Every one about them was busy, and, obedient to
instructions from Donnelly, the store detectives were in the
background.
Kennedy was leaning forward watching as intently as the distance
would permit. He reached over and pressed the button near him.
After a minute or two the second woman left, followed shortly by
Mrs. Willoughby herself. We hurried over to the counter, and
Kennedy seized the box containing the Kimberley Queen. He examined
it carefully. A flaw in the paste jewel caught his eye.
"There has been a substitution here," he cried. "See! The paste
jewel which we used was flawless; this has a little carbon spot
here on the side."
"One of my men has been detailed to follow each of them,"
whispered Donnelly. "Shall I order them to bring Mrs. Willoughby
and Annie Grayson to the superintendent's office and have them
searched?"
"No," Craig almost shouted. "That would spoil everything. Don't
make a move until I get at the real truth of this affair."
The case was becoming more than ever a puzzle to me, but there was
nothing left for me to do but to wait until Kennedy was ready to
accompany Dr.
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