Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-25

Vow comes the strangest part of this
strange story. a short time aner grand
fathers return home, which was very speedi-
ly accomplished, the vessel he came in being
an American clipper, and the winds favorable
all the way, he WAS awakened one nlt Mt by
my grandmother, who declared that she heard
some one breaking into the house. MY grand
father listened, snd was soon convinced that
her suspicious were correct; so he threw on a
dreSsing-gown' loaded his pistols, anu solty
uubarring his door, slipped stealthily out INTO
the passage. He heard footsteps proceeding g
up the stairs to an upper room when had Oeen
his brothers. He followed with noiseless
tread, and on reaching the door of the apart
ment he saw, by the faint glimmer OF a DARK
lantern, a man on his knees before Stephen
CarI's trunk (which still contained all the ar,
licles that had been brought from abroad), and
engaged in forcing the lock. Some sOund
which he made attracted the attention OF the
robber, who sprang up and rushed upon MIN MN ;
but our grandfather, who was not easily
thrown OF his guard, presented his pistol iulI
at-his advancing sssailant, fired, and the man
fell 10 the ground"
"Was he killed outright?"
Unfortunately, yes; the bullet had passed
through his head. l say unfortunately, as
with him died the last hope OF discovering
the would-be robber proved to be no other
than Nicholas Leerjen, the Dutch shop-
keeper"
"And his motive? What could have been
his reason for committing such a crtme?"
oDo YOU not see,' said Patience, "that our
grand uncle must have purchased from MIN
some exceedingly NaluADle gems, anu iuaI me-
ing appTised by my grandfsther's inquiries
that the whereabouts Of this purchase was
unknown, and being also, probably, aware of
its place of cOncealment, had made desper-
ate attempt TO gain possession of it?"
I see. / wonder what really did become
Of its"
must have been stolen from his brother's
trunk on board ship, after his death. But be
always kept the trunk and It's contents very
carefully, and enjOined on me 10 do the same,
though il mas been ransacked again and
again, and every article it contains thoroughly
examined"
CUP stairs in the i.ttle third story back
room. Don't you remember tia middle
sized sole-leather trunk, with 'S. C.! marked
Ou it,"
I tell you what, Patience, I said springing
up, Il mean to have look at the contents OF
that trunk early tomorrow morning"
"What nonsense, Addie! Don't l tell you
that everything in it has been thoroughly ex-
amined hundreds of times?"
"Well, then, il Will do no hurt to examine
them the several hundred time.
But was not thata ring at the bell? Yes, in
deed Here comes Hly trunk, Patience, want
10 show you my Christmas gifts, aud have
knit you such pretty shawl" And IN the un-
packing and examination OF my little STOCK OF
treasures the remainder OF the evening passed
swiftly away, and there was no further ques-
ton OF Stephen Carr or of the lost Jewels.
Rut 1 had not reliuquished my purpose, and
as soon as The breakfast things were put away
the next morning, / aSsaiied Patience anew ::
w here is the key OF stephen Carr trunk ?
I know you mean to be clO-eted with Noah
Tor an hour at least, experimenting the stuff
ing that turkey so, unless you wish me 70 Ole
Of eHsUi durlhg your absence, you might as
well let me amuse myself after my own fash
ion."
"CuriOsity, thy name is-Adelaide Carr ~
laughed Patience, as she went TO her desk to
look for the key. Here It is; and put on a
shawl, Addie, there is no fire in the room, and
do not want you to catch cold"
And II fipd the fortunes"
"Bring II down stairs and show II 70 me that
is II 10 is not too heavy 20 carry"
So Patience disappeared, laughing,in the di-
reccion OF the kitchen, and hastened TO put
on my heavy cloth travelling saeque, and
back -roOm-a little, dingy apartment used as
a lumber room, and half filed with old
trunks, broken furniture, discarded
pictures; in fact, all the rubbish
which collects in old houses and which,
though considered too good TO throw away,
is usually mere useless lumber. An old
friend or distant relative OF our parents
or grandparents, leaned against the
wall, aud seemed to leer at me
out Of its eyes with a look Of mOckery and
discouragement An old high clock in the
corner, Jared probably by my step on the
door, started suddenly into a wheezy series OF
lies and then was silent again. Ire rof the
Shut-up room smote coldly on my senses, and
chilled me despite my warm WrapplngS.
Gathering my dress about me, picked my
way across the floor, avoiding sundry Jagged
nails and broken trunk corners, and soon
stood in front of the trunk marked as. O.
! fitted the key TO the lock; II turn
ed slowly and creaklngly, and with an eager
yet trembling hand l flung back the lid. No
sudden glow OF gold or jewels flashed from the
interior. A quantity Of masculine habtli-
mentS, carefully t0.ded, greeted my eyes, and
a strong OdOr Of camphor aSsailed my nose.
That was all.
I took the things out one by one, unfolding
each article as | did 50, and scrutiniizing II
carefully. Cld-faShiOned shirts yellow as
saffron coats from which every vistige Of
lining had been ripped in the search for the
hidden wealth; trousers with the pockets
turned inside out; stockings not rolled in
compact balls, but stretched out at full length
such were the uppermOst things in the old
trunk. Underneath lay pair OF two OF
boots, small dreSsing-case covered with
Russia leather, small, fiat wOrkbOx contain
ing two spoOls, one of black silk and one Of
white thread, lump of wax scored by passing
threads, a needle-bOok shaped like a butter
hy, and a pair Of scissors, and a writing
case, also covered with Russia leather. took
this last 70 the light, and carefully examined
il, in the vague hope that 1t might contain
some fragment OF writing, some entry in
cipher, perhaps, that might prove a cleW TO
the mystery. Vain hOpel The stained blot
tiug-paper, the shabby penhOlder, the rusty
penknife revealed nothing; and all written
paper had b en- removed long ago, had there
indeed ever been any. Tne dressing
case, the work box, We're alike unfruitful o.
disc Dveries. The heels Of the boots had been
cut of and cut in pieces, and found the
fragments lying at the bottom Of the trunk.
open and pried apart, in a search for a false
pertinent, doubtless. Truly, careful
searchers had been before me; where was the
marvel If failed to find anything
slowly and reluctantly srefolded and re
placed the scattered garments in the trunk,
laid the wOrk-bOx, wrlting-case, and dressing
case on the top OF them, closed the lid, turned
the key, and putting IL in my pocket, ran
down stairs, resolved TO forget old stephen
Carr and all his belongings.
The afternoon was spent as we had planned,
at the theater, and Bin the evening II was
agreed that Patience should read aloud whilst
1 sewed. l had piece OF fnery that needed
black cloth coat, the shabby
fringe Of which l was going to replace with
fresh and new-fashioned fur trimming-and
I was anxious to get il done that might look
my best at church the ensuing Sunday. l got
out my work. and my good sister produced
thick, promising looking novel.
What have you got there, Patience? But
stop. Before you begin, can you lend me
piece Of waN?'
~ have not a bit in the mousse"
"HOW provoking! This black silk tangles
and knots 50 when il Is not waXed. Patience,
there Is a nice bali OF wax upstairs in old
stephen Carr's work-box. DO you think his
ghost would come after me were to go up
after it?'
"For three cents will insure You against all
"Donel III send you the three cents in the
shape OF a pOstage-stamp on the very next
letter 1 write you. Where's the candle? 1
have the trunk key still in my pocket"
so mp went, and soon returned with the
yellowish ball Of thread-scored wax in my
hand. Then we sat down, and for some time
the work and the reading proceeded in a mer
~ duet. At length, growing deeply interested
in the fortunes and fOllies OF the heroine, let
my sewing tall on my lap ana sat with folded
hands in a stare of lazy enjoyment.
was brought back TO a sense OF my duty by
my scissors slipping from my lap and falling
with a clatter TO the floor. Patience still read
on, while l, being rather cOnScience-stricken
at my own Incidence, strove noiseleSsly to col
.ect my belongings. Work, scissors, thimble,
spool, had ali found their way TO the ground
during my temporary abstraction. 1 gather ed
them up and prepared to go to work again.
But where was the ball OF wax How stupid
IL had rolled under The crate, and now lay
In close proximity TO two red hot Goals, siz-
cling a little from time to time. and decidedly
.essened in size. dislOdged il with the poker,
pulled Il toward me, and endeavored TO
cleanse 10 from the ashes and 70 mold its soft
sned bulk into shape again. But as l pressed
The half melted wax between my fingers they
a hard So ubstance-sOmething
firm, with sharp edgeS-that resisted the
pressure. Ny hands trembled with eagernesS
and nervOns excitement as 1 stripped the
,yaxen shell from this hard kernel Pstience's
voice seemed to die away in the distance as 1
piled my scissors and my fingers in their hur-
-ied work. At last it was done; the hidden
hing lay bare before me on my open palm.
rhis was what l saw.
A stone resembling in size and shape the
half OF a good sized hickory nut, II the nut
were divided transversely, cut into q few
broad facets on top, and underneath cut into
lllllAdE AdCttn- It's nuapc " ~ perfectly
ar, its color a rich glowing crimson, or rather
1eep rose-red. gazed At iJ In mute admira-
ion and Dewtlderment iOr moment; then l
started TO my feet, amazing Patience, who
stopped reading and dropped her book as
cried out, in a state OF almost frenzied excite
1ent. Patience, loOki I have found this.
What Is it? Can it be-"
Quiet, calm, and unruffied as ever, my
,isIer rose, looked steadily at the stone as IL
sy on my shaking palm, then took 1t in
ler own hand, and drew IL lightly across
he glass shade of the little clock
hat siood ON the mantel-piece. A sharp
grating sound was heard, and when she took
ler hand away a long scratch was visible on
he surface OF the glass. she turned toward
ne then, and her voice had a sudden Quiver
md ber cheek flushed with unWonted red as
he answered, at is a ruby-6n enormous
me. Adelaide, the missing fortune of stephen
Jarr is found at last!"
Whereupon L seized my old cloth coat and
lung il straightway into the fire: ~ mean to |
lRve seal-Skin sacque before the new year is |
)Orn. Don't look so aStonished, Patience. 1 |
m not mad-only beside myself with Joy"
}ut my excitement died away as Patience |
'ent her gentle head and whispered softly, |
Let Us give thanks TO God"