The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-09-04


carelessly.
''Yes, suppose So" answered Laura
"Bnt do you know, it puzzles me and
ways wanted to drop the subject-and She
did"
"Oh, no; you must have fancied it,"
''No, didn't, for told Anthony and lie
thinks the same thing. I can't make it
out now," Laura continued in a deter
mined tone, "but I shall never rest till J
have made it out Oil you may laugh
as much as you like" she added to Steph'
en-"But all the same l mean what I
sayl"
Stephen Howard went off into 60 Of
laughter
2 "Well," he said at last. when he could
command himself sufficiently to speak,
II sometimes think juicy goes in for pro-
pounding the funniest ideas in all the
world; but III her widest flights of mag
ination she has never cquallcl your sug-
gestion. Surely you don't mean to say
that the old lady is mixed up with the
robbery in any way, or that she has act
uallg stolen the things herself?'
mo. I DON'T" answered Laura, stoutly,
but do think this, that Miss Lavinia is
q thoroughly sharp and clever old lady
who chooses to wear a mask Of utter silli-
ness which she calls nerves just to make
herself look interesting and coquettish;
and think she knows more about this
particular affair than she cares to tell"
but how could she know anything
about it If she was not implicated in the
matter he1self?" Stephen exclaimed.
Every easily" said Laura, quickly, "for
Instance the robbery took place that par
ticular evening about ten O. clock, or rath-
er about ten o'clock the night after they
got back to Little Street the robbery was
discovered by Warner, WHO'S upper lady's
maid to the two old ladies. Miss Lavinia
had gone up to her room for something
Immediately after dinner, that is about
quarter past nine She stayed upstairs
about twenty minutes, went quietly into
the little drawing-rOom and sat down in
chair without speaking and in fact cover
ed her eyes with her hand, a most unu sual
thing with her. About ten o'clock, or a
few minutes past, Warner went up from
the upper servants supper which begins
at nine punctually, and, finding that
someone had been in the room and that
the jeWel-case was gone, she uttered an
awful scream and ran down to the draw
ing-room.
Dear me, Warner said Miss Theo'
dOsia, who was quietly reading book.
What is the matter that you come rushing
in in this manner? Have you taken leave
of your senses"
'''Oh, Maam!-Miss StaunUonr cried
Warner, sobbing with fright, there have
been thieves and robbers in the house
and your rubies-they gone, ma'an1-
gomez
ooh! my Godp cried Miss Lavinia, in
sharp voice. and then with a great groan
sank back fainting into her chair"
"Well. it seems to me" remarked Sten!.
en-, when his sister-in-law had got to tHis
stage, that all this was natural enOu III,
and, in fact, was precisely what almost
any woman would have done under SINH
lar circumstances"
Yes, yes" answered Laura, "but hear
the rest. She was in a genuine faint for
quarter of an hour or twenty minutes.
Oh, yes, she can do q sham one as cleveriy
as anyone know, I've seen her many
time, particularly since the robbery took
place-and Miss Theodosia in her fright
and anxiety went up to her room to fetch
some special medicine which she had put
away for use on such occasions. Whilst
she was gone, Miss Lavinia opened her
eyes little and her lips moved. Warner
bent over her and heard her say, OH
Frank, Frank, that you should have come
to this-oh, my God! it will break my
heart and then she slipped off into an
other swoon, and when Miss TheOdosia
came back with the restorative she came
to and straightway went OF into violent
Mysteries. After that she has always
steadily refused to listen to any discussion
of the affair." upbraids her sister for any
conversation which arises about it, says
she has no heart and thinks more of he1
rubies than of her only sister and has gen.
orally made herself very disagreeable
about it ever since"
"Well?" said Julia. eagerly
"WeIl, | know what think about it,"
said Lady Staunton, significantly.
.'And what do you think?" cried Julia
and Stephen in the same breath
Il think that she went up accidentally
to her room and surprised the thief at his
work-and think that she recognized
him"
''Then why didn't Staunton ask he1
about it?"
Anthony did breach the subject, but
the result was such much worse fit OF
Mysteries than she had ever INDUCED in
before that Anthony was glad to have
done with the subject and Miss Theodosis
begged him for Heavens sake never to
mention the robbery to her sister again.
And of course you know" Lady Staunton
went on, Anthony has to be very careful
what he says to her, for they have six
thousand a year each and il he offends her
she will think nothing of. as Aunt Theo-
dosa often says, leaving the whole of it
to that detestable Emily Spenderley's
hateful boy And of course Anthony
does not exactly wish that to happen, SO
that he cannot follow up this robbery as
he would like to do. But at the same
time we think that Miss Lavinia knows
good deal more than she pretends to do
and that if she chose to speak, she could
give the clue which the police want"
at seems incredible" Julia cried.
mot at ALL" said Stephen, Il think
Laura has just hit the right nail on the
head But how do you know the police