The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1888-08-08

was 0rderoQ 10 COVln8COn, KY, where
I was to enter into negotiations for a
certain manufacturing business, and
by such means gain access to high so.
ciotY. My orders wero to become &C.
quainted with Miss Mason, who, since
Gen. Judd's death, was residing there
with q relative. I was to shadow her
by becoming her escort if possible.
"Col. Wilson, the executor, suspec.
ted Miss Mason Of the robbery for it
would appear as If she alone could
have had access to the apartment Of
ladies at. the time the jewels were
stolen. The Colonel believed that Con.
Judd had discovered enough to cause
him to feel that a full revelation or
truth would disgrace a young woman
for whom he had a ratherly affection.
But Col. Wilson did not care for Miss
Mason. lie wanted the jewels.
81 went to C%ovington. and for six
weeks tried my best to gain Ill intro
duction to the family where Miss
Mason lived. / saw her frequently,
but the a%ristOcratlc exclusiveness Of
the house shut the door with me on the
outside. You 500 l had to work
mighty cautiously.
"The papers made mention Of. my
plan to buy q big concern i'll the
s%pirituous limo there, and sad l was a
swell about town; still the door re-
manned closed. But music has charms,
you knowI 1 am a pretty good VIC.
llnist.
"One day | was passing the house
with an acquaintance, and heard d
piano and violin within. ] stopped and
listened. I had the cue at last. Be-
fore tho week was ended T stood inside
that parlor playing my violin to Miss
MasOn's piano accompaniment.
ga more charming woma I never
had the good fortune to meet. She
was deltcate, refined, educated, and
pure-mlnded as an angel. l began to
think Col. Wilson wna q brute. 7
hadn't been acquainted with Miss
Mason u week before 1 wrote my chief
that we yer on the wrong scent, and
simply squandering wealth by prrsu-
ing it. He wrote back to follow it
hotter than ever, and spare no expense
in winning the !ady's confidence.
THAT reply disguised me anu L sent
another letter intimating that l didn't
care to remain In a business OF this
sort; but my chief paid no attention to
that message, except to praise my
abilities and remit u handsome check.
''Then l resorted to another means
Of recall. l spent money like q mil
llonaire. My family name Is well
known and my implied relationship TO
wealthy people helped to carry me
along. Still, there was no word Of
complaint from the agency, and my
scheme fell fiat. BY this time l had
ceased to desire a recall. l even be-
gan to build a castle i'll Spain, in which
Miss Mason occupied a magnificent
suite.
"a month Of that delicious life went
by. One evening l escorted Miss Ma
son to a swell party. She never looked
moro beautiful and never before 50
gracious. 1 was on the verge Of a pro-
posal, but I couldn't make up my mind
to reveal my true purpose in seeking
her acquaintance. On the way to the
party | resolved to send II my resigna-
ton, seek some other employment and
then return to Coyington.
"As Miss Mason joined me upon
coming from the ladies' dressing room
l saw on. her throat g magnificent dia-
mond pin that l recognized at once
from the description furnished mo by
my chief. It was the finest of the Judd
jewels. You can imagine, perhaps,
what sort Of an evening L passed.
Tho next morning | reported to the
agency, sending my resignation and
emitting all mention or the discovery l
had made. But late stepped In ut that
juncture in my affairs. a newspaper
reporter had also 9 the brooch, and,
without knowing what she was doing,
described it as tho most remarkable
jewel displayed or the occasion. Both
my chief and Col. Wilson, 1t then trap
spired, we're quito rs alert as I in this
affair. Before night l received telc-
grams in cipher ordering me to force
Miss Mason to a confession.
"You see me here now, so you know
[ didn't yield to the temptation to
blow out my brains. I resisted that
inclination, because no living creature
could break the awful news Of detec-
ton to that poor girl so gently as I.
"That evening I called on Miss Ma
son and Invited her to drive with me.
Possibly she thought-well, no matter
now. She accepted the invitation, and
| drove into as secluded a road rs |
could find. Then l told her who and
what l was-a detective; u man VINO
had wilfnlly gained her confidence lii
order to prove that she was q theft