Jackson Gregory

“ Had Marvella brought it with her? And was it, after all, in the jewel rather than the lady that Stephen Carrington's interest centered?
Marvella looked about her before she answered.
“Do you know, my friend,” she said queerly, “I have the very unpleasant sensation strong upon me that I was foolish beyond words to bring it. But I did what you asked and—it was quite the safe thing to do, you think? It is worth a disgracefully large amount of money. People have been tempted to theft for less—and to worse than theft——”
Who to know better than Marvella! ”

“ Alice. Darkness came on. Lights were switched on below, and, better than during the day, he could see what went forward below. Alice went to the piano and played and sang; Marvella followed suit. Reagan appeared vastly serene and content, but Steele noted that his eyes were as much for Marvella as for Stephen Carrington. And that Colonel Harwood, when no one in the room looked his way, had an uneasy habit of staring furtively at Stephen and impatiently away toward Reagan.
“The old bird isn't used to Reagan's methods and his nerve isn't of the best,” Steele judged. ”

“ Alice, for the first time that Steele had seen, chatted for a while with Stephen. He appeared absent-minded, and his glance wandered toward Marvella, where she was laughing gayly with Reagan. Reagan for his part appeared content enough; the calm force of the man was in full evidence, summoned perhaps for one of the supreme crises of his life. He was a man who concealed habitually much that went on in his mind ”

“ Harwood, complaining of fatigue, took a book and went off upstairs to bed; Steele heard her pass along his hall and heard her sigh as she passed his door. The colonel fidgeted a good deal, and soon he, too, as though anxious to escape, left the room, saying an all-embracing “'good night.” ”

“ Steele brought a quilt and a couple of cushions and placed them on the floor near the trap.
“Miss Blake was right, and it isn't a pretty job, this of eavesdropping,” he admitted. “But since it's all in the game a man might as well be comfortable at it.”
Later during the afternoon he saw the various guests at one time or another. Reagan and the colonel came out, smoking cigars, and went to the veranda; Marvella entered the living room, discovered a cozy corner and a box of candy, and made herself at home with both. ”

“ At least I did not hold back from practicing my own preachments.”
“So you actually brought——” She ended in a whisper; her eyes were shining excitedly. He nodded carelessly.
“Not a soul in the world but you knows,” he told her, “so where's the risk? ”