Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-11-20

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Esther running in q few moments later,
found her father in excellent humor,
and felt that the course OF their true
love was very likely TO run smooth.
Charlie is awfiilly nice, isn't he,
fatherP" she asked, rubbing her cheek
against his coat sleeve. '.Now. say,
isn't hep"
"Wait until we see whether he runs
away with those diamonds. Essie," said
the jeweler, and OF course Esther was
In duty bound to laugh immensely al
this paternal joke. 1t was long before
she laughed again after that merry fash
ion.
She waited dinner for her father that
night until the soup was cold and the
roast q cinder, and when he came his
face looked pale and pinched. 1t was
eight o'clock, and young Cummings had
not reported himself.
The only comfort he had was in re-
Wondering that Carberry said that he
would talk to him and find out what
sort OF man he was. Still, nothing
|
sense as Cummings had momentlonger
that was necessary upon such an err
rand, and when nine o'clock came the
jeweler was quivering with anxiety,
while Esther paced the floor repeating,
something has happened, to him." at
intervals.
At ten o'clock, Mr.. milford himself
took cab and rode out to the Carberry
place. He found Mr.. Carberry on the
piazza.
"Ah," said that gentleman, advanc-
ing to meet him. ''you have brought
them yourself, ehP Always glad to see
you, and as Bessy has gone somewhere
with her intended, we have a better
chance to look them over. Come in;
Mrs. G. is in the library"
you do not mean to say that young
Cummings has not been hereP" cried
the jeweler.
"No, he has not. OF course ex-
pected him. Your telegram reached
me, but he is not here yet"
He will never come" said the jew
eler "What q fool / was to trust
him"
He may have met with an acct
dent" said Carberry. "At all events
we must not judge him until we have
proof of his guilt"
The police were notified that night.
The one whose post included the cab
stand had some information to give
"Your clerk came down to the stand,
Mr.. Milford" he said; 81 know him
very we'll to bow to. He came here and
stood moment Just then cab came
around the corner-one that does not
belong here-and girl jumped out
and spoke to your clerk.
"She may have said o dozen words,
and then she stepped into the cab
again, and he got in, too. and they
drove away. They sat on opposite
seats, and he looked out OF the window
as they drove of.
II thought nothing of it until the
story began to get about, and did not
notice the cab particularly. The girl
had nice little figure a very small
waist, and wore gray vail tied over
her face. Lots Of ladies wear them so,
but think she was dark.
'You are sure it was Cummingsph
said Mr.. Milford.
81 am sure it was your clerk" re-
piled the policeman; "pll swear to
that"
"You see, my darling" said Mr.. Null
ford TO his sobbing daughter, late that
night. "Charles Cummings is rascal
He has almost ruined me by this theft,
but am thankful that he had not yet
robbed me of my child. At least you
are safe from him, my Essie."
''But Essie, kneeling before her faith
er and holding both his hands in hers,
made answer:
mo, father, no. Charles Cummings
Is no thief He has fallen q victim
to some one who knew what he carried
with him. He has been robbed, per-
haps murdered. The truth will out
some day."
"And how about the pretty young
woman whom he met, Essiep" asked
the old man.
"She was in the conspiracy" said
Essie.
''Have common sense, Esther" said
the father. He entered cab with
her in broad daylight. She was his
confederate, no doubt and he has gone
abroad to share his spoils with her.
He had ample time to take an ocean
steamer. and did, no doubt. A bad
woman, and a chance such as gave
that boy have led many a one to de-
struction."
Charlie is good and true" persist
ed Esther. ''You will know it some
day, and 1 will maintain il always, II
all the world besides should doubt him."
And to this she held while the pa
pers painted her betrothed in the light
Of rascal who had betrayed trust
confided to him, and no one but herself
believed him innocent. Night after
night, as she paced her bedroom floor,
she sti owe to devise some means of dis
covering the fate Of the man she loved.
The talk about the diamonds had all
been held in tho little reception-room
OF the jewelers. establishment; no one
learned of it there. But how was it at
the Carberry establishments
One morning she arose full of new
idea, and went to Mrs. Carberry. The
lady received her in motherly fashion.
I'VE kept the gift secret from ev-
cry one but my maid, Hannah Earle"
she said, land she was as anxious to
surprise Bessie as we were i remem-
ber when the telegram came, / asked
her to read it, because could not find
my glasses, and she was quite delight
ed. Oh, no, she told no one."
where was she that afternoonp"
asked Esther.
''At home, when the telegram came,
~ ,n,,,oa aofI M,n To~I1o..,. sa.l~.