第20章

Gray has a dressing-room to herself.And on her table--which is a big box,open end down--just where the three-sided big mirror can multiply the jewels and make you want 'em three times as bad,her big russia-leather,silver-mounted box lies open,while she's dressing and undressing.Other times it's locked tight,and his Lordship himself has it tight in his own right hand,or his Lordship's man,Topham,has it just as tight.

How to get that diamond!There was a hard nut for Nance Olden's sharp teeth to crack.I only wanted that--never say I'm greedy,Mag--Gray could keep all the rest of the things--the pigeon in rubies and pearls,the tiara all in diamonds,the chain of pearls,and the blazing rings,and the waist-trimming all of emeralds and diamond stars.But that diamond,that huge rose diamond,I couldn't,I just couldn't let her have it.

And yet I didn't know the first step to take toward getting it,till Beryl Blackburn helped me out.She's one of the Charities,like me--a tall bleached blonde with a pretty,pale face and gold-gray eyes.And,if you'd believe her,there's not a man in the audience,afternoon or evening,that isn't dead-gone on her.

"Guess who's my latest,"she said to me this afternoon,while we four Charities stood in the wings waiting."Topham--old Topham!"It all got clear to me then in a minute.

"Topham--nothing!"I sneered."Beryl Big-head,Topham thinks of only one thing--Milady's jewel-box.Don't you fool yourself.""Oh,does he,Miss!Well,just to prove it,he let me try on the rose diamond last night.There!""It's easy to say so but I don't see the proof.He'd lose his job so quick it'd make his head spin if he did it.""Not if he did,but if they knew he did.You'll not tell?""Not me.Why would I?I don't believe it,and I wouldn't expect anybody else to.I don't believe you could get Topham to budge from his chair in Gray's dressing-room if you'd--""What'll you bet?"

"I'll bet you the biggest box of chocolate creams at Huyler's.""Done!I'll send for him to-night,just before Gray and her Lord come,and you see--""How'll I see?Where'll I be?"

"Well,you be waiting in the little hall,right of Gray's dressing-room at seven-thirty to-night and--you might as well bring the creams with you."Catch on,Mag?At seven-thirty in the evening I was waiting;but not in the little hall of Gray's dressing-room.I hadn't gone home at all after the afternoon performance--you know we play at three,and again at eight-thirty.I had just hidden me away till the rest were gone,and as soon as the coast was clear I got into Gray's dressing-room,pushed aside the chintz curtains of the big box that makes her dressing-table--and waited.

Lord,how the hours dragged!I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch,and it got darker and darker in there,and hot and close and cramped.I put in the time,much as I could,thinking of Tom.

The very first thing I'd do after cashing in,would be to get up to Sing Sing to see him.I'm crazy to see him.I'd tell him the news and see if he couldn't bribe a guard,or plan some scheme with me to get out soon.

Afraid--me?What of?If they found me under that box I'd just give 'em the Beryl story about the bet.How do you know they wouldn't believe it?.Oh,I don't care,you've got to take chances,Mag Monahan,if you go in for big things.And this was big--huge.Do you know how much that diamond's worth?And do you know how to spend fifty thousand?

I spent it all there--in the box--every penny of it.When I got tired spending money I dozed a bit and,in my dream,spent it over again.And then I waked and tried to fancy new ways of getting rid of it,but my head ached,and my back ached,and my whole body was so strained and cramped that I was on the point of giving it all up when--that blessed old Topham came in.

He set the big box down with a bang that nearly cracked my head.

He turned on the lights,and stood whistling Tommy Atkins.And then suddenly there came a soft call,"Topham!Topham!"I leaned back and bit my fingers till I knew I wouldn't shriek.

The Englishman listened a minute.Then the call came again,and Topham creaked to the door and out.

In a twinkling I was out,too,you bet.

Mag!He hadn't opened the box at all!There it stood in the middle of the space framed by the three glasses.I pulled at the lid.Locked!I could have screamed with rage.But the sound of his step outside the door sobered me.He was coming back.In a frantic hurry I turned toward the window which I had unlocked when I came in four hours ago.But I hadn't time to make it.

I heard the old fellow's hand on the door,and I tumbled back into the box in such a rush that the curtains were still waving when he came in.

Slowly he began to place the jewels,one by one,in the order her Ladyship puts them on.We Charity girls had often watched him from the door--he never let one of us put a foot inside.He was method and order itself.He never changed the order in which he lifted the glittering things out,nor the places he put them back in.I put my hand up against the top of the box,tracing the spot where each piece would be lying.Think,Mag,just half an inch between me and quarter of a million!