Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-07-15
asked her husband.

ing-case.
"Are you sure 7"
"Very sure," answered Mrs. Vav-
asour.
"Who has been in the room
since 2" asked her husband.
"No one with the exception of
yourself" was the reply. Cor
yes, Miss Grayle did come up after
a book. / sent her for it last even
ing"
"Of course Miss Grayle had moth
ing to do with its disappearance"
said Mr.. Vavasour.
"Of course not" said his wife de-
cidedly. 81 never thought of sus-
pecting her. I've searched the room
over twice thoroughly. l have
moved everything. 1t isn't here"
Mr.. Vavasour assisted on the
third search. The ring was no
where to be found.
"Some Of the servants must have
taken it," said he.
81 don't know who to suspect"
said his wife. Let's go down and
talk with Bernard about it."
Miss We're was in the parlor with
Bernard Vavasour. Mrs. Vavasour
related the story of her loss and
asked what to do.
"Search your rooms," suggested
Miss We're. I'm willing to have
mine looked over"
"There's no use in that" said
Bernard. "Of course none of our
guests have taken it,"
"But it would be hardly fair to
search the servants rooms and let
ours so unsearched,' insisted Miss
We're. 81 desire to have you look
through mine"
Several other guests announced
their Willingness to have their rooms
investigated.
"Well, we can go through with
the ceremony of looking them over .
said Mr.. Vavasour. "Of course
there is not the least bit of use in
it. Wen begin with your room,
Miss Grayle, if you've no objec-
tion."
"None at ALL" answered Miss
Grayle, and they all repaired to the
governess's room. Miss Vere's face
wore a look of coming triumph.
But it wore a strange, baihed ex.
preston when Mr.. Vavasour an
nounced, laughingly, that nothing
was to be found of the ring in Mis-
Grayle's room. Miss Vere's eye
had a strange look in them. Sh'
clutchcd her hands together nerv
ously as some of them congratulate
ed Miss Grayle on being proved in
nocent, as if she would have liked
to strangle her.
"Miss Vere's room next" sai(
Mr.. Vavasour, and led the wa,
thither.
The first thing opened was lit
tie case of drawers, and as Mr.
Vavasour drew them out one aftel
another, the sunlight glinted OF
Miss Vere's Jewels.
81 don't see anything of the ring,
announced Mr.. Vavasour. But a
he spoke, from a corner of the las
drawer something rolled out, hal
wrapped up in piece of old paper
and fell to the floor. In falling tn,
paper was shaken off, and there o.
the carpet, flashing and cleaning
in the sunshine, lay Mrs. Vavasouri
diamond ring.
Miss We're turned pale as death
She staggered and sank into
chair.
"Before God, / know no more
than you do how that ring came
here" she said.
"I do spoke up Bertha, Mr.
Vavasour's six-year-old girl.
GLOW 2" asked Mr.. Vavasour.
"Iput it there" answered Ber
tha. "Last night Bobby an mt
was playin' in the nurs'ry, an l was
a hidin' from him. / came out il
the hall an hid behind the door
While | was hid l see Miss We're
como out of her room an go int
your'n, an she took the ring an
see her go into Miss Grayle's room
/ followed her an see her put it il
Miss Grayle's trunk. Then / heart
her say she'd see what Uncle Bern
ard 'ud think of her when the,
found the ring there. Then sh'
went out, an didn't see me at all
When she was gone Il went int
Miss Graylc's room, an L opened
the trunk an took out the ring an
put it in Miss Vere's drawer.
lmow she wanted to make folk:
think Miss Grayle stole it, cause
she hates Miss Grayle cause Uncle
Bernard likes her."
"Is this true, Bertha ?" question
ed Miss Vavasour.
"Just as true as can be" answer
the child, meeting her mothers
eyes unflinchingly. 81 put the ring
in her drawer cause she stole it, an
don't like her. She said l was g
ugly young 'un t'other day, an she'd
like to cuff my ears, jest cause
trod on her dress. / don't wan
Uncle Bernard to marry her.
want him to marry Miss Grayle, an
then she'll be my Auntie Rose
won't she, Uncle Bernardo"
"I hope So" answered Bernard
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