Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-07-03
ants are not always to be tru sted.
Nothing missing, trust?'

NOoAAAA3 AAASoAuSs l. OfuSO: ,'ss> IT, .s--
There was nothing missing, as /
smilingly FASTENED to reply, though
my answer was drowned by the rattle
OF a cab on the pavement outside. I
heard the Earls voice in the hall adj
monishing the faithful Evans, and
caught glimpse of his well-known
figure as he climbed into the cab. AS
the horse sped rapidly away my COM
panion heavel voluntary sigh of re-
lief.
"Of course you have guessed there
IS something wrong, Mr.. -" he
sald' gravely. II am not at liberty to
favor you with any details; but you
will be doing all of us a favor by OBJ
serving a discreet silence concerning
every thing that you may have heard
the last half hour.
Needless to say that promised; also
that fully intended to adhere to that
resolution. stayed chatting with my
aristocratic acquaintance for some
time. considerably taken by his pleas
ant chatter and keen observation on
men and things. Judge of my uurprise
when, on looking at my watch, I found
it to be past four. had already missed
one appointment by my carelessness,
and l excused myself hurricdly; and
half an hour later l was back again at
our contingencies in Hatton Garden.
AS l drove up another cab stopped at
the door, and out of it descended a
figure which filled mo with astonish-
ment. 1t was the Earl of -- himself!
lie seized mo hurriedly by the arm.
contrary to his usual dignified manner
and bearing, and almost forced me into
the office. Once there he lost no time
in telling me the occasion for his
errand, narrative which, as it pro-
ceeded, more than confirmed nv worst
fears.
81 thought it best not to telegraph
you,' he commenced; 'electric mes
sages get into suspicious hands occa-
sionally, so I came up from NJ
straight here"
"You have only just arrived in town
my lord?" I asked fcebly. "Do un-
derstand that?".
II reached Paddington scarcely half
an hour ago. The fact is, the Jewels
had from you for my daughter have
been stolen"
$50 | have been informed" l re-
piled, mechanically, ''only half an
hour ago."
$50 you have been told! Where on
earth did you get your information"
AS coherently as l could | told my
tale; and fortunately was able to pro-
duce the two notes in evidence of ng;7
sanity, which up to this time had been
open to argument.
The Earl put on his gold-rimnied
srectacles and read them with ju-
dlcial air. II am afraid, very much
afraid, you have been the victim of a
clcverly planned robbery Yesterday
morning Evans came to me and asked
for two days holiday, a favor which I
need not tell you was readily granted.
1t was only last night that my daugh-
ter, who is staying at NJ with he1.
husband, discovered by the merest
accident that she had been rob-
bed. Of course none of us
suspected Evans. I should not have
suspected it now, if had not seen you;
and my object in coming here was to
get technical description of the miss
ing gems for the use of the Scotland
Yard people. What pity I did not
come earlier!''
By this time I was in frame of
mind suspicious enough to make me
suspect any one, including the Earl
himself. pointed out to him, mono
too courteously, the fact of the letters,
| and my conversation with the Honora-
bic Claude.
Il have a good memory, Mr.. --,"
said my visitor, kindly, land I recog
nize these letters as the two I wrote to
you prior to my daughters marriage.
Evans, I understand, delivered both of
them, and must have purloined them
while your back was turned, with a
view to this very robbery. 1t is true
that have q son Claude, only, un.
fortunately for your theory, he is az
present with his regiment in the West
Indies.''
''But I could have sworn to your
lordship's figure as 1 saw you getting
into the cab; and pardon me, I could
make oath to your voice among a mill
ion."
"You recall little circumstance I
had quite forgotten" the Earl replied,
in amused retrospection. Evans, l
regret to say, was uncommonly clever
at mimicry; indeed, on one occasion l
am informed that he presumed to coun-
terfeit my dress and general style, even
my voice, for the amusement of a select
circle of friends, in manner which
filled them with astonishment Thew
say, like master like man, Mr. -;
bat it is very sad to sec so clever {;
man so great rascal. And now, as
an in measure the author of your
loss, and as we are, moreover, COM
rades in misfortune, pray consider nv
advice, need I say my purse likewise,