“Now I know she is a thief!” murmured the astonished girl, when she had somewhat recovered from her surprise. “It is not possible,” she added, “that any girl of her age, outside of royalty itself, could ever be the rightful possessor of such magnificence as this. Why, there is a fortune here,” she went on; “and no one need tell me that a girl would choose to work for her daily bread when she has the means of living in luxury in her possession. But no, it is evident that she has stolen them, and does not dare to sell them for fear of detection. Yes, and she must have stolen all those other things marked ‘E. H.’ What a creature we have been harboring! I imagine Wilbur and Mr. Dredmond will not think her quite so charming when they come to know that her dainty hands have been guilty of kleptomania. How exquisite,” she said, bending over them and touching the precious stones with her white fingers. “This diamond necklace is fit for a princess. But what shall I do about them?” she asked, after she had inspected them all. “If she has stolen them, as I do not doubt she has, they certainly ought not to be left in her possession. I will take them to mamma, and ask her what shall be done with them.” With this decision arrived at, Isabel closed the lid of the casket, remarking its beautiful inlaid cover as she did so; then, removing it from the desk, she shut and locked that, and restored the keys to the trunk where she had found them. Then she sped swiftly to her mother’s boudoir, devoutly hoping that Brownie would not return until she had displayed her treasures to her, made her explanation, and they could decide what was best to be done about the matter. If the truth had been known, the meddlesome girl had a secret longing to possess the jewels herself. CHAPTER XV A TERRIBLE ACCUSATION Mrs. Coolidge looked up with a frown, as Isabel entered the room. “What have you there?” she demanded, as she caught sight of the casket which her daughter carried. “You remember, mamma, what I said about Miss Douglas being the possessor of such elegant jewels?” said Isabel, not heeding the question. “Yes; you said you did not believe she came by them honestly. Why?” “I am sure of it now. Look here!” She suddenly threw back the lid of the casket, and placed it in her mother’s lap. “Merciful heavens, child! Where did you get these? Ah!” she continued, as Isabel did not reply, “here are the very ornaments which Miss Douglas wore the other evening.” She looked up at her daughter, and the two read each other’s faces in silence for a moment. “You do not mean to tell me that you found all these in her possession?” she at length asked, in a low tone. “I do, mamma,” Isabel said, impressively. “But how did you happen to discover them? Surely, my daughter, you have not been guilty of prying into her things during her absence,” said Mrs. Coolidge, gravely. Isabel colored violently.