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198
JOAN OF THE ISLAND
He gave a violent start, and stood for a moment rooted to the floor.
The wooden wedge was no longer in the hole in the beam where the pearls had been hidden. Chester took a step forward slowly, as though afraid to look into the cavity, and even as he did so felt sure that it was empty.
"Stolen!" he exclaimed aloud, looking over his shoulder, half expecting to see the thief lurking in the room. "Why—why—the things were there this morning!"
