Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-11
CUApVER III

J
CHAPTER III.
"And now let me have n good look at
Won, nephew Godfrey said Sir Horace
Trevor, when the traveller and his sup
posed nephew were safely installed in
their private sitting-room ut the fashion
able hotel "What with the hustle Of
the custom-housc and the ic,tir- of tie
cab. I've scarcely been able TO look at
Won vet but it seems to me, - he added,
as he put his hands on his companions
shoulders and gave him n searching
glance. "that photograph Of you sent
me at Christmas could not have been
very good one, for ! don't see that you
have much resemblance to 1t. "
1T was an excessively bad likeness,
unclr." said the young man, candidly.
In fact it was not good enough toscnd
to Won; hut it was the only one ! hap
pened 20 have 10y me, and | thought you
would like it better than nothing. ]
knew Won at once today by your Ike
ness to the photograph OF you l have IN
NY room at Mudport, How ! wish
George wcro here that you might sec
what "A fine fellow no has grown lie is
not much like me. lie has blue eyes
and light hair.
Like your poor father said SIR
Horace, with a half sigh. "And now,
my boy, we had better see ahont getting
these packages safely bestowed. Hc
rose as he spoke and went 10 n corner of
the room. where were two or three small
packinc-cases in a little iron-clampcd
box. He held up the latter to his sup
posed nephew saying, The jewels are
in this Would it crafty You to have a
peep ut the RANGES necklace ?"
Ills nephew's sparkling eyes were
sufficient answer, and carefully locking
the door the old General took n small
KEY from his watch-chain and unfastened
the box, of which the lock was of peculiar
construction. He removed some wrap
pers and displayed the necklace and seye-
raj ornaments, besides Il number OF unset
stones. Barbaric as was the style Of
some Of the jewels according to western
ideas. the size and mstre OF the stones
made it evident that they were Of great
value. The younger man took up the
diamond necklace and passed It through
his fingers with manifest admiration.
Beautiful stones. are they not?
said sir Horace. "The cutting and
polishing leave something to bc desired,
hut n good jeweler will soon rectify that,
and they shall be equally divided be-
tween you and George, with the excep-
ton of the necklace. which is destined
for the first bride-eithor your wife or
Georges. Those cases, continued the
General, "conian a few valuables es-
pecially prize, while the residue of nay
plate will arrive with the heavy luggage
tomorrow. ! intend to give them all,
with the jewels, into the care OF the ho-
tel manager, that he may put them into
the strong room for tonight, and In the
morning we will take them TO the bank"
The other turned perceptibly pale.
Don't you think it rather a risk to
intrust such valuabes to the tender mer-
cies Of an utter stranger, uncle? The
strong room might be broken into and
robbed this very night"
81 don't think it likely" said Sir
Horace, smiling The strong room here
is guaranteed fire and thlef-proof, and
constantly contains property Of great
value belonging to visitors. shall be
glad to be rid OF the responsibility.
These diamonds have been a perfect
nightmare to me all the way home"
"If | might be permitted to advise,
uncle, said the young man, 81 think It
would be better not to call anybody at
tention to the fact that you have any
yaluables with you at all. London
thieves have such extraordinary ways OF
gettinc information that they might at
tack us even in broad daylight tomorrow
as we are taxing the jewels to the bank.
Let us have the cases quietly carried TO
your room, or, better still, to mine, and
Locked up in n wardrobe FOR tonight
without telling anybody about them.
That will be the safest course.
why would You rather have them in
your room than mine?" asked Sir Ho-
race, rather sharply.
because, uncle | am young and
strong. and in case OF any alarm / should
be better able to defend myself. Be-
sides, / don't like to thick you should
suffer from any anxiety. Let me take
the burden on my own shoulders for
once" pleaded the young man. respect
fully.
Sir Horace pondered.
There is the risk of fire. In the
strong room there could be no danger of
that.
But, on the other hand, you must
call the attention Of the hotel SERVANTS by
having the cases carried there" urged
his sham nephew.
"Well. my boy, that's true; and no
doubt you know more of English WAYS
than DO, after being abroad 60 long
said the old man at last. "You shall
have 1t your own way, and keep the
things in your room Tor tonight. II the
bank had not been closed / would have
taken them there at once Let's have o
look at your ROOM"
Nothing could have been better
adapted 10 the purpose, for it was close TO
their sitting room, and isolated at the top
OF short flight of stairs, from the main
passage. The ola Generals praeticed
ava at once took in all ths sdvanta0as af