Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-07-24
4 hope you don't think Eve got it, said Mrs.

Zare on re dressing table, when 1 go out yes
terday to Leicester Square. 1 not see him
since
1T was very careless to leave valuable ring
about like that said Mrs. Badger
Wy, woman, vy?' cried the Spaniard. is
not zis my apartment? Sail l not lock ze tings
all safe when l go out? Perdition!'
We'll I'll send for a detective said Mrs.
Badger. This is the only way to settle the
business!'
Mr.. Higgins the detective, was a thin, little
man, with steely looking hair, like that of =
Scotch terrier. His dim, grey eyes, without pre-
tending to be very penetrative, nevertheless took
the moral measure of party with sufficient ac-
curacy. He was wise enough to say but very
little, and bis enconomy in the use of words was
such that he never answered question.
On entering Mrs. Badgers, Mr.. Higgins threw
himself into chair, and brushing up the shock
Of steel wire his forehead, cast few furtive
glances upon the group before him-which IN
deed, comprised Don Ramon. Mrs Badger, and
Susan, the servant Then, taking out a note
book. he began to make few memorandas.
Ring lost, ell I? said ne.
Yes said Mrs Badger, IAN elegant ring
gold and rubles-worth end of money .
Fifty tousand reals cried Don Ramon.
Mr.. Higgins inquired how, when and where it
was last seen-to all of which inquiries Don
Ramon answered with eager anxiety.
Show me the room,' SAID Mr. Figgins
1t was done.
Show me all over the house,
That too, was done.
As Mr. Higgins went from room to room, he
made particular inquiries regarding each individ-
ual who occupied the chambers. As far as one
could CLEAN anything from the manner of this
man Of wire, his inquiries did not re ult to his
satisfaction.
As he was coming down the staircase again, he
suddenly caught Susan by the arm, and said
ANY followers ?''
and said:
g Oh, good 'eveEs, 'ow ever could you think of
such a thing ?''
"Um ~ said he, turning to Mrs. Badger.
''No, sir" said the lady; Il don't think there's
anything of that kind going on-leastways, not
with my consent, it ain't- l told her, when she
took the place, that couldn't allow any sweet
hearting here. We have plenty of work to do,
without thinking of nonsense Of that kind"
UNI SAID Mr.. Higgins.
And making a few more inquiries, and taking
a few more notes, lie quilted the house, leaving
them all wonderfully impressed with his talent
he said 50 little.
- That girl is at the bottom of it, l guess"
said Mr. Higgins to himself, as he mounted the
three penny omnibus to reach Scotland Yard,
- That is to say, don't think she is guilty of
stealing the ring. but she has got into mess with
somebody who did it. l could read her pretty
plainly. However, we shall see."
And descending from the vehicle, he went to
his private room, in the detectives headquarters
and began to arrange his plans for the discovery
of the ruby ring.
Poor Susan! She kept up courage as long as
she could but as soon she reached the miser-
able den below, she threw herself into a chair,
and wept bitterly. Then she arose, and taking
a dirty scrap of paper, scrawled the following
's DON'T come here never eny more. You hev
done it, SU'AN"
And having hastily inclosed this scrap in an
envelope, she slipped out unnoticed, (as she tho't)
and posted it in the nearest letter-box.
\ week passed by. Nothing was heard of the
ring or the detective. Don Ramon began to curse
British institutions as he had never cursed them
before, which is going very far indeed Cervantes
had no longer a charm for him. Don Quixote
might have fought whole regiment of windmills'
and won no smile from his passionate lips The
tricks and quips of all the witty Graclosos in
Lope were stale and stupid to this Spanish gran
dee bewailing the loss of royal gem He trod
Leicester Square n bewilderment, and actually
so far forgot himself as to raise his hat to the
Spanish ambassador, the representative of that
hated constitutional infant, Isabella.
1t was a dull and drizy evening. a combina-
ton of fogs had settled over unhappy London,
like a thrice -ebonized pail of gloom The street
lamps struggled in vain to cast cheering rays
through the mournful mist, and sickening in
wasted energy, paled into hopeless despair. Pc
destrians in the streets loomed up against you
like ghouls, and then bounced against you like
oattering rams Your sides ached with reiterated
blows and there was new marvel in phrenolo-
gy-the development of bumps OF concussiveness.
The vehicles wore the awful aspect of moving
mausoleums, dark ard grim IN funeral majesty.
Up from Westminster bridge rolled a great col-
umn Of fuvial vapor. which settling down over
Whitehall and the Horse Guards threatened to
blot them out of existence. Scotland Yard had
faded from the memories of men.
No! not exactly, since two three shrewd
fellows just then drove up in so many cabs,
and threading their way to the great Temple
of Detection, reache the ante-room Of Mr. Fig
gins.