Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-17

With Gu6 6WtltI0SS VI u uEubuIuE HASH. AT
whistle signal the man plunged down the
staircase and disappeared, just as Harry
came up. Maggy staggered to the door Of
their modest abode. The room presented a
scene of disorder. Bureau drawers had
been opened, articles were scattered on the
floor, the lid of a trunk was forced.
"Thievesw commented Harry. 81 did
not imagine we were rich enough to tempt
the most beggarly burglar. Stay! Moth
ing has been stolen, though"
Margaret uttered a cry. 'Can it be the
handbook"
On the same day Mr.. Merridew had oc.
casion to take the elevated railroad. He
was seated beside a stout gentleman of
affable appearance, with watch chain of
red gold. The stout gentleman remarked
to an acquaintance opposite: 'sThe thieves
might have taken any thing else, and well
come; but do not believe there was an
other medal of the battle of Marengo in the
United States. 1 bought it of the great
collector at Paris"
Mr.. Merridew's eyes grew round behind
his spectacles as he listened. The stranger
had not returned to claim the medal.
''Sir, was it a gold piece?" He whispered,
eagerly.
"You have been reading about the rob-
berry in the newspapers? said the stout
gentleman, in surprise.
"No," replied Mr.. Merridew.
'Ah! My name is James Perkins," said
the othr.
s'Bless my soul 70 calculated Mr.. Merri-
dew, and wiped his brow with his hand
kerchief. as your name James Perlzins?'
For the first time in his life he trembled to
feel himself almost in the clutches of the
law.
Explanations ensued, and Mr.. Perkins
left the car in company with this unex-
pected ally and an individual of quiet as
pect, Mr.. Smith by name. The trio went to
the home of Mr.. Perkins, where a robbery
of unusual boldness had taken place. Mrs.
Perkins had gone out in the morning, after
the departure of her husband to his BUSH
ness, and, returning in an hour, had seen q
poor-looking woman descend the steps Of
the mansion and turn away in an opposite
direction. The woman had not carried
even a bundle. Demanding the woman's
errand of the servant who opened the
door, Mrs. Perkins learned that no such
person had previously rung the bell or been
admitted. ALI the available jewelry of a
fashionable lady had vanished with this
visitor, and several articles of
plate, together with some money. The
medal of Marengo had been taken from a
velvet case.
Mr.. Perkins took his companions into
When Mr.. Merridew described finding
the medal under the table, after writing
letter for stranger, Mr.. Smith produced
an envelope. "This is the letter." he an
ut
Mr. Merridew recognized his own -four
ishes. ''That is only the postscript" he
stammered.
probably the postscript was the kernel
of the NUT" quoth Mr.. Smith. sit was
sent to Mr.. Perkins to prevent his pushing
inquiry further, or to gain time by throw
ing suspicion on former governess, Miss
Lewiston"
''Margaretw gasped Mr.. Merridew, in
slfrha birds COZ, MT Av far poxu ,, so;d
Mr.. Smith, who was private detective.
In turn Mr.. Merridew was escorted
home, and Mr.. Perkins recognized the
medal.
lowed by her brother. She did not per-
ceive a quiet-looking man reading a news
paper in the corner.
ssMr. Merridew, where is the old band
box given me by Heloise Michant?" she
painted: 81 have an idea there is some
Rosy produced the bandbox. Whose
penknife but that of Mr.. Smith cut the
cords, whipped off the cover, and revealed
to the group of astonished spectators dia-
mond necklet, an emerald cross, a pearl
bracelet, and several rings, cunningly
wrapped in the faded finery of poor
"The medal dropped from this bandbox,
and not from the mans pocket" said the
detective, lifting the flap of torn cover as
Rosy had done.
Margaret pushed back her coronet of hair
with a tragic gesture. 81 have been re-
ceiver of stolen goods" she cried.
Mr.. Smith smiled reassuringly. "There's
a difference, though, you see. miss" he re-
joined.
two brothers and the wife of the elder
were apprehended as accomplices the
same day. The artful scheme of implicat
ing Margaret Lewiston as former COVER
ness, in event of discovery, by placing the
jewels in her care until they could be safe
~ withdrawn, was apparent to all. Heloise
had remained in her place, the embodiment
of innocence, and prepared to deny all accu-
sations should Maggy confront her. Mr..
Perkins bestowed the reward of one thou
sand dollars, advertised in all the papers,
on MIR. Merridew.
A Christmas dinner was served in the
back room of the Merridew Library that
year. Mr.. Merridew presided at the
head of the table, ready to carve the
turkey selected by himself at market.
with purple ribbons, cast an anxious eye
at the cranberry sauce and attendant
vegetables. A delicious odor Of mince-
pies, waited from a side table, revealed
what Rosy Merridew had been about
gown, with rosebud at the throat, sat
beside Harry Lewiston, while opposite
were Maggy and the artist Richard
Woutner, whose picture of a lady with
fan had been bought on the easel by Mr..
Perkins, millionaire. Maggy surprised her
the identical golden net of the studio,
which had assuredly been rifled from
the Golfers of some Venetian or Flemish
dame. In addition, there was an antique
ring on her engagement finger:
Her explanation had been frank. "He
would not come to the Christmas dinner
unless l promised to marry him and wear
this ring. He has fallen in love with my
hair, you know"
tanning hand on Harry's arm when Mr..
Merridew had asked a blessing on the
meal.
Lo! under Harry's plate weretwo bank
notes for five hundred dollars each.
II can not accept the money! said the
young man, with emotion.
''Tut! tut! You viii pay me back some
day." retorted Mr.. Merridew, pllnging his
fork into the turkeys crisp funk. "Be-
sides, Maggy had more to do With it than
"What a story it would nake!n OBJ
served Mrs. Merridew. shaggy brought
an old bandbox here, instead Of taking it
home, to keep for poor girl. Had she
left it in her own house. the there's would
have got it,
pany than that gathered in the little back
room of Merridew's Library? Mis-. Merrf-
dew produced a bottle of currnt wine,
made in the mountain village, her birth
place. The artist, in his coat a life worn
at the elbows, told amusing stories Of for
eign lands. Mr.. Merridew sang a little
song, in high, cracked voice, about filing
up the bowl, my jolly souls, whidh made
his wife fear the currant wine had gone to
his head.
81 couldn't keep the money, Mggy, af-
ter writing that letter" the host confessed
to his right hand neighbor.
Time softened this remorse. Rosy, as
mistress of pretty suburban cottage, finds
many ways of paying back PRINCIPAL and
interest to her parents.
Maroaret raions in the studin TIE world