched," he muttered. "If I were a younger man I would
certainly say that I had fallen in love. I must find out where that girl
has gone, and have a little talk with her. I can not bring myself to
believe that she stole that bracelet."

He put on his hat and reached for his cane.

"I can not say how long it will be before I shall return," he said to
his fellow detective in charge of the office.

In the meantime, in her lonely mansion, Mrs. Varrick was writing a long
letter to her son. In it she expressed the hope that he was having a
pleasant time, and that he must not hurry home, but stay and attend to
business thoroughly, even though it took him a little longer. But not
one word did she mention of Jessie Bain. So preoccupied was she with her
own thoughts that she did not know Hubert had entered the room until she
heard his voice.

"I will save you the trouble of posting your letter, mother. I see it is
addressed to me. You can read me the contents in person."

CHAPTER XIII.

"I LOVE JESSIE BAIN WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL!"

Mrs. Varrick started back with a low cry.

"Is it you, Hubert?"

"Yes; but upon my honor, mother, you don't seem overglad to see me."

"I thought you were to have been gone a fortnight."

"I succeeded in getting the business attended to much more speedily than
you thought it could be done. I did not make any visits, as I was
anxious to get home. But, mother, how white and ill you look!" he added.

"I am quite well, but I have been suffering from a nervous headache,
Hubert," she answered.

"By the way," he said suddenly, "I did not forget to bring a few little
souvenirs home with me," and as he spoke he drew two small velvet cases
from his pocket, one