"No matter! Cheer up, old gloom! And I must be going." The girl jumped up and stepped around the table to the door. "Remember, I'm depending on you, Harry! 'By!" Smiling, she blew him a kiss and was gone, leaving Detective Milholland staring at the curtains, a troubled look on his face. * * * * * Chester Danford arrived late that evening and, to Betty's dismay, promptly declared that he was tired, half sick, and was going to retire at once. No, he didn't want any dinner! Go out? Absolutely impossible! Betty, who all her young life had had her own sweet way, spent a desperate half hour getting her husband to change his mind. And when it was done, she could not shake off the feeling that she had aroused his suspicions. "Bet," he said as they were at the door ready to leave, "you seem darned anxious to get me out of the house to-night. What's the idea, hon? Surprise party, or something? And, say--why'n thunder don't you wear your necklace any more? If this is a party, go put your sparklers on. You look half naked without 'em!" Betty glanced at her wrist watch. It was five minutes to eight! "All right, dear," she murmured. "If it pleases you, I'll wear them." She turned toward the stairway, then stopped. "No, Chester, let's do this: have our dinner at once, then come back here. I'll put on the necklace, all for you, and we'll go to--" "You put it on now or I won't go a step," declared Chester Danford. Betty stared at him, trying hard to hide her panic. "Chester Danford, just for that I won't wear that old necklace to-night--or ever again! How in the world can you be so obstinate?" "The whole world is obstinate except you, isn't it, honey?" "Certainly!" declared Betty, and tossed her head. "But, listen, sugar." Betty went to the hall seat and sat down beside her husband. Two minutes later the front door closed behind them. As Betty stepped into the car she caught sight of a man strolling slowly down the sidewalk. "Don't like the looks of that fellow," muttered Danford as he eased the car into the traffic. "You sure the house is all locked--windows 'n' everything, hon?" "I think so," Betty half choked. "But I'm so hungry I--I can't think." "Wish we'd stayed home. Bet, I got something to tell you. Was saving it for to-night--when we'd be all alone. Now that you've hustled me out of my house and home I think I'll make you wait awhile. Eh?" "What's it about?" demanded Betty quickly. "W-e-l-l, just to tease you a little, I'll tell you this much. Old Abe Arnstein has been a good friend of mine for years. Thinking, of course, that my darling little wife wouldn't have any secrets from me, he let something slip the other day. Well, here we are!" "Let--something--slip!" The words came tonelessly from Betty's lips as she leaned on her husband's arm and stepped to the curb. "What on earth--" "Don't talk here, Bet! Wait until we get a table."