"I'll take it up where there's a better light on it," he said, finally. "Fibsy, you're a trump, old boy, and after you've sought the assistance that a bath-tub grants, return to the sitting room, and I'll tell you of the value of your find, in words of one syllable." Elated beyond all words, Fibsy ran away to bathe, and the others went to the sitting room that had been Ursula Pell's. With a very strong lens, Fleming Stone examined the pin. "This pin is worth its weight in gold, a million times over," he said, after the briefest examination. "It explains all!--your aunt's bequest, the efforts of Young to get it--but, I say, let's wait till Fibsy comes down before I tell you the pin's secret. It's his due, after he found it for us." "Yes, indeed, wait," agreed Lucille, "he'll be down soon. I'll go and call to him to make haste." "Don't tell me all," said Iris to Stone, as the two were left alone, "I want to wait till Terence comes--but tell me this, will it free Winston?" "I hope so," Stone returned, "though it's another part of the mystery. But, to my mind, Mr. Bannard is freed already." "Let me see the pin," and Iris took it in her hand. "Why, it is a common pin! How can you say there's anything peculiar about it?" "You'll know soon," and Stone smiled at her. "Anyway, whatever else it means, it doubtless points the way to the recovery of the fortune of jewels that was bequeathed to you and Mr. Bannard." "I don't want the fortune unless Winston is freed," said Iris, sadly; "if you think Charlie Young is the criminal, when are you going to get him? But you say you're not sure he killed Aunt Ursula." "No, I'm not at all sure that he did," Stone returned gravely. "In fact, I'm inclined to think he did not." "Then who did?" But before Stone could answer, there was an agonized whelp from outside, as of an animal in pain. "Goodness!" cried Iris, "that's Pom-pom's cry! Oh, my little dogsie! What has happened?" She flew out of the room, and ran out on the lawn, from which direction she had heard the terrified cry. Remembering the pin, as she ran, she stuck it carefully in her belt and hurried to the spot whence the sounds proceeded. It was nearly dark now, and she sped across the grass, in fear for the safety of her pet. Stone started to follow her, but Lucille appeared just then, and he paused to explain matters to her. When they reached the lawn, Iris was nowhere to be seen, and the little dog, cruelly beaten, was whining in pain and distress. Listening intently, Stone heard the last sounds of a disappearing motor car in the distance. "Kidnapped again!" he cried, angrily. "And she's got the pin with her! Young, of course! Oh, how careless I've been!" and calling to Campbell, he ran toward the garage for a car. "But how can you follow?" asked Lucille, distractedly, "you don't know which way they went, after the turn, do you?" "No," said Stone, despairingly, "I don't." CHAPTER XVI KIDNAPPED AGAIN