Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-08-21
SELECTIONS.
AUNT JESSICA'S RUBIES.
BY JAMES HARVEY SMITH.


chief ~ | could say no more as / slid
rapidly down the step under the inn
petus of a vigorous shove from the
man just coming out of the club. /
arose with wrath in my eyes, and
them
Harry?"
Fred! we'll this is surprise
thought you were in Switzerland"
/" Returned on last steamer. Very
sad news. Aunt Jessica died last
Wednesday week-you heard of it,
| supposeg"
"No, hadn't; / was in Florida
and just returned"
Very mysterious case altogether,
old fellow,' said Fred, after we had
adjourned to the smoking-room. /
don't mean Aunt Jessica's death,
although that was very sudden
about her property, | mean. | am
her only heir"
4" Let me congratulate"
No-don't. 1t isn't worth while.
The fact is, there is no property"
You surprise me! | thought
your aunt was RICH"
$50 did l." said Fred, glOomily ;
we were not Oh very good terms,
and / didn't know much about her
affairs, but | thought she was worth
at least sixty thousand. 8. Well, /
find a house and some pretty fair
furniture, pictures, and SO forth, say
ten thousand, all told, and no trace
of the remainder"
I" Hidden in an old stocking" /
suggested, or in the family Bible
or secret panel; I've heard of such
things"
+" So have l." answered Fred, with
a sickly smile, "and I've nearly torn
the house to pieces in the past three
days in my mad search"
T" DON'T give it up" said, encour.
agingly.
81 won't,n said Fred. !" Help me.
old fellow, will you"
| said / would, and of course | did
Fred and / went over Aunt Jessica's
bouse from cellar to garnet, turned
every blessed thing inside out, ex
plored every nook that could by any
possibility contain gold, silver OF
bank notes, and even ripped up the
floor in dozen places. Nothing!
was in despair; so was Fred.
"Aunt Jessica's fortune is a myth
I said decidedly. You had better
believe it, Fred it will make it cas-
Ter to bear"
Fred thought SO likewise, and sc
we separated, but the very next day
he rushed into my Office all ablaze
with excitement.
I" | am on the trail, he shouted.
est down." said, showing a chail
towards him. G Where is it buriedp
"Nowhere," he replied, savagely
$" it's spentw
seWorse aud worse" | cried in dis
may. Do you mean to say that
your aunt squandered $4,000 in &
year,"
Listen, will you," reared Fred
:" and stop guessing. You know Miss
Carbrook-Violet Carbrook ? Beauti
ful girl-very-dashing-sort of g
companion to Aunt Jessica.
"Yes, well, | met her by chance
last night and she cleared up tn,
mystery in ten minutes. 1t seem.
that aunt, about six months ago, con
verified nearly all her property int
cash and realized over $4,000. Ther
she bought-you cannot guess wha
she bought!w
A ship ~
Nonsense; necklace of rubies =
What in the name of common
sense did she want of such thing p
: ut is my private opinion said
Fred, earnestly, that she did i
with the intention of keeping you
humble servant out of her property
and she has succeeded admirably
"You mean that the rubies hav,
disappeared ~
Entirely"
!, " Fred,n said, with a gasp, "thi
is a very remarkable yarn. VIII,
ever saw this necklace ~
" Miss Carbrook,r replied Fred
promptly. She describes it as com