turally they
had meant to kidnap a good-looking youngster--Miss Manwaring, in
fact."

She nodded vigorous affirmation of the statement. "So I'm told, at
least; so Walter tells me; and he ought to know; he claims to have
been the moving spirit in the affair. When he found out his mistake,
of course, he posted off after me to rectify the hideous error, and
arrived just in time to effect a dramatic rescue. And then he had to
confess. . . .

"The whole business," she went on, "from beginning to end, was very
simple, childishly simple. In fact, ridiculous. And sickening. You're
not going, Adele?" she interrupted herself as Mrs. Standish rose.

Without answer her niece moved haughtily too ward the door. Mrs.
Gosnold nodded to Trego.

"Oh, yes, let her go. I'm sure I've no more use for her. But half a
minute, Adele; the car will be ready to take you and Walter to the
nine-thirty boat to-morrow morning."

There was no answer. The door closed behind Mrs. Standish, and her
aunt calmly continued:

"It seems that Adele's notorious extravagance got her into hot water
shortly after she divorced Standish and had only her private means to
support her insane passion for clothes and ostentation in
general. She went to money-lenders--usurers, in fact. And, of course,
that only made it worse. Then Walter, who has never been
overscrupulous, conceived the brilliant notion of squaring everything
up for a new start by swindling the burglary-insurance people. Adele
has always carried heavy insurance on her jewelry--almost the only
sensible habit she ever contracted. And so they conspired, like the
two near-sighted idiots they were. . . .

"On the afternoon of the day they were to start for the Island they
gave all the servants a night off, and contrived to miss connection
with the Sound steamer. Then they went to the Biltmore for dinner, and
when it was dark Walter sneaked back home to burglarise the safe. I
understand he made a very amateurish job of it. Into the bargain, he
was observed. It seems that the servants had carelessly left the
scuttle open to the roof, and Miss Manwaring, caught in a
thunder-storm, had taken shelter in the house--which was quite the
natural thing, and no blame to her. In addition, a real burglar
presently jimmied his way in, caught Walter in the act of rifling his
own safe, and forthwith assaulted him. Walter and the jewels were only
saved by the intervention of Miss Manwaring, who very bravely pointed
a