New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16

Seven o'clock was striking as Piper hurried back
upstairs. 11me had passed 80 pleasantly that for
once she WAS really frightened to find how late it
was. She hoped most devoutly that her mistress
was not waiting for her, and as she ran upstairs
her ready brain coined pleasant little fiction with
which to turn away the sting OF her ladyship's
anger. nj,
found 1t locked. She gave timid little knock. to
which there was no response Then she knocked
again. loudly, and cried in her affected tones:
My lady--are you there Y Still no answer Then Then
was that of the COuntess's bedroom. That also
was locked as was the third door she tried, which
opened into the Ear or u Slightly
Meeting another servant, she said: Have the
ladies done tea vetp but before she could be an
swered the Countess came out Of Mrs Dawson's
boudOr.
i was just coming down to look for your lady
Ship said Piper gibly. but not without a guilty
feeling at her heart.
Coming to look for me. PiperP
To ask your ladyshp for the key Of the dress
my. aressing-room door locked! What do you
meanP
i just ran downstairs to the housekeepcrs room
to get a bic of camphor for my hollow tooth re-
Piled the ready -tongued Piper. Il was half dis,
tracted with face-ache, my lady. had to wait
while Mrs. Drabbe found the camphor, though
bnt when got back upstairs found the dressing,
room door locked, and nobody answered when
knocked
What became Of my iowel-case while you were
Il left it unlocked on the dressing-table ready
for your ladvship,' answered Piper more timldly
'Yon left NV iewel-case on the dressing-table
while you went downstairs and did not even ta a
the prccauion to lock the door after you SAID the
Countess in a tone of high aispleasure. What un-
pardonable carelessness! $1,000, p...
Il am very sorry, my lady, returned Piper
humbly, for she was really alarmed at inc respon-
sibility she had incurred by leaving tho ROOM
But no doubt the jewel-case is quite safe
Safev echoed the Countess, turning coiu NJ inc
bare idea of its being anything else. What do you
mean, Piper You really deserve months warn
ing for such imprudence'
they talked, and had reached the dressing room by
this time. without further parley her ladyship
turned the handle, 6nt only to lind that the door
James are you there but there came no response.
Piper meanwhile had tried the two other doors doors
and found that they. also were still locked. This
is Ennerdalp's doing said the Countess to herself
He has found my jewelcase on the table. as Ilper
left it, and has locked the doors by way OF teachhg
Ms TO be more careful in future She was seriously
annoyed. Nothing moro veXng To her than TO
be found fault with by her husband. and she knew
that in the present case ne wTa NOV t ba ny
given Piper special caution not to leave tho room
while the jewel-case was abont; ,,
See whether you can find Lord Ennerdale,' she
said to Piper and say that should like to sec
him as quickly as possible ,.,,. r,o,o
Away went Piper in fear and trembling; 1here
WAS ONLY one man in the world of whom she stood
in awe, and that man was the Earl: She 1ouhd
him i'll the library alone, immersed IN some rare
folio. and delivered her MESSAGE: Ito anSWeIG ,t
ting up his book at once. proceeded upstairs IN II
leisurely way, whisting under his breath and ing
ling the loose change III his pocket rs lie went.
PipeI followed, quaking at heart
The Earl found his wife with q shawl thrown
round her. pacing the cold corridor: want 10
get into nv dressing room, she said to him with u
little mpatience in her tone BE good enough 10
open the door. l shall hardly be dressed in tine
for dinner
The Earl looked at her ara tuggcu aI hi7
Open the door of yonr dressing room ? he said
And pray what is the matter with the door that
should be fetched all the way from the library TO
As if you did not know 1t is locked, of course as
is also the bedroom door and that of your dressing
room. But do make haste and open IT. Of course
it was excessively careless of Piper to leave the
room while nv jewel-case was IN IT, ana am.
What almost shouted the Earl. four Jewel.
case left in the room and the dOo:s found locked.
Then, as sure as you live, it has been stolen! =,
But it was Won who locked the door, was ~ NOT !.
asked the Countess, with u sudden trelnor III her
voice.
The Earl made no answer in words. but daShing
into the nearest bedroom that was open, he issued
therefrom next moment poker in hand. sing TINS
implement as q lever, for insertion between the
door aud the lamb. the Earl, after half dozen
powerful wrenches. contrived to burst open tho
door of his wifes dressing room. He rushed i'll, fol-
lowed 10y the Countess, and, at more modest AIS
lance. by Piper. The tale told itself III u moinTn i
Ono of the two windows was wide Open The
candles in the scOnceS were all blown out save one
An overturned chair, shattered vase, and Lady
EnneIUalG lCWel-caSc DON ilcT0 10 W NtSl!'
Robbed, by Jovo! just as thought cried ne
EaIl with a grOan. For the first time III her Mo
lady Ennerdale tainted. Her husband was Just III
time to catch her. she would have laiich' ripper
showed symptoms OF coming by sicTlcs.
Hold your tongue, you idiot: ei;ed me Lar
stcrnly and attend to your mistrcss; IL is az
throneh your carelessnes3 that this has happened.
While Piper attended to the Countess, the Ear
lighted another candle and explored the two re-
glance at the open window; tIo had made mp his
mind that he should find ladder outside ana lie
did find one. The mode by which tho thel OF
thieves had obtained ingresS 10 the room WAS "'
oT The thrce doors were locked on the inside, and
the KEYS of two OF them were still III Inc locks me
third kew was afterwapl found on the carpet. AC
A cursory glance further property than the
iewel-case seemed TO be missing, fact which sub
seouent examination fully confirmed. In the EARS
dressing room was large and heavy traveinng-
trunk Of peculiarly substantial! make. STOPPING
down to examine this, his lordship was startled To
SIZE certain marks round the lock which PLAINLY IN
dictated that some one had been trying to force H.
Tho Earl turned pale he examined the mai ks Dy
the aid of his candle. How fortunate thai they
did not succeed in breaking IL open' nc eAclaiineu
There was writing table close by. which the
Earl next proceeded to examine; Inc LOCK OF tnis
nothing but letters and documents. had not oeeh
interfered with. An Indian cabinet OF rare work
manship. which stood on table 10 inc peapoon,
of IT, Money or jewery had evidently been the
object of the thieves quest but not finding either
thew had declined to burden themselves WIN any
meaner spoil, and contenting Themselves with the
case which contained the diamond necklace INC
emerald bracelet and fe other articles, they had
decampcd as quietly as they had come, 1t was most
fortunate that the other case In which was the
Countess own collection OF Jewels was still IN Mr.
DawsOn's strong room, or that also would un-
donbtedly have been taken
While the Earl was looking about In much per
tnrbation of spirit, his eye was canght by some
strange object on the floor He stopped and picked
it uP + proved to be chisethe amd d hc
indian cabinet had been forced open, and which
lad tested the strength of the Earls travelling
trunk.