"Yes--I read that," the stranger said, his face growing serious. "The
affair of the old man--the pawnbroker with the odd name. Yes!"
"I'm the old man's granddaughter," said Zillah, brusquely. "Now, I'll tell
you why I was upset by seeing your platinum stud. A solitaire stud, made
of platinum, and ornamented with exactly the same device as yours, was
found in our parlour after my grandfather's death--and another, evidently
the fellow to it, was found in an eating-house, close by. Now, do you
understand why I wished to speak to you?"
While Zillah spoke, the American's face had been growing graver and
graver, and when she made an end, he glanced at Lauriston and shook his
head.
"Say!" he said. "That's a very serious matter! You're sure the device was
the same, and the material platinum?"
"I've been reared in the jewellery trade," replied Zillah. "The things I'm
talking of are of platinum--and the device is precisely the same as that
on your stud."
"Well!--that's mighty queer!" remarked the American. "I can't tell you why
it's queer, all in a minute, but I do assure you it's just about the
queerest thing I ever heard of in my life--and I've known a lot of
queerness.
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