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

Precisely So, said the Earl, drily. He peeled
himself q walnut before he spoke again. His wife
| sat gazing sadly into the fire..
Now listen to me- said the Earl. You know
that L have been saving up for some time past IN
order that might buy Q certain piece OF land
which Is sure to como TO the hammer when poor old
Twentyman dies-and the doctors gave him mp sew
| eral weeks ago. But have been thinking that as
IL must be very annoying to you to have no neck
lace to wear and as Hunts people have such mag
nifcent sample on sale, could not do better than
invest six thousand guineas OF my savings in the
| purchase Of it. After all, yon know, don't see
why need bother about that land. 1t was only .
little fancy OF mine that should Like to have it,
Nothing more
For minute the Countess sat without speaking
| Then she said: You shall make no snoh sacrifice
| for me, James. 1 have made up my mind never to
wear another diamond necklace as long as live 80
| yo4 need never offer to buy one for me-
Think twice before you decide
i have thought
Is that your utImatump
1t is-most emphatically.' Then she rose and
went round to where her husband was sitting. and
| pntting her arms round his neck, she stopped nd
kissed him. You are too good to me. don't de-
serve 80 much Kindness she murmured; and the
Earl felt a tear on his forehead.
He peeled another walnut and ate it in silence.
Then be rose. Excuse my leaving YOU lie said
= shall be back in three minutes
| Before the three minutes had expired he was back
again. The Countess, sitting in detected attitude
before the fire. did not look up rs he entered He
| her chair. YOu said Just now that yon would
never wear a diamond necklace again. VIII you
| refuse to wear this one = .
She looked up, startled. There was moments
silence, and then she gave vent to an inarticulate
cry OF surprise and delight She could hardly credit
the evidence Of heI eyes There. before neT IN tne
mond necklace and the emerald bracelet Of which
she had been robbed year ago that night :,
'Oh, my darling, what does 1T all mean she
contriyed to gasp out.
1t means that your Jewels have come back to you
rs mysteriously rs they went. Let us hope that
you will know how to take better care OF them III
time to come
Then the thieves have been caught and
THE thief stands before you. | anl that felo-
NOUS individual
You. James? Oh: ,,..,
Yes, L. Taking the necklace out Of It's case he
casped it round his wfe's neck. then he drew up
chair and sat down opposite to her. You are dy-
ing for an explanation he said.
i ain indeed She could not resist standing mp
and glancing at herself Tor noinen' IN the glass
over the chimney piece. Then she sat down again
with sign of supreme satisfaction. After had
finished my letters that evening. began the Earl.
went into your dressing to ask you question.
You were not there
Il had gone down to Mrs. Dawson for n cup OF
tea, interrupted Lady Enncrdalc.
Very probably, my dear, returned the Eall
drily. AS say. Won were not there neither was
Piper. but on the dressing-table was your jewel
ease ready Tor any one to pocket who might choose
to do 50. To say that was not annoyed would not
be TO state the truth All at once it came INTO my
head that I would try to commit on amateur burg
larry and carry OIL the casket in order to prove to
you how easily il might have been stolen IN reality
While out in the morning, had noticed ladder
resting against u WAL near lOOl-uOuSC NnlCu ~
seemed 10 me would answer my purpose. When l
got out into the shrubbcry not creature was
about. The night was very cold one and hght
SNOW was falling Five minutes later had Climbed
the ladder pushed open the window of your dress
ing room. and had made myself master OF your
iewel-rase. Nothing could be more easy
Good gracious! James however dared you do
such thing =,
Having got possession of the case walked
through the bedroom into my own dress groom.
unlocked my big lraNelling-trunk. popped the case
into It, teocked the trunk. aud went back by the
way came that is to say, through the window and
down the ladder. / was quietly chuckiIng to my
self over your discontinue when Piper found me
in The library and told ne that you wanted me
What IN adventure. What IL capital profess
siona burglar you wOuld make! You must have
been changed AT nurse, dear said the Countess.
The Earl laughed. IL is my turn 10 he angry at
having such trick played oil upon me- and am
not quite sure Vet that Shall lolSNc you, CON-
ilnucd her ladyshIp.
Wait ill YOU have heard all
How absurd of you Ia lock the doors and give
yourself the trouble of forcing All entrance.
IL was moi who locked the doors. IL was not
who forced open tho Indian caske, or the writing
fable or who tried to break into my travelling
trunk. | left no chisel on the floor. nor was that
tie mark of my boot on the chntl covering OF the
chair near the window.
Tie Countess was staring at him with parted lips
and frightened eyes. ii you did not do these
things. who was it that did Them
man a professional burglar. who found his
,oi info fbe room n few minutes after had left il,
with the full intention OF stealing your necklace.
He wa4 5aukcd in the attempt, but had not ipr-
tuuatrIy
SION OF the case You would certainly never have SET
eyes on IL again.
llut how did yOu find out this p
ON one of the men who was taken up on suS
uicion was found Il bunch of skeleton KEYS. Tins
of itself was very suspicious but nothing further
cold bc traced Ia connect nina with the supposed
burglary Had not intcrfcred III his behalf. Col
nnri RaWSon would have given him months I'M
prsonmcnt as n rogue and vagabond but knowing
well ne was not the thief saw no reason why he
should he thus punished. Meeting him accident
ally aftcrward, gave him n sovereign. II would
seem that the FELLOW did not forget what had
done for him. About three months ago he got into
some moro serious difnculty and then he wrote me
n rnde SOFT of epistle in which he told me that he
had follow cd US down from London to FalrInrad
fully intending to steal the necklace. That he hal
obtained access 10 your deSslng-roOm by means OF
the ladder conveniently placed there, bus that,
Ia his intense disgust. no jewel-case was 10 DO
found /" II seems TO INC that some one had been
there afoIe me-" added my friend i'll conclusion
That some one" as yoa know already, was my
self
James, said Lady Enncrdnle hnmbly; 'you have
indeed rendered me service and taught me les
son. II ever | am careless again, shall deserve
greater punishment than this has been to me.
i am not afraid. my love- replied the Earl,
kissing his wife. AS you say, it has been lesson
10 yon. and | Zee that you have learnt 1t WE'LL
THE Argosy.
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