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I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Asshestretchedoutherhandtothem,theincrediblethinghappened.Suddenlywithoutanywarning,everylightwasextinguished,thedoorbanged,andfromtheothersideofitcamealong-drawnpiercingwoman’sscream.
“MyGod!”criedLordYardly.“ThatwasMaude’svoice!Whathashappened?”
Werushedblindlyforthedoor,cannoningintoeachotherinthedarkness.Itwassomeminutesbeforewecouldfindit.Whatasightmetoureyes!LadyYardlylaysenselessonthemarblefloor,acrimsonmarkonherwhitethroatwherethenecklacehadbeenwrenchedfromherneck.
Aswebentoverher,uncertainforthemomentwhethersheweredeadoralive,hereyelidsopened.
“TheChinaman,”shewhisperedpainfully.“TheChinaman—thesidedoor.”
LordYardlysprangupwithanoath.Iaccompaniedhim,myheartbeatingwildly.TheChinamanagain!Thesidedoorinquestionwasasmalloneintheangleofthewall,notmorethanadozenyardsfromthesceneofthetragedy.Aswereachedit,Igaveacry.There,justshortofthethreshold,laytheglitteringnecklace,evidentlydroppedbythethiefinthepanicofhisflight.Iswoopedjoyouslydownonit.ThenIutteredanothercrywhichLordYardlyechoed.Forinthemiddleofthenecklacewasagreatgap.TheStaroftheEastwasmissing!
“Thatsettlesit,”Ibreathed.“Thesewerenoordinarythieves.Thisonestonewasalltheywanted.”
“Buthowdidthefellowgetin?”
“Throughthisdoor.”
“Butit’salwayslocked.”
Ishookmyhead.“It’snotlockednow.See.”IpulleditopenasIspoke.
AsIdidsosomethingflutteredtotheground.
