now nothing about that ring. I
have no idea how it got where you found it. Somebody must have put it
there." Sally caught her distracted head between her hands and tried
her best to compose herself. But it was useless; the evidence was too
frightfully clear against her; hysteria threatened.

"Mrs. Standish gave me the stockings," she stammered wildly, "rolled
up as you found them. Ask her."

"Oh, come, Miss Manwaring; you go too far!" Mrs. Standish told her
coldly. "If you are possibly innocent, compose yourself and prove it.
If you are guilty, you may as well confess and not strain our patience
any longer. But don't try to drag me into the affair; I won't have
it."

"I guess there isn't much question of innocence or guilt," Mason
commented. "Here's evidence enough. It only remains to locate the rest
of the loot. It'll be easier for you," he addressed Sally directly,
"if you own up--come through with a straight story and save Mrs.
Gosnold trouble and expense."

He paused encouragingly, but Sally shook her head.

"I can't tell you anything," she protested. "I don't know anything.
It's some horrible mistake. Or else--it's a plant to throw suspicion
on me and divert it from the real thief."

"Plant?" Miss Pride queried with a specious air of bewilderment.

"Thieves' jargon--manufactured evidence," Lyttleton explained.

"Ah, yes," said the old maid with a nod of satisfaction.

"If it's a plant, it's up to you to show us," Mason came back. "If it
isn't, you may as well lead us to the rest of it quick."

"You've looked everywhere, I presume?" Lyttleton inquired casually.

"Everywhere I can think of in this room and the bath-room," the
detective averred; "and I'm a pretty good little looker. That's my
business, of course. I'm willing to swear there's no more jewelry
concealed anywhere hereabouts."

"Unless, perhaps, she's got it on her person."

"That might be, of course," Mason allowed, eying the girl critically.
"But somehow I don't think so. If she had, why would she have left
this one piece buried here? No; you'll find she's hidden the rest of
the stuff somewhere--about the house or grounds, maybe--or passed it
on to a confederate, the guy you saw her talking to last night, as
like as not and held out this ring to make sure of her bit when it
comes to a split-up."

"Still," Lyttleton persisted, "ought you to take any chances?"

"Well . . ." The detective shuffled with embarrassment. "Of course," he
said