Hale, whose mind had been working swiftly.
"He chained himself," explained Jones, "for excellent reasons. As
there is no regular trade in these things, I figured that he
probably bought it from some juggler whose performance had given him
the idea. So," continued Jones, producing a specimen of his
advertisements in the theatrical publications, "I set out to find
what professional had sold a 'prop', to an amateur. I found the
sale had been made at Marsfield, Ohio, late in November of last
year, by a 'Slippery Sam,' termed 'The Elusive Edwardes.' On
November twenty-eighth of last year Mr. Harvey M. Greene, of
Richmond, Virginia, was registered at the principal, in fact the
only decent hotel, at Barsfield. I wrote to him and here he is."
"Yes; but where is my necklace?" cried Mrs. Hale.
"On my word of honor, madam, I know nothing of your necklace,"
asserted Greene, with a painful contraction of his features. "If
this gentleman can throw any more light--"
"I think I can," said Average Jones. "Do you remember anything of
that night's events after you broke off the bedpost and left your
room--the meeting with a guest who questioned you in the hall, for
example?"
"Nothing.
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