The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-23

study giving upon the hall, she followed
me with an air of surprise, and without
the least hesitation.
'"Now," | said, when / had closed the
door, and had whispered word of ex-
PLANTATION to Mrs. Scobell, i've will have
no beating about the bush, but come to
the point at once. You stole ring from
the pocket of a coat, when, nearly three
years ago, you passed as tailor'sappren-
t'ce in the employ OF Mr.. Tripper. Nay,
don't deny it; the ring has been found
on Miss Farley's finger. If she had sim
ply bought it of you, she would have said
so at once, and | should have contented
myself with giving you into custody; as
it is, she refuses to give any account of
how she lme by it. Why does she do
this? You know; so come, make full
confession, and we will condone your part
of the affair, because my chief object,
since the property las been recovered, is
to protect the young lady from some
scheme of which you are the instrument.
Explain all at once, or you will find
yourself in Lewis Gaol in the twinkling
of an eye"
Utterly taken aback by the sudden
ness of my accusation, she nevertheless
put a bold face on it, and denied any
knowledge of what l meant.
'"Very well" l said, "do as you please;
but you will not leave this room except
in custody, unless you accede to my
commands. l know more of you, you
see, than you suspect"
with this, l walked out of the room,
which was a small one, having but a
single window, high up, and locked the
door behind me. Miss Farley had gone
back to her rom, and the horses had
been sent away. ...
'"Let some one, my dear madam"
said, as soon as rejoined Mrs. Seobell in
the drawing-room, "ride off at once for
the nearest constable; | shall have to give
Ann Brice into his Charge
Then explained who it was / had
discovered in her niece's female
equerry.
'"My Identification of her." l contin-
ued, "as the tailor's apprentice accounts
at once for the ring being in this house,
and so far, think you will admit,
thoroughly exculpiates my friend John,
We have only now to find out why Miss
Farley is so silent about it, and this we
shall easily do, if we are driven to it, by
searching her desk, or any place she keeps
studiously locked. Meanwhile, may !
ring the bellw
The old lady begged would give my
own orders, and act as ! thought best. A
servant entered, and after telling him
what to do, and when he had left the
room, said to Mrs. Scobell:
$50 to your niece, tell her what has
transpired about Ann Brice, and once
more entreat her to be open with you
If she still refuses, we must do as We
said"
i now retired to the room that had
been set apart for me, and which partial
ly overlooked the stables, and. at little
distan'e, side gate to them leading into
by-lane.
4 sat down at the window. and began
to muse over the strangene>s of my pos
ition, and the condolences which had led
to it. had so remained, perhaps, hall
an hour, when l saw a stable-lad gently
leading horse through the gate I have
just mentioned After quietly shutting
it, he mounted and rode slowly away
then he broke into brisk trot; bu
where the road began to turn he put hi
horse at low hedge leaped over it, and
plunging into a thicket at the brow o.
hill, was lost to view.
ITO BE CONTINUED.