“Come in, come in,” said Victor gaily. His heart was light, for he saw important money in the offing. “As I understand it, tonight’s the night.”
“And I’m glad it is,” Sally Jordan added. “I shall be happy to get that necklace off my mind. Too great a burden at my age.”
Eden sat down. “Bob’s gone to the dock to meet the President Pierce,” he remarked. “I told him to come here at once with your Chinese friend.”
“Ah, yes,” said Sally Jordan.
“Have a cocktail,” suggested Victor.
“No, thanks,” Eden replied. Abruptly he rose and strode about the room.
Mrs. Jordan regarded him with concern. “Has anything happened?” she inquired.
The jeweler returned to his chair. “Well, yes—something has happened,” he admitted. “Something—well, something rather odd.”
“About the necklace, you mean?” asked Victor with interest.
“Yes,” said Eden. He turned to Sally Jordan. “You remember what Madden told us, Sally? Almost his last words.’New York, and nowhere else.’”
“Why, yes—I remember,” she replied.
“Well, he’s changed his mind,” frowned the jeweler. “Somehow, it doesn’t seem like Madden. He called me up this morning from his ranch down on the desert, and he wants the necklace delivered there.”
“On the desert?” she repeated, amazed.
“Precisely. Naturally, I was surprised. But his instructions were emphatic, and you know the sort of man he is. One doesn’t argue with him. I listened to what he
