Isabel Ostrander

“ Creveling was as sane as any man of my acquaintance."
"He was nervous, you say, though," McCarty remarked. "Do you mean that he seemed uneasy about anything, sir?"
"Apprehensive?" the physician amended. "Not in the least; in fact, he was in his usual high spirits. A bit over, if anything; on edge, if you know what I mean."
McCarty nodded gravely.
"It didn't strike you that those high spirits were put on, Doctor, did it? I've noticed in my line of work that when a man tries to bluff he's apt to get it over a little too strong and show his hand." ”

“ Creveling would 'ave it that Ilsa 'ad taken them and we all knew our place too well to open our mouths and get dismissed without a character."
"Then what became of the jewelry?" McCarty demanded.
"I don't know, sir, strike me pink!" Rollins' tone was unmistakably sincere. "None of us can figger out what 'appened to it but we was all glad when Ilsa got bail, though where it come from Gawd knows! It isn't often that a person in service 'as friends that can dig up ten thousand dollars!" ”

“ One would call her handsome, in a coarse way."
There was a pause and then McCarty changed the subject.
"Did you recover your emeralds, ma'am?"
"No. The police could find no trace of them but the evidence was conclusive."
"The very fact that the creature jumped her bail was proof enough of her guilt, I should say," observed Mrs. Waverly. "It is astonishing that the police have not located her if they are really making an effort to do so. Those things were worth a small fortune, weren't they, Myra?"
"Thirty thousand dollars," Mrs. Creveling responded. ”

“ CHAPTER X ILSA AS the significance of the harsh, despairing cry penetrated his mind McCarty half rose from his chair in the Fords' gawdy drawing-room and then sank back into it again, for the woman's voice rose sharply.
"The man is here! The man who found the body—!" ”

“ Mrs. Creveling admitted drowsily. "My private telephone in my boudoir was temporarily out of commission and Rollins came to tell me that some one had called me on the one downstairs. Mr. Creveling has another private wire in his own apartments so there are extensions to the main house 'phone only in the guest rooms. Rollins went immediately into the dining-room and I heard him talking to the footman while they arranged the table for dinner, as I was returning to my apartments."
"Thank you, ma'am. I guess that about covers the information I was after." McCarty turned to her companion. ”

“ McCarty demanded. "You're not going to keep on your positions with Mrs. Creveling?"
"Not any, sir!" Rollins shook his head emphatically. "She's a grand lady, but too interfering with the 'ousehold accounts to suit people that 'as a reputation for being 'onest, and she's 'ard, sir: unfeeling, I'd call it. But you saw 'er this morning, 'earing the news and never turning a 'air! The way she treated Ilsa shows what she'd do to a body she was down on!" ”

“ It was more on her account than her husband's, however; these society women burn themselves out and wonder why they are old at forty. Mrs. Creveling has done too much this season and was on the point of a breakdown even before last night's tragedy. That was why she closed the establishment here and went to visit friends on Long Island a month ago."
"She's not too sick to see me now for a minute, I hope, Doctor?" McCarty asked. ”

“ Terror had been written there and bewilderment as though a crushing blow had descended upon her, yet she had displayed lively interest rather than apprehension before the arrival of her husband. Was she clever enough to have dissembled? ”

“ McCarty persisted.
"Well, upon my word!" she drawled. "Am I to be cross-examined now? I must confess I do not follow you, my good man!"
McCarty reddened.
"'Tis not of importance," he said hastily. "I was just wondering if you knew Mr. Waverly was there why you hadn't called him up earlier and told him that an accident had happened to Mr. Creveling, and Mrs. Creveling on her way in to town all alone."
"I did not accompany Mrs. Creveling to the city because she was ready to start when I was awakened; she did not even wait for her maid as the motor car was at the door," Mrs. ”

“ McCarty inquired.
"No one else had an opportunity." Mrs. Creveling settled herself back languidly on her couch. "I had brought the jewels home myself from the trust company vaults in a plain brown morocco case, late one afternoon, several days before the pageant was to take place, meaning to try their effect with my costume. Its delivery was delayed by the modiste, however, and it did not arrive until a few hours before the affair. My maid, Yvonne, was ill and I rang for Ilsa to assist me in trying it on. While Rollins was taking the message to her I crossed the hall to Mr. ”