The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-05
MORNING, NOVEMBER 5, 1869.

sole you to know, Mr.. Betteredge with your
interest in Rossnna), that you have been the
means Of throwing me- of. What the girl has
done tonight Is clear enough, OF conrse. She
has joined the two chains, and has fastened them
10 the hasp in the tin case. She has sunk the
case. In the water or In the quicksand. She has
made the loose end Of the chain fast to some
place under the rocks, known only to herself
And she win leave the case secure at Its anchor
ago till the present proceeding have come to an
end after which sue can privately pull II up
again out Of Its hiding place, at her own leisure
and convenience All perfectly plain, % far.
But" says the Sergeant, with the first tone Of
impatienoe In his voice that l had heard yet,
"ths mystery is-what the devil has she hidden
in the tin casef"
Thought to myself, '.The Moonstone I" But
I only said to Sergeant Cuff, "Can't you guessf'
"It's not the Diamond" says the Sergeant
'The whole experience Of my lfe Is at fault II
Roeanna Spcarnan has got the Diamond"
On hearing those words the internal detective
fever began, suppose, to burn In me again.
At any rate, I forgot myself in tho interest Of
guessing this new riddle ! said rashly, "the
stained dress ~
Sergeant Cuff stopped short in the dark, and
laid his hand on ny arm.
yours ever thrown upon the surface again 7" he
asked.
...Never," answered. "Light or heavy,
whatever goes into the Shivering Sand is sucked
down and seen no more"
"Docs Rosanna Spearnan know that 7"
''She knows II as well rs do"
"Then," says tho Sergeant, "what on earth
has she got to do but to tie up q bit Of stone In
(. the stained dress and throw II into the quick
sandi There isn't a shadow Of reason why she
should have hidden it-and yet she must have
hidden II. Query" says the Sergeant, walking
on again, "is the paintstained dress petticoat
or night-gowni or Is 1t something else which
there Is n reason for preserving at any risk
Mr.. Bettercdge, II nothing occurs to prevent 1t,
must 60 to Frilinghall tomorrow, and discov-
er what she bought in the town, when she pri-
vately got the materials for making the substi-
tute dress It's q risk to leave things as they
are now-but it's worse risk still TO stir an
other step in this matter In the dark. Excuse
my being q little out OF temper am degraded
in my own estimaton-I have let Rosanna
Spearman puzzle me-
When we got back the servants were at sup
per. The first person we saw In the outer yard
was the policeman whom Superintendent See
grave had left at the SeIgeant's disposal. The
Sergeant asked II Rosanna Spearman had re-
turned. Yes. Wheni Nearly an hour since.
What had she done She had goue up stairs to
take Off her bonnet and 'cloak-r:.d she was now
at supper quietly with the rest.
Without making any remark Sergeant Cuff
walked on, sinking lower and lower in his own
estimation, to the back Of the house. Missing
the entrance in the dark he went on lin spite Of
my calling to him) till he was stopped by q
t..tl u ....o H. II
Joined him TO bring him back by the right way
particular window, on the bedroom floor, at the
back Of the house.
Looking up in my turn discovered that the
object of his contemplation was the window Of
Miss Rachel's room, and that lights were pass.
Ing backward and forward there as If something
unusual were going on.
"Isnt that Miss verindcr's rooml" asked
Sergeant Cuff.
- I rplied that IL was, and invited him TO 60
In with me to supper. The Sergeant remained
in his place, and said something about enjoying
the smell Of the garden at night. I left him to
his enjoyment. Just as I was turning In ut the
door heard The Last Rose Of Summer at the
wickct-gate. Sergeant Cuff had made another
discovery And my young lady's window was
ut the bottom Of II this time
That latter reflection took me back again to
the Sergeant, with polite intimation tina. l
could not find Il in my heart to leave him by
himself. "Is there anything you don't under
stand up thcrel" added, pointing to Miss ia-
chefs window.
Judging by his voice, Sergeant Cuff had sud
denly risen again to the right place in his own
estimation. "You are great people for betting
in Yorkshire, are you not 7" he asked.
"well I" said. "Suppose we arel'
"IfI was Yorkshireman," proceeled the
Sergeant, taking my arm. "I would lay you an
even sovereign, Mr.. Bettereige, that your
young lady has suddenly resolved to leave the
house. III won on that event, l should offer to
lay another sovereign that the idea has occurred
TO her within the last hour"
The first Of the Scrgeant's guessess startled
me. The second mixed itself up somehow In
my head with the report we had heard from the
policeman, that Rosanna Spearman had return
ed from the sands within the last hour. The
two together had curious effect on me as we
went In to supper. shook of Sergeant Cuffs
arm, and, forgetting my manners, pushed by
him through the door to make my own inquiries
for myself.
Samuel, the footman, was the first person I
met in the passage.
seller ladyship is waiting to see you and Ser
geant Cuff" he said, before I could put any
question TO him.
"IIow long has she been waiting 7" asked the
Sergeant's voice behind me. 4
"Por the last hour, Sir"
There Il was again Rosanna had come back
Miss Rachel had taken some resolution out OF
the common and my lady had been waiting to
see the Scrgeant-all within the last hour II
was not pleasant to fnd these very different per
sons and things linking themselves together In
this way. went on up stairs, without looking
at Sergeant Cuff or speaking to him. My hand
took q sudden AZ Of trembling as lifted II to !
knock at my MISTRESS door.
al shouldn't be surprised" whispered the
Sergeant over my shoulder, "if scandal was
to burst up In the house Tonight. Don't be
alarmed I have put the muIlle on worse f,mi-
ly difficulties than this in my Lifetime"
As he said the words heard my MISTRESS
voice calling to ms to come in.
H..