The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-10
The Stolen Diamonds.
A Detective Story.

/ HAL nOb seen my Olu lrienu JOnu
i Moreton for a long time. He had
married, as / had heard, q young wife,
many years his junior, but was in Eu-
rope at the time, and was, consequently,
not invited to the wedding, and on my
return learned that he had purchased
villa near Boston, and had removed
thither with his bride. had begun to
think good deal about him, and to
wonder if he had became so absorbed in
new delight as to forget me, his bosom
bachelor friend of forty years standing,
when was surprised and pleased, one
June day, TO see him walk into my
office on Wall Street.
He was the same honest, CHEEKY John
as of old, but there was tinge of sad
ness in his habitually good-humored
face.
"John exclaimed, jumping up,
and selling him by both hands, "my
dear old fellow so you have remember
ed me at lastl'
Hadn't forgotten you, Joe," he said
taking the seat proffered him; "but
you see, when an old bachelor like me
gets married, it rather upsets him, and
he is a good while in getting around
to his old ways again.
You have found a young wife,
they tell me- said.
"Sheis twenty" he replied, "and 1
am fifty. People had a good deal to say
about the discrepancy in age, and, to tell
the truth, moved to New England to
get rid of my neighbors. know / am
old enough to be her father, but she is
the dearest, truest, and best wife in the
world, and she loves me and guess if
we are satisfied the rest of the world
will have to be"
Il am dying to see her." replied of
fering him my cigar. case but / suppose
shall have to wait until am invited -
"That's precisely what came to
New York for" said John. 81 want
to take you back with me to Wellesley.
We all need cheering up down there and
your visit will do us good / have just
sustained bereavement, Joe. 1t, has
Deen great SHOCK 10 me. ~
His eyes moistened, and his voice
trembled. He lit his cigar, and smoked
in silence for while, even after 1 had
asked for an explanation. AS he did
not seem to hear my first question, l
asked again.
:" Who is it, John"
my mother" he replied.
{" Was it not very sudden L know
that, she was we'll along in years, but l
had not heard that she was ill.,
She was not" he replied. "She
died, as we suppose of fright"
"Of fright ?" exclaimed.
"Yes. My mother removed with us to
Wellesley, and occupied room in my
house. She was, as you know,a woman
of over seventy five years, but unusually
well, erect and vigorous for her age
On the night of her death l was absent
in Portland on business. 1t was the
first time since our marriage that L had
passed night away from my wife
She was almost inconsolable at the
thought of my going, but, as it was to
be only for night, consented, and slept
that night with my mother, transferring
to my mothers room her jewels, includ-
ing a valuable diamond necklace which
had given her as wedding.gift.
He paused moment, and puffed Wig
orously at his cigar bofore continuing
When he proceeded his voice wavered
and he seemed much agitated.
"In the morning." he continued,
"my wife awolle with sensation of
heaviness in her head, and the air of the
room was strongly impregnated with
the odor of chloroform. On putting
out her hand my poor girl touched the
the dead body of my mother, lying cold
and rigid at her side. She shrieked in
terror, and leaped out of bed. On the
floor lay an empty bottle, and a sponge.
The door of the chamber had been burst
open. My wife's diamond necklace
and jewels were missing"
Heavens !" exclaimed "have you
no clew to the perpetrators Y'
"None whatever he replied, "The
servants slept in a remote part of the
house. The outer door, at the foot of
the stairs, leading into the garden, was
found unlocked. Besides the servants,
the only occupants of the house that
night were my mother and my wife
My wife's cousin, Mr. Maddox, who
has been visiting us lately was with me
in Portland. If he had not been my
poor mother might have had at least
one protector"