e last
syllable, "you are my prisoner!"

The woman gave a violent start as she caught the name, and darted a keen
glance of inquiry at him, all of which Mr. Rider was quick to note.

Then she drew herself up haughtily.

"Sir, I do not know you, and my name is not Vander_beck_; you have made a
mistake," she said, icily.

"I have made no mistake. You are the woman I have been looking for, for
more than three years, whether you spell your name with a _b_, an _h_, or
in a different way altogether; and I repeat--you are my prisoner."

Mr. Rider laid his hand firmly but respectfully on her arm, as he ceased
speaking, to enforce his meaning.

She shook him off impatiently.

"What is the meaning of this strange proceeding?" she demanded,
indignantly; then turning to the policeman who attended her, she
continued, in a voice of command: "I appeal to you for protection
against such insolence."

"How is this, Rider?" now inquired the officer, who recognized the
detective, and was astonished beyond measure by this unexpected arrest.

"She has on her person diamonds that I have been looking for, for over
three years, and I cannot afford to let them slip through my fingers
after such a hunt as that," the detective quietly explained.

"It is false!" the woman stoutly and indignantly asserted. "I wear no
jewelry that is not my own property. Everything I have was either given
to me or purchased with my husband's money."

"I trust you will be able to prove the truth of your assertions, madame,"
Mr. Rider quietly returned. "If you can do so, you will, of course, have
no further trouble. But I must do my duty. I have been employed to search
for a pair of diamond crescents which properly belong to a person in
Chicago. I have seen such a pair in your ears to-night. You also wear a
cross like one that I am searching for, and I shall be obliged to take
you into custody until the matter can be properly investigated."

Mrs. Vanderheck was evidently very much startled and upset by this
information, yet she behaved with remarkable fortitude, considering the
trying circumstances.

"What am I to do?" she inquired, again appealing to the policeman
attending her. "The crescents he mentions are _mine_--I bought them
almost three years ago in Boston. Of course, I know that I must prove
my statement, and I think I can if you will give me time, for I believe
I still have the bill of sale in my possession. I will look it up, and
if"--turning