er nature
suddenly died out.

The arrival, a little later, of the detective was a relief to every one.

Mrs. Varrick hastily explained to him what had occurred, and her reason
for supposing that the theft of the diamond bracelet had been
accomplished by some one in the house.

"Such a suspicion is, of course, very painful to me," she said; "but
under the circumstances I think it is better for the satisfaction of all
concerned that I should accept the offer made by my servants, and
request you to search their apartments. Miss Duncan, and Miss Jessie
Bain, my son's ward, will, just for form's sake, undergo the same
unpleasant ordeal."

"Must I have my room searched, too?" asked Jessie Bain.

"Is there any reason why you should object?" asked Mrs. Varrick.

"No," answered Jessie, lifting her beautiful, innocent blue eyes to the
face of Hubert's mother; "there is no reason, only--only--"

Here she stopped short, the color coming and going on her lovely face,
and a frightened look creeping about her quivering mouth.

"I have no objection," she repeated, "to having everything in my room
searched; but, oh! it seems so terrible to have to do it!"

"Do your duty, sir," said Mrs. Varrick, turning to the detective.

She and the detective left the morning-room together, and they were all
startled at the sound of the key turning in the lock as the door closed
after them. Half an hour, an hour, and at length a second hour dragged
slowly by.

Suddenly in the silence that had fallen upon the inmates of the
morning-room they caught the distant sound of the detective's deep
voice and the rustle of Mrs. Varrick's silk dress coming down the
corridor.

Mrs. Varrick and the detective advanced to the center of the room, then
she stopped suddenly.

"As you see," she commenced, in a high, shrill voice "the bracelet has
been unearthed and the thief discovered. I shall not prolong this
painful scene a moment longer than is absolutely necessary. Suffice it
to say, the girl I have befriended has robbed me.

"The bracelet was found by the detective in the little hair trunk of
Jessie Bain. You will all please leave the room, all save Miss Bain."

They all rose from their seats, and there was a great babble of voices.
As in a dream, Jessie saw them all file slowly out of the room, each one
casting that backward look of horror upon her as they went. The door
closed slowly after Miss Duncan; then she was alone with the detective
and M