"
"Yes," continued Donnelly, "and here's the queer part of it. The
clerk was ready to swear that he had seen the woman in the store
at some time or other, but whether she had been near the counter
where the necklace was displayed was another matter. He wasn't so
sure about that."
"Then how did she get it?" I asked, much interested.
"I don't say that she did get it," cautioned Donnelly. "I don't
know anything about it. That is why I am here consulting Professor
Kennedy."
"Then who did get it, do you think?" I demanded.
"We have a great deal of very conflicting testimony from the
various clerks," Donnelly continued. "Among those who are known to
have visited the department and to have seen the necklace is
another woman, of an entirely different character, well known in
the city." He glanced sharply at us, as if to impress us with what
he was about to say, then he leaned over and almost whispered the
name. "As nearly as I can gather out of the mass of evidence, Mrs.
William Willoughby, the wife of the broker down in Wall Street,
was the last person who was seen looking at the diamonds.
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