On reflection, he found the prospect far from disagreeable. A week or
so with the Rushcroft company was rather attractive under the
circumstances. The idea appealed to him.
But the jewels? What of them? He could not go gallivanting about the
country with a half million dollars' worth of precious stones in his
possession. A king's ransom strapped on his back! He would not be able
to sleep a wink. Indeed, he could see himself wasting away to a mere
shadow through worry and dread. Precious stones? They would develop
into millstones, he thought, with an inward groan.
He questioned the advisability of informing Miss Cameron that the
crown jewels were in his possession. Her anxiety would be far greater
than his own. There was nothing to be gained by telling her in any
case; so he decided to bear the burden alone.
The play was not to open in Crowndale until Tuesday night, three full
days off. He revelled in the thought of sitting "out front" in the
empty little theatre, watching the rehearsals. At such times he was
confident that his thoughts would not be solely of the jewels. He
would at least have surcease during these periods of forgetfulness.
He spent the early part of the forenoon in wandering nervously about
the hotel,--upstairs and down.
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