conducted her business affairs. There was no such person to be found.

Then, his indignation getting the better of his grief and disappointment,
he sought a detective, told his story, and gave the case into his hands.

"Keep the matter quiet, Rider," he said, "but spare no expense to find
the woman. If she is a professional thief, she will try the same trick on
some one else; and though we may not be able to bring her to justice in
this case, since I so rashly tied my hands by giving her that writing,
yet I should like to give my evidence against her for the benefit of some
other unfortunate victim."

Thus the matter rested for the time, and Justin Cutler once more threw
himself heart and soul into business, vowing that he would never trust a
woman again.

"But I'll keep the bogus crescents, to remind me of my folly, for of
course I shall never see the real ones again."

Did he?




CHAPTER III.

MONA.


"Mona, come here, dear, please."