The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-25

unpleasantness. She felt that this was
rather . cowardly course, but the gain
in peace and quietness would, she con-
sidered, be out of all proportion to the
moral delinquency. This reflection
cheered her good deal. and the instant
he. husband had started for town she
went up to her room to fetch the ear
RUG. for the purpose of dispatching it
BIZ registered post to the Consols. But
when she opened the drawer to look for
it, she found. to her amazement. that
the case in which she had placed it for
safety had disappeared.
This shock was quite as startling and
unexpected as the one she had already
sustained. She could hardly believe
her eyes,, and turned the drawers inside
out in q frenzied searrh. 1t seemed m
poss BILE that the case could have van
ished, vet it was clear that such was the
fact. The servants. when questioned.
knew nothing about it, and declared
that nobody had touched the drawer.
Ii was absurd to suppose that q thief
from outside would have come in and
stolen that particular case, especially
when the whole household was astir.
1t never occurred to Mrs. Carnegie that
her husband might have taken ii. until
she suddenly recalled to mind that
when last she had worn the bracelet he
had said something about having some
alteration made IN it. Extraordinarily
and unlucky as the coincidence was,
she ended by becoming convinced, af-
ter reflection, that this must be the en-
p.anation of the mystery.
But this was douhly annoying, be-
cause her husband would find out that
she had concealed the discovery of the
earring from him. She would not BE-
able to deny that she knew of its being
in the case. 1t would be too bare-faced
to pretend to be ignorant how it got
there. Her husband might. therefore,
not unreasonably suspect that she had
some unworthy motive for hiding il and
saying nothing about it. At the least,
he would be veXed with her reticence,
and she PASSED 4 verv uncomfortable
day in anticipation of the scene which
awaited h ,r on her husbands return.
Mrs. arnegie hal guessed that her
husband had not no.'ced the earring
when he ok up the case before leaving
the house. or he would certainly have
said some hing Probably he had car
ricd off The bracelet in hurry. without
looking at it, or had merely glanced in
sd, the case to see that the bracelet
WIS there. But when he came home in
the evening. she at once perceived from
his manner that he knew nothing about
the earring. even to that moment. 1t
seemed very strange that this should be
so. but surely he would not otherwise
have looked good humored and cheer
tul. She could not summon up cour-
ge to ask him the question, until he
happened to say:
.'Ry the by, Frances. meant to have
told You that took your ruOy bracelet
to town with me this morning. Did
you miss it,"
No. At least. l did by chance"
said Mrs Carnegie, awkwa-dly. Il
q .essed You had taken il
Il We been intending to do so for
some DAYS past, and this morning |
thought of it Just as | was coming down
to b eakfast. | explained to Bevis
what wanted, and think he will make
4 neat b of it"
..Oh. YOU took it to Bevis." re-
marked his wife, nervously. Ibid -
did You open the GASP
''0pcn the case, What makes YOU
ask?" inquired Mr.. Carnegie, evidently
stuck hy her manner.
40 see that the bracelet was there?"
said Mrs. I 4 negie. hurriedly.
Il didn't Bevis did. suppose
It was there all right. In fact. I'm sure
it was. for saw him take it in his
hand returned Mr.. earn 9"
''Oh. thought. perhaps, !; might not
have been in the case" said Mrs. Car
merle. rs care!essly as possible.
Nothing more was sad. anil Mrs.
Carnegie did not know whether to feel
relieved or the reverse at the turn of
events 1t was sat;sfa to v to find that
her husband had not discovered her Sc
cret. On the other hand, she wondered
uneasily what had become of the ear
ring. She had certainly put it inside
the case along with the bracelet. and
vet Bevis, the ieweler. had apparently
not perceived it when h. took out the
bra .-elet. or he would assuredlv hav.
drawn her husbands attention to it.
Either the earring was again IN ssing-
in which case she would consider her
self responsible for its lOss--or else
t{evis had overlooked it at the moment.
but had probably since discovered it. If
sh,. could only see him before he com
municated W tn her husband on the
matter she ight yet restore the earring
to the Consol and avoid d sturban e.
The hope o; attaining this DIES rable
contamination. and q nervous Tea that
the jeweler might innocently Illustrate
her design be ore she could enlist his
sympathy and assistance, caused her to
pass a sleepless night, and the next day
she took the earliest opportunity OF call
inc at Mr.. Bevis' shop
",lr. Bevis. nv husband. Mr.. Carne
gle, left 4 bracelet o. mine here yester-
day." she said. addressing the bland.
bald-hea led. keen-eyed little man. who
had advanced politely TO receive ner.
Certainly, ma'am" responded Mr..
Bevis, rubbing his white hands softly
together.
..Was there anything inside the case
but the racelet?' inquired Mrs. Carne-
gle, with a tinge of embarrassment
NO. think not. In fact, may say
I'm sire. for opened the case myself,
in Mr.. Carnegie's presence" said Mr..
Bevis. unhesitatingly.
You are-you are quite sure OF
that said Mrs. Carnegie, considerably
taken ab eek. and stealing glance a.
Mr.. Bevis' imperturbabie face.
Most certainly. Have you missed
ma'am? May ask what You
eNpe ted l should find there?' inquired
Mr.. Besis, with suave politene-s.
Mrs. Carnegie bit her lips. and was
$ lent 1t would never do to hint at
having had the earring in her posses