moustache, was looking harassed. The Wraith is hardly a cheap crook, sir. And I'm not suggesting you should back down to anybody.'
'Tell me, John, how long have you been with us?'
Evans looked surprised. 'Nearly twelve months.'
'For the last four of those we've been travelling all over Europe - Athens, Rome, Venice, Paris, and a whole lot more. All that time Mrs. Peabody has had her necklace with her. You've never worried about it before. Why start now?'
'Well, for one thing, your exact movements - and the facts about the necklace - have never been so publicised in advance before.'
'But if this Wraith character moves in society, as he's reputed to, he doesn't need a newspaper to tell him where the wealthy are, does he?'
'There's more to it than that. This magazine lays down a definite challenge. It's not the sort of thing the Wraith will want to ignore. He's been inactive for some time now and he's probably ready for a comeback. This is thoroughly irresponsible journalism, if you ask me.'
'I'm with you there. Guess I was a mite foolish to speak so freely to that reporter.'
Just then the door opened and Mrs. Peabody sailed in. A smart woman of about fifty, with a round, good-natured face, she was followed by four package-laden page boys. They put down their burdens, were lavishly tipped, and departed. Carrie Peabody turned a beaming face towards her husband. 'Hiram, you really should have come. I've had a dandy morning. And I don't suppose I've spent more than two thousand dollars, either.'
'That's swell, Carrie. Come and look at this.' He held out the magazine to her.
Carrie took it and gave an exclamation of pleasure. 'My, isn't that nice? You look truly distinguished, honey.'
'Read what it says.'
'Read it to me, will you? Save me putting my eye-glasses on.' She passed the magazine back.
Peabody read aloud: 'Mr. and Mrs. Hiram S. Peabody, who arrived in London this week on the final stages of a European tour. Mr. Peabody is the well-known Texas oil millionaire, and the owner of one of America's largest collections of antique firearms. Mr. and Mrs. Peabody will be staying for some days at Alderley, the country seat of the Earl and Countess of Burford. His lordship is, of course, well known as the foremost collector of old weapons in England, and Mr. Peabody is anxious to inspect the Alderley collection - and to show Lord Burford one of his own prize possessions, which he recently purchased in Rome.
'Mrs. Peabody is here seen wearing her famous diamond necklace, which is insured for five hundred thousand dollars. It is perhaps fortunate that Alderley has one of the most elaborate burglar alarm systems in Britain. Otherwise, we feel the necklace might make an almost irresistible target for the notorious Wraith!'
'The Wraith?' Carrie Peabody said sharply. That's that society jewel thief, isn't it - the one who always leaves a calling card?'
'That's it. A drawing of a sheeted ghost. John figures we should deposit the necklace in the bank before we go to Alderley - just to be on the safe side. What do you think?'
Mrs. Peabody shook her head firmly. 'Oh no. Definitely not. I've never stayed with the English aristocracy before. Our hosts may have a title going back hundreds of years and a famous stately home full of art treasures and antiques. But they don't have a diamond necklace worth half a million bucks. I must have something to keep Uncle Sam's end up. I'm taking my necklace - and wearing it.'
Her husband chuckled. 'Good for you, Carrie. That's just what I figured you'd say. Something else our hosts lack, too, is a unique, personally-engraved Bergman Bayard 1910/21 semi-automatic pistol, custom-made as a gift for Tzar Nicholas II just before his assassination. I'm sure looking forward to seeing the Earl's face when I produce it.'
* * *
In the smoking-room of his club, Algernon Fotheringay was talking.
'Then, of course, next week I'm toddling off down to jolly old Alderley for a few days. You ever stayed at
'Tell me, John, how long have you been with us?'
Evans looked surprised. 'Nearly twelve months.'
'For the last four of those we've been travelling all over Europe - Athens, Rome, Venice, Paris, and a whole lot more. All that time Mrs. Peabody has had her necklace with her. You've never worried about it before. Why start now?'
'Well, for one thing, your exact movements - and the facts about the necklace - have never been so publicised in advance before.'
'But if this Wraith character moves in society, as he's reputed to, he doesn't need a newspaper to tell him where the wealthy are, does he?'
'There's more to it than that. This magazine lays down a definite challenge. It's not the sort of thing the Wraith will want to ignore. He's been inactive for some time now and he's probably ready for a comeback. This is thoroughly irresponsible journalism, if you ask me.'
'I'm with you there. Guess I was a mite foolish to speak so freely to that reporter.'
Just then the door opened and Mrs. Peabody sailed in. A smart woman of about fifty, with a round, good-natured face, she was followed by four package-laden page boys. They put down their burdens, were lavishly tipped, and departed. Carrie Peabody turned a beaming face towards her husband. 'Hiram, you really should have come. I've had a dandy morning. And I don't suppose I've spent more than two thousand dollars, either.'
'That's swell, Carrie. Come and look at this.' He held out the magazine to her.
Carrie took it and gave an exclamation of pleasure. 'My, isn't that nice? You look truly distinguished, honey.'
'Read what it says.'
'Read it to me, will you? Save me putting my eye-glasses on.' She passed the magazine back.
Peabody read aloud: 'Mr. and Mrs. Hiram S. Peabody, who arrived in London this week on the final stages of a European tour. Mr. Peabody is the well-known Texas oil millionaire, and the owner of one of America's largest collections of antique firearms. Mr. and Mrs. Peabody will be staying for some days at Alderley, the country seat of the Earl and Countess of Burford. His lordship is, of course, well known as the foremost collector of old weapons in England, and Mr. Peabody is anxious to inspect the Alderley collection - and to show Lord Burford one of his own prize possessions, which he recently purchased in Rome.
'Mrs. Peabody is here seen wearing her famous diamond necklace, which is insured for five hundred thousand dollars. It is perhaps fortunate that Alderley has one of the most elaborate burglar alarm systems in Britain. Otherwise, we feel the necklace might make an almost irresistible target for the notorious Wraith!'
'The Wraith?' Carrie Peabody said sharply. That's that society jewel thief, isn't it - the one who always leaves a calling card?'
'That's it. A drawing of a sheeted ghost. John figures we should deposit the necklace in the bank before we go to Alderley - just to be on the safe side. What do you think?'
Mrs. Peabody shook her head firmly. 'Oh no. Definitely not. I've never stayed with the English aristocracy before. Our hosts may have a title going back hundreds of years and a famous stately home full of art treasures and antiques. But they don't have a diamond necklace worth half a million bucks. I must have something to keep Uncle Sam's end up. I'm taking my necklace - and wearing it.'
Her husband chuckled. 'Good for you, Carrie. That's just what I figured you'd say. Something else our hosts lack, too, is a unique, personally-engraved Bergman Bayard 1910/21 semi-automatic pistol, custom-made as a gift for Tzar Nicholas II just before his assassination. I'm sure looking forward to seeing the Earl's face when I produce it.'
* * *
In the smoking-room of his club, Algernon Fotheringay was talking.
'Then, of course, next week I'm toddling off down to jolly old Alderley for a few days. You ever stayed at
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