Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-01

House and the JOiung OF the Gao, We
scarcely been able to look at you yet; but
it seems TO me-" he added, as he put his
hands on his companien's shoulders and
gave him searching glance, that photo
graph of yourself that you sent me al
Christmas could not have been very good
one, for don't see that you have much re-
semblance to it."
ut was an excessively bad likeness,
uncle" said the young man, candidly. In
fact, it was not good enough to send to you;
but it was the only one happened 10 have
by me, and thought you would like il
better than nothing. l knew you al once,
to-day, by your likeness to the photograph
of you l have in my room at Mudport.
How l wish George were here. that you
might see " hat fine fellow he has grown
He is not much like me-he has blue eyes
and light hair
Like your poor father" said Sir Horace,
with q half sigh. And now, my hoy, We
had better see about getting these packages
safely bestowed" He rose as he spoke,
and went to corner of the room, where
were two or three small packing cases, and
little iron clamped box. He held up the
latter to his supposed nephew, saying:
The jewels are IN this. Would it CRAFTY
you TO have peep at the RANGES neck
| lace ?n
His nephew's sparkling eyes were suf-
| ficient answer, and carefully locking the
| door, the old General took q small key
| from his watch chain and unfastened the
! box, of which the lock was of peculiar
| construction. He removed some wrappers,
and displayed the necklace and several Or
naments, besides number of unset stones.
Barbaric as was the style of some of the
| jewels, according to Western ideas, the size
and luster of the stones made it evident
l.
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 be desired, but good
jeweller will soon rectify that and they
| shall be equally divided between you and
George, with the exception of the necklace,
which is destined for the first bride-either
your wife or Georges. Those cases." con-
tinued the General, contain a few valu-
ables l especially prize, while the residue
of my plate will arrive with the heavy lug
gage toll morrow. l intend TO give them all,
with the Jewels, into the care of the hotel
manager, that he may put them into the
strong-room for tonight; and in the morn
! ing we will take them to the bank"
The other t1rned perceptibly pale.
Don't you think it rather a risk to in
trust such valuables to the tender mercies
of an utter stranger, uncle? The strong
room might be broken into and robbed this
| very night"
az don't think it likely" said Sir Horace,
smiling " The stroDs-room here is guar
| contains property of great value belonging
to visitors. l shall be glad to be rid of the
responsibility. These diamonds have been
a perfect nightmare to me all the way
| home"
''If l might be permitted to advise, un-
cle,' said the young man, Il think il would
be better not to call anvbody's attention to
+! the tact that you have any valuabies with
you at all. London thieves have such ex-
traordiDary ways of getting information
that they might attack us even in broad
daylight tomorrow as we are taking the
| jewels to the bank. Let US have the cases
| quietly carried to the room, or, better still,
to mine, and locked up in wardrobe for
tonight, without telling anybody about
them
why would you rather have them in
| your room than mine?" asked Sir Horace
rather sharply.
Because, uncle, am young and strong,
and, in case of any alarm, should be bet
ter able to defend myself. Besides. dom t
like to think you should suffer from any
anxiety. Let me take the burden on my
own shoulders for once, pleaded the young
man respectfully.
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 hav-
ing the cases carried there urged his sham
nephew"
well, my boy, that's true; and no
doubt you know more Of English ways than
l do, after being abroad for so long" said
the old man at last. you shall have it
your own way, and keep the things in your
room for tonight. If the bank had not
been closed would have taken them there
at once. Let's have look at your room. -
Nothing could have been better adapted
to the purpose, for it was close to their sit
| tiDg-room, an isolated at the top of short
flight of stairs, from the main passage.
The old Generals praciiced eye at once
took in all the advantages Of the position.
1t contained massive wardrobe, deep
enough to hold all the cases, if they were
piled one on top of the other. Sir Horace
tried the lock, which was of sound con-
strnction, and gave his nephew permits
sion to carry out his suggestion. The two
men carried the cases, which were not
heavy, into the bedroom, and carefully
|
which the supposed Godfrey took out the
KEY and put it in his pocket
Now" said he triumphantly, as they left
the room, with the bedroom-door also
locked, and the key in my pocket, I'll ven
ture to defy all the burglars in London
until tomorrow
He accordingly fastened that also, and
they returned to the sitting room.
And now let's order dinner" said
Horace, and he seated himself once more.
The youthful imposter walked to a win
dow, and stood looking down at the throng
hur-ying along the street below 1t was
still broad daylight, for it was not o'clock,
and the days we're at their longest. But in
reality he saw nothing of what was passing
before his eyes. His heart was beating
madlv with the anxiety to carry out his de-
sign without exciting Sir Horace's suspi-
cions. Practised hypocrite as he was, bis
powers were strained to the utmost. He
had never yet played for such magnif-
cent stake as the RANGES Jewels and to
have them in his very grasp, and then be
compelled TO relinquish them, would be
tantalizing indeed.
Don't you think, sir, that I ought to
telegraph to George at once. to let him
know of your safe arrival2 He asked me
to do SOL
Perhaps so. / had thought of writing
to him tonight, but | am rather tired, and,
after all, telegram would be sufficient"
There is a telegraph Office in connec-
ton with this hotel, so it will be very easy
to dispatch message" said Godfrey, leav-
ing the window, =" If you will excuse me
for five minutes, will go and fill up a form
at once"
Sir Horace smiled as the door closed be-
hind his companion.
How fond the boys are of their old
uncle to be sure Godfreys good fellow,
although / must say he hardly comes up to
my idea of soldier; but it doesn't do to be
too exacting nowadays. More kind and
thoughtful for my welfare he could not be. u
Had the Generals eyes been able to fol-
low the subject of his eulogium, he would
certainly have been puzzled by his ecceli-
trio proceedings. Instead of going down to
| L l,o, eel r.h offs l,o l..