me
vested with authority to take possession of his personal effects. After
to-day there will be no need for you to reserve his room."

"You mean he is not to return at all--_never_?" asked the woman in an
awe-stricken voice.

Corrigan nodded.

Weakly the woman dropped into a chair, a sudden light of pained
understanding breaking over her face.

"You mean Mr. Carlton--"

"That was not his real name," interrupted the officer. "He went under
several names. Stuart is the one the police know him by. He was a
professional diamond thief."

"No, no! I cannot believe it," protested the loyal little creature
stoutly. "Why, he was all kindness to us. When my husband was ill he
nursed him for a whole week, day and night. He gave toys to the
children, did errands, and often brought us fruit or candy. Are you sure
there is no mistake? Certainly we should know if he were a bad man."

"Alas, my good woman, the proofs we hold in our hands are so convincing
as to leave not the slightest possibility for error. There were, you
see, two Carltons--the kind, friendly gentleman you knew; and the
clever, experienced criminal with whom the police were acquainted. Most
of us are a combination of various selves. This man had two sharply
contrasting individualities and unfortunately it was the baser of them
that dominated. He has a long prison record behind him."

"_Ciel!_" The woman clasped her hands in horror. "But why?" exclaimed
she. "He did not need to steal. He always had plenty of money."

"That was how he got it."

For a while she seemed too stunned to say more; then she whispered:

"And where is he now?"

"Serving a prison sentence for a crime in Chicago."

"It is terrible--terrible! Oh, my husband will be sad to hear this; and
my sister too. Poor fellow! I can scarcely believe it. Suppose the
neighbors were to hear we had been housing a burglar--they would not
speak to us."

"No one will know unless you yourself tell them," the inspector
answered.

"Ah, you may be sure I shall not do that," was the instant response.
"Not even my children will I tell. They were fond of Mr. Carlton."

"Let them remain so. It can do no harm. In fact, no doubt the man they
loved merited their affection," answered the inspector. "I wish he had
been just that and nothing else."

"And so do I--with all my heart!"

In the meantime, while Corrigan had been occupied with Stuart's landlady
two bluecoats had been ransacking the closet and sear