“I explained you were busy, Chief,” he said, “but they would have you come down at once, as the Secretary has to go back to Washington. It’s about that necklace. The one coming in on the Mauretania this afternoon.” “Oh, very well,” his superior snapped. “I shall have to ask you ladies to excuse me for five minutes.” “Certainly,” Ethel Cartwright returned. At the door Taylor beckoned to Duncan and spoke in a whisper. “Get outside in the corridor and if they try to leave, stop ’em. And I shall want to know what they’ve been talking about. Understand?” “Sure, Chief,” Duncan returned. When both men had gone from the room Amy clung half-hysterically to her strong, calm sister. “Oh, Ethel, they know, they know!” “Know what?” Ethel asked, amazed at the change in the other. “That man suspects,” Amy whispered. “I know he does. Did you see how he glared at me and the way he spoke?” “Suspects what?” Ethel asked. “Amy, what do you mean? What is there to suspect?” “Don’t let them take me away!” the younger sister wailed. “Oh, don’t, don’t!” Ethel drew back a step and looked into the trembling Amy’s tear-stained face. “What is this you are saying?” she asked sharply. “Ethel, your jewels weren’t stolen.” There was a pause as if the girl were trying to gather courage enough to confess. “I took them. I pawned them.” “Amy!” cried the other. “You?” “I had to have money. I took them. A woman told me I could get it by pretending to the company the things were stolen. She said they’d never find it out and would pay. I tried it, and they paid.” Miss Cartwright looked down at her, amazed, indignant, horrified. “Do you mean to say you deliberately swindled the company?” “I couldn’t help it, Ethel,” she declared piteously. “I didn’t think of it in that way. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t, indeed.” “Why, why, why? Why in God’s name did you do it? Tell me quickly, why?” Amy could no longer meet her sister’s glance. She dropped her head. “I lost a lot of money gambling, playing auction bridge.” “Playing with whom?” Ethel demanded sharply. “People you don’t know,” the younger answered evasively. “It was while you were away. It wouldn’t have happened if you’d been home. We all dined together at the Claremont and afterwards they simply would play auction. I said no at first but they made me. I got excited and began to lose, and then they said if I kept on the luck would turn, but it didn’t, and I lost a thousand dollars.” Ethel Cartwright needed no other explanation as a key to Taylor’s manner. It was certain that he knew and would presently force her poor frightened little sister into a confession. It was no time for blaming the child or pointing out morals, but for protecting her. “Ssh,” she whispered, “Ssh!” “I didn’t mean to do it,” Amy reiterated. “Believe me, I didn’t.” “Tell me what happened then?” Ethel asked in a low tone.