The Pagan Madonna - Page 32/141

After coffee she decided to retire, and bade Dennison good-night. Once in

her room she laid the beads on the dresser and sat down by the window to

recast the remarkable ending of this day. From the stars to the room, from

the room to the stars, her glance roved uneasily. Had she fallen upon an

adventure? Was Dennison's theory correct regarding the beads? She rose and

went to the dresser, inspecting the beads carefully. Positively glass!

That Anthony Cleigh should be seeking a string of glass beads seemed

arrant nonsense.

She hung the beads on her throat and viewed the result in the mirror. It

was then that her eye met a golden glint. She turned to see what had

caused it, and was astonished to discover on the floor near the molding

that poor Chinaman's brass hand warmer. She picked it up and turned back

the jigsawed lid. The receptacle was filled with the ash of punk and

charcoal.

There came a knock on the door.