and Mr. Palmer.

She said it was not at all strange that she should have been suspected,
under the circumstances, and she bore them no ill-will on account of the
arrest. She was only annoyed that any publicity had been given to the
matter. She even laughingly accused Ray of having suspected her on the
evening of Mr. Merrill's reception, and then she explained the cause of
her own strange behavior on that occasion. She had read of the Palmer
robbery and the circumstances of his being kidnapped, and she realized at
once, upon being introduced to him when he had mispronounced her name,
that his suspicions had fastened upon her.

She shook hands cordially with Mr. Cutler, and remarked that, while she
experienced some vexation and mortification over the discovery that the
crescents were spurious, the imposition had taught her a lesson, and
she should henceforth purchase her diamonds of a reliable dealer in such
articles.

"But," she added, gayly, "I shall never see a diamond crescent after this
without asking the owner to allow me to examine it. I believe I shall
turn detective myself and try to ferret out the original ones if they are
still in existence."

She bowed smilingly to the three gentlemen, and passed out of the room,
leaning upon the arm of her husband.

"Well, Ray," Mr. Palmer remarked, as they wended their way to the store,
"we may as well give up our diamonds once for all; I have not the
slightest hope that we shall ever see them again. If we ever do find
them," he added, with an arch glance, "I'll present them to your wife