Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-08-15

mo, not about vdnr sister, Puss." Mrs.
Bob laughed. But when your sister is
so ridicUlously like yourself
Laurie like me-" cried Julia, in genu-
inc amaZement.
Yes, as Ike as two peas" answered
Mrs Bob. smiling by the by, Stevie
will be here in a moment or SO. He has
gone down to the jewellers to get your
bracelet"
"Oh. how good of himl" Julia cried
In less than five minutes Stephen How
ard came.
by the bv, there's no end of row 60
ing on at the end of the street." he said,
eagerly. That pretty Mrs. Lovelace has
had every scrap of jewelry she possessed
stolen this afternoon"
Mrs. LoTelacer' screamed julia
''Must be the same gang that got your
things, Maimie," said Stephen. Il stop
ped to ask the man who runs the house
about it. 1t seems that the Lovelaces
have stayed at this house whenever they
are in BIankhampton for years. the draw
ing-room floor is theirs, as matter of
fact"
'Yes-yes-we know-go on" cried Mrs.
Traford.
"And somehow or other this afternoon
an individual quietly walked in and fetch
ed the things away, but whether it was a
man or woman they don't know, or ex
actly when it took place"
Mrs. Bob began to look horribly scaredl
ION. Bob l feel so frightened. You shall
not buy me any more diamonds or any
thing else whilst we are in Blankhamp-
ton, or at least not until this gang is cap
tured."
Laura. my child, l trust you have not
brought your sapphires here" exclaimed
Mrs TraffOrd, suddenly.
Il am afraid have, DEAR" Lady Staun-
ton replied.
Then, Anthony, go and fetch them, my
dear, and we will take them down to din
ner with us, and to morrow if you please
we will have them put into the Bank for
safe keeping. Tney are the finest sap
phires in England" she added, to Mrs.
Bob, land would not have the RESPONSE
bflity Of keeping them in my house for
all the world. You are most foolish.
Laura to carry them about the country
with you"
But | want to wear them, dear" Laura
protested.
You won't be able to wear them if you
lose them, you know" Mrs. Bob put in.
81 had nice little collection of diamonds
few days ago, and now you see all my
wealth. | wear these every night and near
ly all day for fear | may lose them, too.
In fact, l may as well confess among
Ourselyes-when | cannot wear them suit
ably outside my frock l wear them under
meath it. If were you should wear as
many OF your sapphires about you as you
can"
ooh, nor' Laura cried, with a laugh:
"they are too large and too heavy; they
would show''
THAT is what should do" said Mrs.
Bob, wisely
"But how could they know just when to
slip into Mrs. Lovelace's room2" Mrs.
Trafford asked.
Thieves know everything" Stephen
Howard answered. Glow did they find
out just the position of my sisters room
at Matcham, where her box stood, what
kind of box it was? How did they know
the exact moment TO choose them and get
off clear with plumber from two different
parts of the hOuse' Oh! thieves are mar
Vellous creatures"
Il have never felt very sure of your
maid" remarked Mrs Trafford.
"Ohi she is honest as the day. Besides,
she could have taken them over and over
again If she had wanted. | had her from
Lady LundertOn- or rather from her
daughter Mrs. Stonor. She was there
eleven years and only left when Lady
Lunderton died. Oh no; she is quite in
nOcent of that. | have the utmost conf
dence in her."
"And her mother did die" remarked
Bob.
Then Cox came to say that dinner wa.
served, and they all went down, Sir An
thOny, with a comical expression, carrying
his wife's jewel-case under his arm.
Put it on the Chimney-snelf, Anthony"
said Mrs. Trafford; ''where | can keep my
eye on it. Dear me, poor Mrs. Lovelace,
/ do feel most sorry for her"
Yes, poor thing, so do |, echoed Julia,
thinking of Captain Legard and Pamela
Winstanley and how he had played off
one against the other and ended by throw
ing over both. Poor little soul, with her
bold little dark face and her blazing black
eyes, it was hard really that she should
have lost her jewels; and yet, it seemed
almost like a judgment upon her for her
folly in flirting so desperately as she un.
doubleday had done, when she had quite
charming husband always at hand who
would have been proud to crafty her
every whim-yes, it was really like a judg,
ment .-i.
SO they dined in great merriment with
the Staunton sapphires safely reposing on
the chimuey-shelf, and after dinner Laura
with much pride showed them to the
Markhams and Stephen Howard.
My dear said little Mrs. Bob at part
ing" take my advce-wear those sap
phires about you, wear them under your
clothes. Banks may be broken into al
most as easily rs houses-nobody can take
your sapphires away by violence, at least
not in such circums tances as are likely tc
be yours"
"Ohl Anthony keeps revolver by him
at night" said Laura, confidently.
Burglars are generally very near
Shots" answered Mrs. Bob. Anyway,
remember what | say. wear mine all
day, and push them between the mat
tresses at night. Wen, YOU may la Oh,
but it's true-I do really"