The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-22
ave laid such hold on her in 50 short a

trinkets in general, Miss Rachel was notnlng
like 30 mad AFTER them as most young girls.
Yet there she was, still locked up inconsolably
] in her bedroom. II Is but fair TO add that she
was not the only one Of US in the house who
was thrown out Of the regular groove. Mr..
Godfrey for instanee-though professionally o
sort Of onsoler-gcneral-seemedt 10 be at loss
where to look for his own resources. Ought he
TO relieve the family. in their present situation,
Of the responsibility Of him as q guestr or
ought he to stay on the chance that even his
humble services might be Of some usei He de-
oidei ultimately that the last course was per-
haps the most customary and considerate course
to take, in such peculiar family distress as
this was. Circumstances try the metal . man
is really made Of. Mr.. Godfrey, tried by circum-
stances, showed himself Of weaker metal than /
had thought him to be. As for the women sery-
ants-excepting Rosanna Spearman. who kept
by herself-they took 20 whispering together in
corners, and staring at nothing suspiciously.
myself acknowledged 20 having been fdgety
and ill-tempered. The cursed Moonstone had
turned us all upside down.
A little before eleven Mr.. Franklin came back.
The resolute side Of him had, to all appearance.
given way, in the interval since his departure,
under the stress that had been laid upon II. He
had LEFT us at n gallop; he came back TO US at
walk. When he went away he was made Of
iron. When he returned. he was stuffed with
cotton, as limp as limp could be.
well - says my lady, ''are the police COM
ingr
"Yes," says Mr.. Franklin "they said they
would follow me in fly. Superintendent Sec
grave, Of your local police force, and two Of his
men. A mere form The case Is hopeless"
"what have the Indians escaped, Sirr"
asked.
"The poor ill-used Indians have been most
unjustly put in prison." says Mr.. Franklin.
"They are as innocent as the babe unborn. My
idea that one Of them was hidden in the house
has ended, like all the rest OF my ideas, in
smoke. It's been proved" says Mr.. Franklin,
dwelling with great relish on his own incapac-
ity, 'to be simply impssibTe.'
After astonishing us by announcing this to-
tally new turn in the matter Of the Moonstone
our young gentleman. at his sunt's request,
took seat and explained himself
IL appeared that the resOlute side Of him had
held out as Tar as FriIinghall. He had put the
whole case plainly before the magistrate, and the
magistrate had at once sent for the police. The
first inquiries instituted about the Indians show
ell that they had not so much as attempted to
leave the town. Further questions addressed to
the police proved that all three had been seen
returning to Frizipghall with their boy, on the
previous night between ten and eleyen-which
(reglrd being had TO hours and distances) also
proved that they had walked straight back after
performing on our terrace. Later still, at mid
night, the pOlics having occasion to search the
common lodging-house where they lived, had
seen them all three again, and their little boy
with them as usual. Soon after midnight / my
Ill g u. stzxI Dl..,.
dence than this, in favor Of the Indians, there
could not well be. The magistrate said there
was not even case Of suspicion against them,
50 far. But, rs II was just possible, when the
police came to investigate the matter, that dis
coyeries affecting'the jugglers might be made,
he would contriye, by committing thom as rogues
and vagabonds, to keep them at our disposal.
under lock and key, for week. They had ig-
norantly done something U forget what) in the
town. which barely brought them within the
operation Of the law. Every human institution
(Justice included) will stretch little, II you
only pull il the right way. The worthy magis-
trate was an old friend Of my lady's-and the
Indian lot were ''cOmmitted" for q week, as soon
as the court opened that morning.
Such was Mr.. Franklin's narrative Of events
at FriIinghall. The Indian clew TO the mystery
Of the lost jewel was now, to all appearance, a
clew that had broken in our hands. IL the jug
giers were innocent, who, in the name Of won-
der, had taken the Moonstone out Of Miss Ra-
ehel's daweri
Ten minutes later. TO our infinite relief. Su-
perintendent Seegraye arrived at the house.
lie reported passing Mr.. Franklin on the terrace,
sitting in the sun, and warning the police, rs
they went by, that the investigation was hope
less before the investigation had begun.
For family in our situation, the Superin-
tendent Of the Frizinghall police was the most
comforting officer you could wish to see, Mr..
Seegraye was tall and portly, and military in
his manners. He had fine commanding voice,
AMI mighty resolute eye. and grand frock-
coat which buttoued beautifully up to his leather
stock. "l'm the man you want ~ was written
all over his face; and he ordered his two infe-
rior policemen about with n severity which con-
vinced Us all that there was no triAing with
him.
He began by going round the premises, out
side and in the result Of that Investigation
proving TO him that no thieves had broken in
upon US from the outside, and that the robbery,
consequently, must have been committed by
some person in the house. l leave you TO i'm
agine the state the servants were in when this
official announcement first reached their ears.
The Superintendent decided to begin Nv examin-
ing the bOudoir and, that done, to examine the
servants next. At the same time be posted one
Of his men on the staircase which lei 70 the
servants bedrooms, with instructions to let no.
body in the house pass him until further orders.
At this latter proceeding the weaker half OF
the human family went distracted on the spot.
They bounced out Of their corners whisked up
stairs in body to Miss Rachel's room (Rosanna
Spcarman being carried away among them this
time); burst in on Superintendent Seegrave ;
and all looking equally guilty, summoned him
TO say which Of them he suspected, at once.
Mr. Superintendent proved equal to the occa-
siOn-hc looked Mt them with his rcsoluto eye,
AMI he cowed them with his military voice.
Snow. then. you wo en-, 20 down stairs again,
every one Of you. l won't have you here.
Look - says Mr.. Superintendent, suddenly
pointing TO little smear Of the decorative paint
ing ON Miss Rachel's door-at the outer odge,
Just under the lock. "LOok what mischief the
petticoats Of some Of you have done already.
Clear out clear out ~ Roanna Spcarman,
who was nearest TO him. and nearest TO the little
smear on the door. set the example Of obedience
and slippel of instantly to her work. The rest
followed her out. The Superintendent finished
his examination Of the room and, making moth
ing Of il. asked me who had first discovered the
robbery. My daughter had first discovered It.
My daughter was sent for.
Mr.. Superintendent proved to he little too
sharp with Penelope at starting. Snow, young
woman. attend TO me-and mind you speak the
truth" Penelope ircl up instantly. ''rye new
er been taught to tell lies. Mr.. Policeman and
IL father can stand there and hear me accused
Of falsehood and theving. and my own bedroom
shut against me, and my character taken away,
which is all poor girl has le, he's not the good
father take him for - A timely word from
me put Justice and Penelope on plcasanter
footing together. The questions and answers
went swimmingly and ended In nothing worth
mentioning. My daughter had seen Miss Ra-
chel put the Diamond in the drawer Of the cab
met, the last thing at night She had gone in
with Miss Rachel's cup Of tea, at eight the next
morning. and had found the drawer open and
empty. Upon that she had alarmed the house
and there was an end OF Penelope's evidence.
Mr.. Superintendent next asked to see Miss
Rachel herself Penelope mentioned his request
i ,h ro,,,,h tha ,loor The answer r,achel ux nv