Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-10-12

ing lull al MS IdtucI' .
If a bombshell had fallen among Us at
that moment it could not have produceu
4 greater effect than that one word'
uttered so deliberately. Sir George
started in his bed and clutched at the
bed clothes with both hands. My brain
positively reeled. Carr, my friend Carr,
introduced into the family by myself
was being accused by Charles! l was
speechleSs with indignation.
Il am sorry, Middleton" continued
Charles. Il know ne is your friend, ou'
can't help that. Carr took the Jewels
| diStruSted him from the moment ne
set foot in the house.
.'Where is he at this instant? Sald
MarSton, getting up. lis no one WIN
him ."
..There is no need to be anxious on
his account" replied Charles. IL TOOK
him up TO the smoking room before
came here, and l turned the key III inc
door. The key is here And he lalu
il on the table.
MarStOn sat down again.
"What are your grounds for suspect
ing Carr >" he asked. Remember this
is very serious thing, Charles, that
YOU have done in locking him up II you
have not adequate reason for 1t.
You had better leave Carr alone,
Charles" said Ralph significantly.
LET him 90 on" said Sir George.
u have no proof, continued Charles:
Il did not see him take them, but am
rs certain of il as if | had seen it with
nv own eyes. The jewels could only
have been stolen by someone staying III
the house. That is certain. Who eX-
cepting Carr, was a stranger among us
Who, excepting Carr
"Stop. Charles" said Ralph again.
Don't you know that Carr slept Win
me down at the lodge
Charles turned on his brother ana
gripped his shoulder
DO you mean to say" he said sharp
". that Carr did not sleep in the house
last night?'
Dear me Charles, that was an over
sight on your part" came Sir George 5
whisper.
No" replied Ralph, she did not.
The house was full and we had TO put
him in that second small room through
mine in the lodge. If Carr had been
diving TO take them he had not the op-
portunity. He could not have left his
room without passing through mine,
and | never went to sleep at all. | had
sharp touch of neuralgia from the
cold, which kept me awake all night.
He got out through the window, -"
said Charles.
Nonsense :" said Ralph, getting viSi-
| blv angry: you are only making mat
ters worse by trying to put it on him.
Remember the size of the window. Be
sides YOU know how the lodge stands,
built against the garden wall. When |
came ont this morning there was not a
single footStep in the snow except those
we had made as we went there the night
before. noticed our footmarkS partic-
ularly. because had been afraid there
would be more snow. No one could by
any possibility have left the house during
the night. Even Jones himself had not
been out. for there was little eddy of
snow before the back door, and | re-
member calling to him that he would
want his broom
The snow clincheS the matter,
Charles, " said MarSton grayely. "You
have made i mistake"
Quite unintentional. I'm sure, whis-
pered Sir George.
There was something did not like
about the whisper. 1t seemed TO imply
more than met the ear.
Charles did not appear TO hear him.
He was staring tiXedly before him, his
hand had dropped from Ralph'S shoulder,
and his face was quite gray.
Then. he said slowly, as if waking
out of a dream, lit was not Carr"
No" said Sir George, Il never
thought ii was"
Good Cod" calculated Charles, sink
ing into low chair by the fire, and
shading his face with his hand. Not
Carr. after ALL
But my indignation could not be re-
strained a moment longer. | had only
been kept silent by repeated signs from
MarSton. and now broke out.
And so sir, you suspect my friend,
| said. land insult him in your fathers
house by turning the key on him. You
endeavor to throw suspicion on man
who never injured you in the slightest
degree. You insult me in insulting my
friend, sir. Suspicion IS not always
such an easy thing 10 shake off As it has
been i'm this instance. | on my side
might ask what you were doing, walk
ing about the passages in your socks at
/ o'clock this morning? In your socks,
sir. still in your evening clotheS'-
l had spoken in anger, not think
ing much what | was saying, and
stopped short, alarmed at the effect OF
my own words.
"Iknew it! knew it," gasped Sin
George, in hoarSe, Suffocated voice,
and he fell back painting among his pill
lows.
Charles took his hand from his face
and looked hard at me with strange
kind of a smile.
AT any rate we are quits, Middle
ton" he said. "You have done it now
and no mistake
did not quite see what | had done
but it soon became apparent.
Il knew it, gaSped out the sick man
again. Il knew it from the first mo-
ment that he tried to throw suspicion
on Carr
"Sir George said MarStOn, graYely,
Charles made mistake just now. Dc
not you OH your side make another
Come, Charles" turning to the latter
who was now sitting erect with flashing
eyes, tell Us about it. What were you
doing when Middleton saw you?'
Il was coming upstairs, - said Charles
haughtily.
From the library" asked Sir George
Charles bit his lip and remained silent
| would not have spoken TO him for 4
good deal at that moment. He looked
positively dangerous.
From the library, of course" he
said at last, controlling himself and
speaking with something of his old care
less manner, "laden with the SpoilS of
my midnight depredatiOnS. Parental
fondnesS will supply all minor details,
no doubt; so, as the subject is delicate
one for me, will withdraw that it may
] ha dicauScod mara fu1lv in my ohSanoo -