"I have
thought several times that I was sorry that you told me about it, for
I have felt that if anything happened I should be an object of
suspicion."
"Oh, no," cried Mr. Isburn. "No such suspicion ever entered my mind.
I could not be so mean and ungenerous as to think such a thing. The
only person I suspect is an Italian girl who came in here to sell
some flowers. It was the day I received the long distance telephone
message from you in regard to the Tarleton case. I was only out of
the room a few minutes, and when I came back she was standing just
where I left her."
"It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to find that
girl," said Miss Dana.
"Yes, those Italian girls look very much alike. She was one of medium
height, as a great many women are. You are of medium height, Miss
Dana, so that is a very poor clue to work upon. She had dark hair."
"Mine is light," remarked Miss Dana.
"I did not notice the colour of her eyes--probably black."
"Mine are blue."
"Her complexion was dark."
"Well, I surely have not a dark complexion."
"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Isburn.
"You talk as though you were, in some way, connected with this
affair."
"But I am."
"How so?" and Mr. Isburn's voice betrayed his astonishment.
"Don't you remember saying if the ring was lost or stolen that you
should call upon me to recover it?"
"Why, yes, I do remember.
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