d that he
should be oblivious of his lapse. Their relation had never been
sentimental, but he had always been punctilious.

"I'm sorry," he said, arriving at last at his apology. "I couldn't help
being late. I've had a day of it." He drew his hands across his
forehead, and she noticed that he was in his morning clothes and looked
as rumpled and flurried as a man just from the office.

She relented. "Poor dear! You do look tired! Don't take that chair. It's
more Louis Quinze than comfortable. Come into the library. And
remember," she added, when Shima had set the decanter and glasses beside
him, "you are to stay just twenty minutes."

He took a sip of his drink and looked at her over the top of his glass.
"I may have to stay longer if you want to hear about it."

"Oh, Harry, you really know something? All the evening I've heard
nothing but the wildest rumors. Some say Major Purdie couldn't speak
because some one 'way up knows more than she should about it. And
somebody else said it wasn't the real ring at all that was taken, only a
paste copy, and that is why they're not doing more about getting it
back."

"Not doing more about getting it back?" Harry laughed. "Is that the idea
that generally prevails? Why, Flora--" He stopped, waited a moment while
she leaned forward expectant. "Flora," he began again, "are you mum?"

She nodded, breathless.

"Not a word to Clara?"

"Oh, of course not."

"Well--" He twisted around in his chair the better to face her.
"To-morrow there will be published a reward of twenty thousand dollars
for the return of the Crew Idol, and no questions asked."

"Oh!" she said. And again, "Oh, is that all!" She was disappointed. "I
don't see why you and the major should have been so mysterious about
that."

"You don't, eh? Suppose you had taken the ring--wouldn't it make a
difference to you if you knew twenty-four hours ahead that a reward of
twenty thousand dollars would be published? Wouldn't you expect every
man's hand to be against you at that price? If you had a pal, wouldn't
you be afraid he'd sell you up? Wouldn't you be glad of twenty-four
hours' start to keep him from turning state's evidence? Well--it's just
so that he shan't have the start that the authorities are keeping so
almighty dark about the reward. They want to spring it on him."

Flora leaned forward with knitted brows. "Yes, I can see that, but
still, just among ourselves, this morning--"

Harry smiled. "You've lost