THE BLUE DIAMOND.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 7

THE BLUE DIAMOND.

(All Rights Reserved.)

By L. T. fAEADE,

Author of “The Siren,’’ “The Wot* ing of Monica,’’ “The Yellow . Drawing-room,” “Dr. Rurnsey a Patient,” etc., etc. PART 21. , “Well, I am very tired. It was a relief to talk to you,’ and you are 60 delightfully matter-of-fact.” “What is that ?” “Sensible.”

“I hope I am. How can a poor girl earn her living if she ain’t sensible ? Now go to sleep, madam.” Mrs. Temple lay back on her pillow.

Nancy stayed by her until her eyes closed in sleep. As soon as she knew that hc<v mistress was really sound asleep, she went very softly out of the room. She crossed the landing, went down a passage, and presently found herself in the room which Lil had .occupied while she stayed in Eaton Square. Lil had told her very much the same story which Beatrix Temple had confided to her that evening. only she had gone further. She had described where she had hidden the diamond. She had explained to Nancy her own feeling of relief when she caught a glimpse of the old bandbox on top of the wardrobe, how she had managed to drag it from its hid-ing-place, and had put the diamond wrapped in her own pocket-handker-chief into it, and had returned the bandbox to its place. But always when Lil had come to that point in her tale she began to get confused and puzzled.

“My head is giddy ; I won’t tell you any more,” she used to say to her faithful nurse and friend. “I onlyknow that I put it there, and I know that when I looked again it was gone.”

Of late, however, Lil had changed her manner of telling the tale. She had begun to say more lirmly day after day, “But I took it out of its hiding-place when I left the house that morning. I took it away with me ; I did steal it.”

< Nancy now went into the bedroom, determined to have a look at the old wardrobe herself. She was a good deal taller than Lil and therefore icould see more of the bandbox in its biding-place. She fetched a stepladjder from the housemaid’s cupboard, placed it beside the wardrobe, turnfed on the electric light and mounted Ithe steps. She was now' able to look right down on the top of the wardrobe. The bandbox occupied its old ■position. Nancy took it up and opened it. Nothing w T as within. She wms just about to replace it in its old position when she noticed something glittering on the top of the wardrobe. For an instant her heart gave a leap. "Was the diamond on the top of the wardrobe after all ? Was the terrible mystery about to be explained aw T ay ? She stretched out her hand and clutched the shining object. She found that she was holding a narrow gold ring. Quickly descending the steps she took the ring over to the nearest light. She examined it carefully. It was small and worn, and evidently made in a bygone fashion. It contained one tiny red stone in the middle. Did this ring belong to Lil Lawford ?

1 “I must find out about this,’-’ thought Nancy, “it looks uncommon like a clue.”

I She put the stepladder hack in its place, turned off the light and returned to her mistress’s room. Nancy built up the fire and sat down by it. Mrs. Temple was sleeping heavily. Nancy slipped the tiny old-fashioned ring on her fourth finger. She wondered what it meant, and who had placed it on the wardrobe. Presently sleep stole over her and she closed her eyes. When she awoke again it was broad daylight, and Mrs. Temple was sitting up in bed. “What has happened ?” she cried. “Where are you, Nadine ?’’ “Nadine ain’t in, ma’am. I’m here —Nancy Price. Let me make your pillows comfortable, and then I will fetch you some tea.” “Has not Nadine been back all night ?” “No, madam.”

Nancy v.-as just about to leave the room to fetch the tea when it suddenly occurred to her to ask a question.

“I found this in the night,” she said. “I thought, perhaps, you would know who it belonged to.” Mrs. Temple uttered an eager exclamation. Nancy slipped the ring from her finger, and held it out for her inspection.

"Wherever did you find it ?” she cried. “Why, that is Nadine’s ; she has been seeking it everywhere. She has small hands, and it is too loose for the finger on which she wears it. It is always dropping off. But what |s the matter ? How strange you look ?” '

£ have reason to he strange, ma'£m. You would like to know who stole the Blue Diamond. Maybe I can. tell you soon. I will keep this ring. I can give it back to Nadine when she returns. Now I will fetch your tea." When Nancy got into the passage outside her mistress’s room she had some difficulty in suppressing a scream. “God Almighty be thanked for His mercy !” she whispered. “I have got a real clue at last.” CHAPTER XXV. By eleven o’clock that same day everyone in the house at Eaton Square, became anxious about Nadine. She not popular, but nevertheless her absence caused speculation. She was, whatever her faults, faithful to : her mistress, and the fact of her neyer returning all night, of no message arriving from her, and of her still not putting in an appearance caused , much excitement. What had happened to her ? Where had she gone ?

Amidst the buzz of conversation in the servants’ hall Nancy remained quite cool. Hudson had now recovered from her headache and was cross with the under-housemaid.

y “You’ve done more than you ought , —wheedling yourself into, my mis,tress’s favour,” she said. “I don’t like those sly underhand ways. I like girls in your position to keep their place—;that's what I like.” Nancy observed that all the other servants looked at her also with more or less suspicion. Even Mrs. Murray was inclined to be snappish, for Nancy was now absolutely installed in Mrs. Temple’s bedroom as nurse. Already she seemed to ha - , e completely usurped missing K<u»ir«&‘a place.

“You taa’ic me feel so nice,” said Mrs. Temple to, her. “I never was more pleased with anyone in so, short a time. Now please bring baby ; you can sit with him on .your knee,,and talk to him in that pretty way you did last night. I shall be vastly entertained, watching you both. Oh, of course, I am anxious about poor dear Nadine, but if ever there was . a woman capable of taking care of herself she is the one. I dare say she will be back at any moment.”

As Mrs Temple spoke, a wistful look came into her eyes, that, seemed to say, “When Nadine returns my hour of tyranny will begin once more.’

Meanwhile she enjoyed her baby, and laughed w T hen Nancy brought out all its most fascinating ways. But Nancy was anxious on her own account. It was all-important that she should see Cardew as soon as possible. Had she not in her possession a ring which might lead her straight to the locality of the Blue Diamond ? After a pause, therefore, she looked up at her mistress. “The baby is getting sleepy,” she said, “and I think I have done everything that you want for the time beng, madam. It don’t seem fair that no steps should be taken to find out what has become of Miss Nadine. Will you let me go to a place where I think she may have been and make enquiries about her ?” “Certainly !” replied Mrs. Temple; “and you can buy a pretty new toy for baby —so me sort of rattle or anything of that kind. Here’s half-a-crown for you. Now give me that novel. You have made me feel so comfortable that I shall not need anything until you come back again.” Nancy ran off. She put on her hat and jacket,, and was just going out by the back door when Mrs. Murray saw her and crflledher back.

“Why are you not attending to you. work, Price ?”

“My mistress is sending me out, ma’am, on a message.”

“Oh, indeed !” Mrs. Murray looked incredulous. “I wish my mistress would allow the servants to stay in their proper places,” she muttered, under her breath. “Be quick back,” she said aloud.

“I will, ma’am,” answered Nancy, in her most respectful tones. The moment she got out of the house she put wings to her feet and began to run across the square. At a corner where she hoped to meet him she did find James Cardew waiting for her.

“How late you are !” he said, in an impatient voice. “I have been waiting for you for three-quarters of an hour.” “I could not come a moment sooner, sir, but there’s great news, Nadine Olofison never came back last night.” “You don’t say so ?”

“She went out early in the evening sir, and has never returned. She is sure to have visited the diamond merchant, Ivan Sternoff. Had we not better go there, in order to get tidings of her ?”

“There is someone else missing also

. Things are getting complicated. Do you know that Peter Watson has never returned Lome since the day I gave him his supper, and you met us almost immediately after ? His mother is nenrlv ctagv with. ''Continued.)