Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-05

BE fell back, gazing 1t her IN the
greatest amusement. "Who-?"
"Miss Lsnstsr I" calculated DR..
Hsrland, looking, II possible, still more
astonishsd than the other. Why,
what in the world"
"Ob. miss, Why didn't you tell US 1t
was your" said the woman.
BLESS my soul, yes! Why did you
rot say who you were? The woman
We we're after has got of, perhaps"
Contriyed it IS we'll as though she
were sane" quietly replied Gladys,
meeting his eyes.
Sane" repeated DR.. Harland,
silently returning her gaze.
Am right in supposing that this
bag was found in the rectory-grounds!'
il quired Philip Castor, with puzzled
glance from her to the bag. upon which
his name was engraved. sin any case,
can see that We are under deep OBJ
legation to you, Miss Lenstor. The
jewels were most Of them heirlooms
snd-"
Jewels :" exclaimed Gladys, look
irg from one to the other with Devil
dered eyes.
"Perhaps you do not know that
robbery has been committed here?
Two OF three men and q woman were
concerned in it. She had the hsrdi-
hood to pass openly through the lodge
gate. with trumped-up story TO Jane
Green about having been sent down
with some things from town, and de-
lsyed at the house until my sister could
attend to her. But we were very
quickly after Der, and We fancied that
she bad possibly got into the rsc!ory-
Grounds"
Robbery" Every vestige of
color died out Of the girls face as it began
10 dawn upon her that she had been
duped. ell thought" turning
Der eyes apprehensively upon DR.. Hsr-
land, she went on with sinking heart.
"She told me that she had made her
escape from your house, where she had
been wrongfully put under restraint"
"You were deceived. No one has
escaped from my house, Miss Len
ster."
"Ob, what have done what have
| done " exclaimed Gladys. I" She
said she had been cruelty wronged, and
| promised-I helped her to escape "
"Pray DO not distress YOURSELF" put
in Philip CASTOR. "The woman was
no doubt an adept in her trade.
You could not be expected to be
on your guard against person of
that kind. Besides, her getting OIL
without the jewels is not of so much
importance. We owe you large debt
of gratitude for having secured them."
"But have not !" CALCULATED Gla-
dys, white and trembling, almost beside
herself with the thought that she had
actually assisted the thief to get safely
off with the proceeds Of the robbery
in her possession. The bag is empty.
She took something from it tied up in a
handkerchief. | helped her to wrong
you-I helped her." covering her face
with her trembling hands.
Jane Green, her sympathies now en-
tirely with her dear Miss Lenster, whom
she bad known since she was child,
made some well.meant efforts to re-
assure her. The men we're consulting in
a low tore as to what ought to be done.
''Do not distress yourself, " repeated
Philip CASTOR TO Gladys. She may
not get off after all, and if she does
none could in the slightest degree -"
lie paused. Something had suggested
itself to him, and he spoke word to
one Of the men. who went out of the
room.
At that moment were heard the
sounds of horses feet and the grating
of wheels upon The gravel sweep 'front.'
ing the house. These were the indica-
tons of an arrival, and in another mo-
ment the room-door opened and Ola
dys beheld the culprit brough. in be-
tween two men.
Caught her, you see, sir" said the
groom. sit was good thought to
send to the junction. she walked into
the trap as quiet as lamb {, There che
was, taking her ticket for the half-past-
| train as inherent az though she'd
got bread and butter tied up in the
handkerchief The Jewels are all there,
| take it. She had the sense to give
in, too, as soon IS she saw It was all
up. Only wanted to know whether her
husband had got safe oil.
The bundle was put upon the table
the handkerchief large, coarse, and
strong red. cotton one knotted together
by the four cornors-untied and ti-
arss, sprays, necklets, bracelets, a
glttering heap Of diamonds, and other
precious stones, were disclosed, just as
they had been taken from their cases
10 be the more portable.
To none present-not even Mrs. Gas
ton, who had entered the room in ODE
dience to her CONS summons, and was
whispering some kindly, reassuring
words to the trembling girl--was the
sight Of the Jewels more welcome than
to Gladys Lenster.
L" Indeed, you must not blame your
self"
"She is not to blame,' put in the
culprit. "She's as true as steel, Ia
dies and gentlemen, and brave. There,
you'd only got to make her think you
we're in trouble and she could help you,
and she was ready to go through any
thing. IT," with side look at Gladys,
"she was a little too ready to be taken
in it isn't for me TO say So"
/" Arcadian simplicity" thought
Gladys, with little moae.
But she had found champion eager
to take up the glove in her defence.