The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-17
The Stolen Diamonds.
A Detective Story.
CONCLUDED.


len her own diamonds"
Moreton sprang to his feet with such
vehemence that the sergeant, in evident
alarm, stepped back foot or two.
"This Is most insulting" he exclaim-
ed. Stolen her own diamonds You
are an idiot, sir. Were they not her
own already What motive did she
have, pray?"
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders.
II cannot Judge her motives" he
said, without further inquiries / have
suggested The only explanation which
have to offer at present is that she stole
her own diamonds in order to give them
to Mr.. Jack Maddox"
You insulting scoundrel !" cried
Moreton, springing upon the luckless
officer, and selling him by the throat -
Do you dare to say that to me in my
own houseY Why, you-you Internal
villain -
He backed the sergeant against the
wall, and shook him. For a moment
it looked as if matters were about to
go hard with Mr.. Polhemus, for More
ton was powerful man, and the SER
geant small one. interfered to sep
arate the struggling men, and succeed
ed. The sergeant did not seem at all
disconnected, but re-arranged his neck
tie, and smiled
" can hardly blame you, sir" he
said. You are her husband. l have
my convictions, and have done my
duty"
"Give me your BILL" painted Moreton,
land leave the house at once. If this
is an example OF English detective work,
I'll have no more of it."
/ stood by in silence while he wrote a
check to the sergeant's order. How
could say the word that would per-
suade him to allow Mr.. Polhemus to
continue his investigation? l loved
John, and / could not do it.
The sergeant left Wellesley that morn
ing, but he had left behind him, in the
mind of at least one of his hearers,
leaven that would go on working, even
in his absence. He had given me start
L
ed from that hour to keep vigilant eye
upon Mrs. Moreton and our friend Mad
dock.
We found them together in the draw
ing.room when we emerged from the
library, and both their faces frightened
when John told of the sergeant's dis
missal. Mr.. Maddox remarked in his
cynical way that all detectives were
either swindlers or humbugs and Mrs.
Moreton took both her husbands hands
in hers, and thanked him as "dear,
good old boy, for sending that horrid,
disagreeable man away" 1t was strange
i thought, nevertheless, that neither of
them inquired the cause of the sergeant's
discharge. Was it because they did not
dare?
Moreton's excitement in the morning
caused reaction IN the afternoon and,
after dinner, he complained of feeling
tired and drowsy. About three O'Clock
he came into the drawing room, and
threw himself ON the sofa l sat at the
window, reading, and Mrs. Moreton
near the table with her sewing. 1t was
not long before her husbands loud regu-
lar breathing proclaimed him to be fast
asleep. Mr.. Jack Maddox was, for a
wonder, absent. Where he had gone,
did not know or care. 1t was pleasant
to have him away, and pleasanter still
to be able, whenever glanced up slyly
from my book. to rest my eyes upon
Mrs. Moreton's beautiful head, and long
dark lashes, bending over her work.
had finished my book, and stepped
across the hall into the library to pro-
cure another volume. i was absent per-
haps five minutes. When / returned
Mrs. Moreton still sat at the table, sew
ing; but / observed that she had during
my absence, thrown over her husband
silk quilt.
6 was afraid the poor boy would take
cold, she said, with smile
resumed my reading, and Mrs. More
ton her work. Johns loud breathing
had ceased, and he lay very still. He
was evidently sleeping easily, and very
soundly. The afternoon grew on. Mr..
Maddox did not return, and John did
not awake. After awhile it became too
dark for either reading or sewing. Mrs.
Moreton laid down her needle, and went
softly across the room to where her hus.
band lay.
" 1t is not usual for him to sleep so
so long," she said. 81 will go and give
directions for tea. If he is not awake