The conversation behind the arras, at
first low and murmuring, was becoming animated. I distinctly heard the
Parsee say, 'Who are the blaggards ye've brought here wid ye?' followed
by an unintelligible reply.
"'What did he say?' queried the Judge, looking up sharply.
"'I don't understand Parsee, sir,' said I.
"'That was no foreign tongue; that was American--with a brogue. I don't
like that. Let's hurry them up. I say, what time is it?'
"We reached for our watches. They were gone! Instinctively I felt for my
wallet. Gone! My scarf-pin. Gone!
"We made a wild rush for the little inner room.
"Miss de Dear? Gone! And the Parsee? Gone!
* * * * *
"Later, when we had made our report to the police, and I was guiding the
Judge home, I asked:
"Who is this de Dear? Where did you know her?"
"'Never laid eyes on her before!' growled the Judge."
* * * * *
"Another 'Jewel'!" said Colonel Manysnifters. "You find them
everywhere."
XIII
AN UNINVITED GUEST
In the lull following Mr. O'Brien's story the conductor and porter went
hurriedly through the car out to the rear platform; where, it seems,
they had been summoned by the brakeman. They quickly reappeared with as
bedraggled and woebegone a specimen of humanity as it has ever been my
misfortune to see.
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