“What’s this?” she asked aloud, for a small, glittering, bead-like stone instantly recalled the other. That one she had replaced in the torn envelope and put back in the strange trunk.
“A gem! A real garnet—or ruby——”
There was no question as to where it came from. Maggie had found it upon the floor, perhaps under the edge of the rug, and it must have fallen there from the envelope marked “Precious.”
Gloria turned the stone over on her open palm. She knew little of precious stones, but she easily guessed that this was valuable.
“What shall I do with it?”
The thought that its owner would resent her knowledge of so secret an affair as the opening of a trunk, and the handling of its contents, was disturbing.
“Oh, bother!” complained Gloria. “What am I going to do about a thing like this, anyway?”
Trixy’s return was welcomed. And the discovered treasure promptly and adequately discussed.
“Suppose you keep it for a day or two——”
“No indeed,” objected Gloria. “I have no wish to be throttled by the pirate’s daughter.”