Democratic messenger., 1888-10-20
MIR. DARTS JEWEL.

II was about five minutes after the Sec
Ond aud last whistle had blown at Darts
shoe factory when Annie velga came run.
ming up the street painting and red In the
face. Judge DAFT, standing on the steps
talking with two strangers. smiledas she
came up, and said in surprised tones:
"You are late this morning Miss velga
something never before known"
"Ycs, sir. am sorry, but oversight
myself"
up late last night-had q beau, per.
haps !" suggested John. roguishly.
"No, sir" retorted Annie. promptly and
rather snappishly. for, even though he
was the nephew Of William Dart, the
great shoe man, and the prospective heir
to all his wealth, she considered he was
taking liberty. especially before s,rang.
ers. Perhaps pre,J~ nd prim little An.
ME had some otF ,scason. too. for resent.
ing his rcmarF -
Pretty said one Of the stray
aiter sl,, passed.
.ssented John. "and cut the
quickest girl in the work room,'
the stranger began talking again very
earnestly, as before Annie came up the
steps.
"Well." said John. "of course you may
satisfy yourself, but can tell you before
hand there is not one Of our girls whom
We do not trust. II may take you about
all day, for they live in all directions from
here. if you have to search their rooms
AS uncle says ! must go with you in that
case. the sooner II Is over the better IL
will be for me-" Then they all three went
up stairs to the girls work room.
"Will those who stopped at Dingus's
jcwelry store last night on the way home
from work, please stand up?" said John.
Over half OF them stood up. while John
took down their names and the numbers
Of their rooms, and the detective watched
each face keenly. So far no one was dis.
turbed by guilty conscience. Afler as.
certaining beyond doubt that all who
had been at the store reported, John an
n0unced:
I'VE have received word that valuable
amount Of jewclry was stolen from this
firm last night at about the hour you were
there, therefore suspicion has fallen upon
you, and each girl must allow her room
to be searched if the goods are not
previously found on her person.
So the search began. A quiet, trusiy
girl, much older than the others, and who
had been with them the evening before,
was appointed to conduct the personal
examination In another room. One afler
another left the work room 10 return In u
few minutes declared innocent. until the
officers were satisfied that none Of the
goods were nj the factory.
"Now," said John, when the last girl
had returned, "will each Of you give me
your keys In turn, for must accompany
this officer In his search while the other
remains herei"
"Not this morning." spoke up Annie
velga quickly. while the smart detective
felt the jewels IN his grasp. so to speak
aud the reward In his pockets. John look
ell surprised-somc said he turned trife
pale as he looked into Annie's flushed
guilty face.
"yes, of course this morning." he an.
swered gravely. "what difference Is Il
Miss Annief"
"None," answered Annie hastily but as
John took her key, the detective thinking
II best TO search her room at once instead
Of In her turn, she burst out crying aud
seemed NO broken down that the remain
Ing officer felt justified In placing heI
under arrest.
John had visited Annie's room before,
just once. not many evenings bef6re. IIs
had taken her q book lO read and small
basket Of fruit. thinking that a. neat 4
way to begin his eounshlp As any. liz
had thought a. he left that evening Il was
the preitlesi, brightest little room he had
ever seen, far exceeding any In hls unele''
grand mansion. lie had little thought the
bext time he climbed the stairs 10 room
No. % would be upon such painful sr'
rand. lie could not believe sweet little
AnnIe guilty until !, was proved, ye, hs
climbed the steps unwillIngly and with
more unwilling fingen turned In the lock