Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-27

treasures were so considerably light
ened since the morning. It was more
than twelve months before heard
from the Earl again.
It was one dull November morning.
with fog beginning to settle over the
city, SO dense that we had lighted the
gas. though it was not long past eleven,
when a visitor was ushered into the
counting house-no one else than the
slim gentleman, who gave me sm1l-
ing recognition and held out a note for
my perusal. / was somewhat aston
ished and not little pleased when l
of diamonds; in fact, almost the same
order as had received nearly eight
cen months ago. In a .jocular way 1
pointed out this resemblance to the
slim gentleman. To my surprise his
face became grave, and he looked
around cautiously, as If afraid
of eavesdroppers, and coming a
little closer, began in a significant
tone: "Of course, you understand, sir,
obliged to know things that it is as
well other people should be ignorant
OF. Every noble family has its skele-
ton. and our family have theirs. Now,
in the first place. have you another
suite of diamonds the counterpart Of
the others my lord purchased"
intimated that we had such another
suite, as the Earl must remember; but
my visitor waived the question aside
impatiently.
You might possibly have sold it, ;"
he said, ''and there is no time to make
another. The fact is, Lady R. who
is staying with us now. must wear
those jewels at a dance we are giving
tomorrow night And this is where
the difficulty comes in, for they have
been stolen!''
"Good gracious, you don't say SO!
But why make mystery of the mat
terp'
Because we happen to know who
the thief ISL said the valet. dropping
his voice still lower. Ito great ex-
tent 1 was instrumental in detecting
the delinquent myself 1t is a de-
plorable affair, a shocking affair-such
a promising young gentleman, too.
But am saying too much, perhaps.
Mr.. -, we must have those jewels
at any price. If not. one of the high
est families in the land will be terri
bly, compromised. Do not be at Ar
lingtOn street later than 2:30."
always had a weakness for a mys-
terry, and here was one ready to my
hand. 1 could understand, from my
visitors little indiscretion. that some
terrible scandal had happened, though
1 admired the fellows cautiousness in
checking himself before he had said
too much. Under the circumstances
need not tell you that my ca b
reached Arlington street on the stroke
of 2:3O.
The drawing-room blinds were down;
the shutters, too, all over thu house,
with the exception of the dinin groom.
In the clearer atmosphere it WAS fairly
light-light enough to do without gas.
In the front dining-room young man
was standing before the fire, who
pleasantly introduced himself to me as
Hon. Claude v, a name l knew
well enough, though had never seen
the young gentleman before. In spite
of his naturally amiable manner |
thought he seemed anxious and i'll at
ease, frequently breaking off in the
middle of some observation to listen 10
the sound of voices, which came plainly
enough from behind the thin orna-
mental partition dividing the two
rooms, and whence the Earl's peculiar
grating tones could be heard every
now and then raised in something like
anger. / could catch from time to time
illusions to diamonds, and occasionally
the word thief" was used in tones
of Unreasonable contempt. In the
midst of this the door opened and
the gentlemanly valet walked in.
Even he seemed somewhat restless
and uneasy, circumstance l should
scarcely have expected from person
of his unusually even temperament. He
held in his hand an open telegram ano
a letter for me, the ink still wet upor
the envelope. tore it open and rea6
that his lordship had suddenly beer
summoned to M Castle, the valet
at the same time showing me the tele
gram, signed Mary"
You will have to go down to M
tomorrow, SIR" he said to me, ''un
less perhaps you have no objection tt
allowing the Earl to take the jewels
with him However. for the presen
| that matters but little"
Immediately expressed my willing
ness to comply with this arrangement
| With seeming reluctance the vale
took my bag. and presently I heart
the sound of conversation resumed il
the adjoining apartment
Thank goodness. there is a way GU
of itr' heard the Earl say. mo,
will not look at any thing else now
Take the bag back to Mr.. - at one
and, Evans, I must have cab i'm
mediately."
''You are usually cautious in you
profession" remarked the Honorabl
| Claude to me, as made hurried in
ventory of various costly knick-knack
1 had brought with me on the chanc
of a sale, for even confidential serv
ants are not always to be trusted