The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-08-07
AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY.

AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY.
Young Mrs. Allonby's diamond neck
lace, with its superb pendant and circ-
lot for the throat, containing twenty
five stones each as large as q pea, was
valued ut a fabulous sum, the pendant
alone being estimated at five thousand
pounds!
So much being stated, it will be easy
for the reader to imagine the interest,
the excitement, amounting to almost a
general CONSERVATION, when the news
papers announced one morning q great
diamond robbery-Mrs. Allonby's s mag
niiccnt necklace had been stolen!
Tho case was of course given to the
police at once, and the ablest detec-
tives in Scotland yard were engaged in
working it up.
The circumstances of the robbery
were, TO say the least, peculiar. Mrs.
Allonby had worn the necklace to II
grand ball given in honor of IL Russian
prince. AS usual, sho and tho dia-
monds, which served to illumin her
beauty, were tho admired of all behold
crs, and when she returned home she
had, rs usual, removed the necklace
with her own hands. placed it in its
velvet bed in her jewel casket and
therein securely locked it. That being
done, Mr.. Allonby had then locked the
casket into tho iron safe, in which he
kept his private papers, money and 9th
er valuablcs.
In the morning, having asked his
wife to let him look ut her necklace for
moment,-she had given him tho
keys to her jewel case and hadc him
get it himself-he had opened tho safe,
taken out the casket, and upon unlock
ing it, discovered that the necklace was
gone.
amazed, tho husband and wife could ut
first only stare dumbly ut each other.
Mrs. Allonby felt sure that no servant
in the house had touched her keys-she
found them under her pillow in the
morning precisely Us she had placed
them there on going to bed; while on
his part Mr.. Ailonby declared that so
far as he was aware not even his wife
knew where he kept the key to his
safe.
This much both Mr.. and Mrs. Allon-
by had told to the officers, who were ut
length called in to investigate The mys-
teripus robbery; but little scene be-
tween the husband and wife on their
return from the ball had not been refer
red to, since it was not thought by
either of them to have any bearing on
the case.
1t was merely this:
After locking the safe and removing
the key, Mr.. Allonby had dropped into
the nearest chair with long, deep
sigh. His wife turned and looked at
him inquiringly, then moving quickly
to his side, she rested her jeweled hand
on his shoulder.
arthur, dear, what is the matterP"
she asked softly.
Nothing, darling. At least nothing
that need be very serious. l have to
ask great favor of you, but it is ia
vor don't like to ask"
Mrs. Allonby answered by pressing
a light kiss on her husband s forehead,
and then encircling his neck with her
pretty arms she sat down upon his
knee.
You deserve to have it refused for
putting it in such a way. But, come,
what is your favor? You know well
enough that it is granted before it is
asked"
"Well, dear, l want to borrow your
diamond necklace" said Mr.. Allonby.
''To borrow my diamond necklace"
Mrs. Allonby repeated his words in
amazement; then she continued with
O laugh:
''For what earthly use can you want
it, Arthur? Are you going to wear it?
Or perhaps it is going to shine on somo
fair protegee of yoursP Some younger
and lovclier woman. Have y care, sir!
| shall be jealous, and then-beware"
Mr.. Allonby was too serious to even
smile at his wife's playful nonsense.
''It is to raise money on, Margaret. "
he answered gravely. Listen, my
dear little wife. will let you into a
business secret, and that will prove TO
you how much in earnest | am. This
is Il perilous time for business men of
all classes; financial crisis of the
worst kind is impending, and in the
course of the next three or four days |
expect II run on our house. By my ut
most efforts | have managed to get a
few thousand pounds ready for the
emergency; but it will be useless unless
you help me-"
During these words Mrs. Allonby
had withdrawn herself from her hus-
bands embrace, and had seated her
self on q chair at little distance. Her
heart beat wildly; she trembled vio-
lently; and every vestige of color had
fled from her face. But MIR. Allonby
scarcely noticed her emotion, and what
he did observe he naturally attributed
to the shock of the information she had
just received.
Don't be alarmed, darling" he
hastily added. "My embarrassment is
but temporary, and you are going to
savo mo from it. But, what's tho mat
ter, Margaret? You are not going to
refuse to loan mo the nccklace?"
Mrs. .Allonby was by this time of IN
ashen pallor to the very lips; 80 that
preoccupied us he was her husband
could not fail to observe her agitation.
! At his last words she made a supreme
| effort to control her emotion, and fol
all answer merely extended towards
him the keys to the jewel casket.
'.Never mind, dear. 1t will do in the
morning." Mr.. Allonby replied. And
to himself he said
sis it possible that Margaret really
! doesn't wish to lend me her diamonds
But no. That is impossible; for know
her to be the most geaerous and un-
selfish woman in the world. She is
troubled because of my pecuniary en-
| barrassment Ii she sees me quite
careless about it, it will reassurc her. u
And dismissing the whole subject
Mr.. Allonby then began talking of the
ball they had attended, and of many
interesting incidents which had occur
red there. But Mrs. Allonby, despite
the effort she made to appear other
| wise. continued i'll at ease; and the frs