Part 13 (1/2)
”I can't see where it can be,” Miss Dixon was saying.
”It was on your dresser when I went up for the salts,” said her chum.
”Are you sure you didn't take it after that?”
”Positive! It's gone--that's all there is to it.”
”What's gone?” asked Ruth.
”One of my rings,” was Miss Dixon's answer. ”I left it on my dresser and my door was open. It was there when I went down to supper, and we were all at the table together----”
”Except Estelle Brown!” said Miss Pennington quickly.
CHAPTER X
LIEUTENANT VARLEY
For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses. On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
”That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?” asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
”It certainly was--the best diamond I had. I simply won't let it be lost--or taken. I'm going to have it back!”
She spoke in a loud tone, and the door of Estelle's room, farther down the hall, opened. Estelle looked out. She was in negligee, and she seemed to be suffering.
”Has anything happened?” she asked.
”Yes,” answered Miss Dixon. ”Something has happened. Some one has stolen my diamond ring!”
”Oh!” gasped Ruth, ”you shouldn't say that!”
”Say what?”
”Stolen. It's such a--such a harsh word.”
”Well, I feel harsh just now. I'm not going to lose that ring. It was on my dresser when I went down to supper, and now it's gone. It was stolen--or taken, if you like that word better. Perhaps you want me to say it was--borrowed?” and she looked scornfully at Ruth.
”It may have slipped down behind your dresser.”
”I've looked,” said Miss Pennington. ”You came up here from the table before we did,” she went on, addressing Estelle. ”Did you see anything of any one in Miss Dixon's room?”
”I? No, I saw no one.” Estelle was plainly taken by surprise.
”Did you go in yourself,” asked Miss Dixon brusquely. ”Come, I don't mind a joke--if it was a joke--but give me back my ring. I'm going into town, and I want to wear it.”
”A joke! Give you back your ring! Why, what do you mean?” and Estelle, her face flas.h.i.+ng her indignation, stepped out into the hall.
”I mean you might have borrowed it,” went on Miss Dixon, not a whit daunted. ”Oh, it isn't anything. I've often done the same thing myself when we've been playing on circuit. It's all right--if you give things back.”
”But I haven't taken anything of yours!” cried Estelle. ”I never went into your room!”