River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-07-04

/ EMlNC VI uAhNlODu1 NlG Va
the others my lord purchased"
intimated that we had such another
suite, as the Earl must remember; but
my visitor waived tho question aside
impatiently.
You might possibly have sold it."
he said, land there is no time to make
another. The fact is. Lady R. who
is staying with us now. must wear
those jewels at dance we are giving
tomorrow night And this IS where
the difficulty comes in, for they have
been stOleni'
Good gracious. you don't say sol
But why make mystery OF the mat
ter?''
Because we happen to know who
the thief isin said the valet. dropping
his voice still lower. 80 a great ex-
tent | was instrumental in detecting
the delinquent myself 1t is a de-
plOrable affair. a shocking affair-such
promising young gentleman, too.
But i 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 2:3O."
always had a weakness for a mys-
terry. and here was one ready to my
hand. / could understand. from my
visitors little indiscretiOn. that some
terrible scandal had happened, though
| admired the fellows cautiousness in
checking himself before he had said
too much. Under the circumstances
| need not tell you that my cab
reached Arlington street on the stroke
of 2:3O.
The drawing-rOom blinds were down;
the shutters, too, all over tbs house,
with the exception of the dining-room.
In the clearer atmosphere it was fairly
light-Iight enough to do without gas
In the front dining-roOm a young man
was standing before the fire, who
pleasantly introduced himself to me as
Hon. Claude V, n name | knew
we'll 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. a circumstance / should
scarcely have expected from a person
of his unusually even temperament. He
held in his hand an open telegram and
letter for me. the ink still wet upon
the envelope | tore it open and read
[ that his lordship had suddenly been
summoned to NJ Castle, the valet
at the same time showing me the tele-
gram, signed Mary"
You will have to go down to NJ
/ tomorrow. SIR" he said 10 me, ''un-
I less perhaps you have no objection to
allowing the Earl to take the jewels
with him. However, for the present
that matters but little"
! Immediately expressed my willing
ness to comply with this arrangement.
With seeming reluctance the valet
took my bag, and presently | heard
the sound of conversation resumed in
the adjoining apartment
Thank goodness, there is a way out
of itr' | heard the Earl say. mo. /
will not look at any thing else now.
Take the bag back to Mr.. - at once
and, Evans, must have a cab i'm
mediately.n
''You are usually cautious in your
profession. remarked the Honorable
Claude to me, as | made a hurried in
vcntOry of various costly knick-knacks
had brought with me on the chance
of a sale. for even confidential serv-
ants are not always to be trusted.
Nothing missing. trust?"
There was nothing missing, as /
smilingly fastened to reply. though
my answer was drowned by the rattle
of a cab on the pavement outside. l
heard the Earl's voice in the hall adj
mOnishing the faithful Evans. and
caught a glimpse of his well-known
figure as he climbed into the cab. As
the horse sped rapidly away my com
paniOn heavei a voluntary sigh of re-
lief
'tOf course you have guessed there
is something wrong, Mr.. -" he
said, gravely. Il am not at liberty to
will be doing all OF us favor by OBJ
serving 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. i 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 surprise
when, on looking at my watch, l found
il to be past four. had already missed
one appointment by my carelessness.
and l excused myself hurriedly; and
half an hour later J was back again at
our contingencies in HattOn Garden.
As drove up another cab stopped at
the door, and out of it descended
figure which filled me with astonish-
ment 1t was the Earl of -- himself
He seized me 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 il pro-
ceeded. more than confirmed my worst
fears.
Il thought 1t best not TO telegraph
YOU" he commenced; electric mes
sages get into suspicious hands occa-
sionally. so / came up from M
straight here"
You have only just arrived in town
my lord?" / asked feebly. DO l un-
derstand that?"
Il reached Paddington scarcely half
an hour ago. The fact is, the jewels |
had from you for my daughter have
been stolen