News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-10-28
MY LADY'S DIAMONDS

One afternoon I was sitting in nv
small coun; ing house, waiting for the
English mail, when the door opened and
IN came-an old acquaintance, Sir. Fred
erlck O'Connor, with a parcel in his
hand. CHOW dye do, Blake?' said he
cheerily. II We come to you to get me
out of a difficulty. these are my wife's
jewels. Why she has brought them
with her family diamonds and all, pass
es my UNDERSTANDING | call it insane
Fact is l don't relish the idea of waking
up some fine morning to find my throat
cut! l want to know if you will be Sc
good as to keep them in your safe
while we are here. Whenever Lady
O'Connor wishes to dazzle her friends
with them, 1 can easily come round and
ask you for what she wants."
Naturally, l willingly consented to
find corner for the jewels; and after ]
had taken an inventory Of them, Sir
Frederick himself placed them in an in
ner compartment, and l locked the
door. l little thought what dance
those confounded diamonds would lead
mel
A few days after this, at large gar
den party, met Lady O'Connor, young,
pretty, and happy looking. She shook
hands cordially, expressed pleasure at
meeting again, and asked if | thought
the season would be gay one "By
the by" she said, sit is very kind Of
you, Mr.. Blake, 10 take care of nv val
uables. Sir Frederick was quite in dis
pair about them until happy thought
suggested you as their protector. l am
going to trouble you for some of them
tomorrow. Fred will call for them:
and do not he surprised if you see him
brlstling with bowie knives and revol-
vers, for he has fixed idea that the
Nice ruffian has keener nose for other
peoples property than any other ruffian
in the world"
l answered that her lovely Jewels were
worthy of an escort armed to the teeth.
and that was very glad indeed to be of
use to Sir Frederick and herself in any
way.
The morning after this garden party
it must have been about half past four
or tive-my sleepy senses were COM
pletely scattered by my door being
thrown violently open, and Roscoe, my
combined valet and commissionaire. a
quiet and respectful treasure. landing
beside me as ii shot out of catipult. |
knew at once that something very dread
fui must have happened Roscoe's face
of horror and despair would have made
available study for an artist.
''Get up, sir, at once, and come down
to the office. The safe has been broken
and cleaned out, sir, quite emptyr' gas
ped Roscoe breathlessly, pale with ex-
citement.
l cannot recollect what followed dur
ing the few minutes in which hur iedly
dressed, and Roscoe is far too consider
ate to have ever reminded me of that
short scene. The first thing | do re-
member IS finding myself in my office
clothed In sketchy and uncomfortable
manner, the victim of one of the most
audacious burglaries that had taken
place In Nice for very long time. l
stood gazing at my ransacked safe and
rummaged drawers, and at the floor
strewn with papers, among which, here
and there, noticed few gold pieces,
which seemed as if the robbers had been
interrupted or startled in some way or
other. / was afraid to move from the
spot on which | stood until the detec-
tive, whom | had sent Hoscoe off in a
.IGcre to fetch should arrive, lest might
destroy some small but important piece
OF evidence which his experienced ewes
would discover at a glance. In a verv
short time he appeared, and after a
friendly word or two commenced his
Investigations. He carefully examined
the SAFE, the window, and the door.
Nothing seemed to escape him. He
took voluminous notes; measured a foot
mark which he discovered on the floor:
but the foot-mark on further INQUIRY
was found to be his own which rather
put him out.
told him Of the Jewels which had
been placed in my care so lately.
'Your man informed me, monsieur. as
we came, that you had diamonds of
great value in your safe"
n clam Y dew broke ont suddenly on
my forehead, as | remembered that Lady
O'Connor was counting on appearing in
those same jewels at the prefecture ball
that night
''On the strength of what your ser
want told me, monsieur" continued the
detective, 81 have already telegraphed
to Marselles, Genoa, and Turin, and
have directed some of my most trust
WbitAy men 10 D6 on the alert at the
railway station and the port. | will
send and let monsieur know the mo-
ment we get any trace of the stolen pro-
perty."
made out careful list of all had
lost, gave it to the detective. and then
returned to my rooms to dress in a
rath less superficial manner. The aw-
full business of breaking the loss of the
jewels to Sir Frederick and lady O'Con-
nor was now staring me in the face, and
as | walked to their hotel | became prev
to the most paralyzing nervousness 1
hope it will ever be my lot to endure. |
was shown into charming sitting-room.
facing the sea, and though did not look
at anything round me, except the two
people had come to see. / remembered
afterwards every detail of the scene.
They were at breakIact. the refresh
inc sun-warmed morning air breathed
softly in through the window, scented
by the migonette which grew thicxlv in
boxes on the balcony outside. LADY
O'Connor looked very graceful and pref
tv in a long loose gown of some soft In
dian silk, trimmed with lace. Sir Fred
erick, also, In unconventional garments,