The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-23

undemonstrative student. A leather
bag, half pouch, lay, concealed by the
long grass, beneath the spreading
boughs. The larch-trec had kept it's
secret well. The bag remained where
it had fallen from the Professors wide
pocket. lie clutched it, returned to
to his room, and proceeded to investi-
gate the contents. The little bag held
the Delaunay diamonds. Necklace,
bracelet, butterfly ornament-nothing
was lacking in this precious heap swept
hastily from cumbersome case and
casket.
Five minutes later the rosy landlord
was seized by the collar, dragged into
his private office, and confronted by
Professor Horton, whose agitation
verged on sheer iunacy. The latter
took from his pocket a little bag, and
poured out the Dclaunay diamonds,
telling a wild and incohcrent tale,
| meanwhile about Il larch-tree and mid
night'rambles.
"Nobody would believe it, YOU
know" said the Colonel, coolly. The
hotel proprietor is never surprised in
this world.
''TalIe the trinkets, and restore them
III your own way. DO not mention me
i'll this transaction" retortcd the Pro-
lessor. lie stopped and plunged his
fingers once more in the rainbow of
precious stones with Il sort of intoxica-
ton; the starry rays Of rose and blue
dazzled, blinded him. "Beautiful and
fatal gift to manl' he murmured, with
parched lips.
The Colonel closed one eye, with the
aspect of Il sagaclous bird.
Professor Horton sought his bed,
and slept heavily until O'clock in the
afternoon. He was awakened by
voices, and peercd through the shut
terS OF his window. n carriage waited
to take the Delaunay party to the
steamboat on the lake. MI and Mrs.
Delaunay were already seated, while
Alice, the maid, had paused to reply
to the head waiter, after which She
re-entered the hotel. At this moment
Professor llorton's door was opened,
and the Colonel entered with the
bouncing SwlftncSs Of moment peculiar
to Tat men III haste. If the conduct of
the Professor had been extraordinary
i'll the morning when he had restored
the jewels, that of the Colonel was not
less SO in the afternoon. lie locked
the door, made a warning gesture to
the Professor, and stole on tiptoe to Il
second door at the extremity of the
large room, where he lay down on the
floor and applied eye and ear to the
crack. Voices became audible in the
adjoining chamber.
" was there at one O'Clock, and gave
it to you," said woman.
"a lie! waited all night, and you
did not come" said man.
~ gave it to a person under the tree,
and he took it," gasped the woman.
Fool Then the game is up. Get
yourself dismissed at Newport, and cut
to New York. If believed You were
tricky, my girl, it would be the worse
for you"
There was a sound Of footsteps, and
Immediately afterward tho Delal,nay
carriage rolled away.
The Colonel rose to his feet, chuck
ling at the success of his stratagem.
'Set thief ahem-I mean a
woman to catch Il woman. My wife
thought of having the English maid
sent back i'll search of the missing bag,
III order to give her a chance to COM
municate with her accomplice IN the
hotel, if she had one. The bag was
dropped in the empty room next to
you, for the purpose, and Il man Joined
her there. Your story is amply cor
roborated, you see, by the few words
exchanged"
81 believe the Marquis de Ratti is
the accOmplice, and no more French
man than you are," exclaimed the
Professor.
$50 do 1; but how to prove it?" re-
joined the Colonel.
"You should have them arrested, :"
urged the Professor.
"What is the charge? Your advent
nres of the night? The noble Marquis
is caught whispering with pretty girl?
No, no; l gave back the diamonds to
Mr.. Delaunay-with Il suitable expla-
nat!on-and he has carried them away
in "A money belt. We alone know the
truth"
"And the larch-trces," added the
Professor. cit was The noble larcll-
tree that kept the secret, my friend.
We'll, we'll, l hope you are pleased with
the fashionable elements attracted to
our Silver Spriug. Doubtless the Mar
quis dc Ratti and the demure English
maid Alice belong to one of those bands
OF English thieves who are said to keep
a map Of cOuntry.scats with reference
to the plate chest, and are now trying
their fortune in America. How beall-
tiful they Were-those damondsl''
The Marquis de Ratti departed by
the nine O'Clock boat that same evening.
His foreign accent was never more
apparent than when he took leave OF
Silver Spring.