Jimmy pointed to the open door of his little wall safe, which the policemen had failed to notice. The jewel case, which had reposed inside, was gone!
The policemen exclaimed sympathetically.
“Well, the little cuss!” Casey ejaculated. “While you were saving her from us, she went and took you over, did she?”
Jimmy nodded.
“What were they worth?” Casey asked.
“A hundred thousand or thereabouts. I had just taken ’em from the safe deposit vault for a day or two, intending to have them appraised.”
“Whew! That’s tough,” Casey sympathized. “Make us up a list and description of the pieces and we’ll do our best to get ’em back for you, but I can’t promise much.”
“Thank you,” said Jimmy, and bowed his visitors out.
Closing the door behind them, a bitter smile came to his lips. So that was her gratitude. And all his fond dreams of a friendship that might follow the rescue. Well, he’d know better the next time.
So thinking, he walked to the safe and was about to close the door when a slip of paper lying on the floor of the strong box caught his eye. He picked it up and read:
My dear Twentieth Century Cavalier:
What a foolish boy you were to open the safe while I was looking on, thereby showing me the combination. It was so easy that I couldn’t resist opening it again while you were entertaining my two dear friends.
But then I didn’t have the heart to take your jewels. You’ll find them beneath the pillow. Au Revoir — with many thanks. Try not to think so harshly of me.
In a daze Jimmy walked to his bed and flipped back the pillow. The Van Beuren gems sparkled brilliantly at him.