Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-08-01
Mrs. DO b
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER,
Author OF "BootIes' Baby" "BcdutJA
Jim" Etc, Etc.
CHAPTER yIu-rS sTATU QUO.

when he had said that In England iewe.
robberies are never found out. for it seem
ed as il there could be no unraveling OF
the mystery by which Matcham was sur,
rounded and possessed.
In due time the police came, and as
well as they could investigated the scene
of the burglary. They were shown the
place where the old leather-covered basket
had stood in Mrs. Markham's bedroom,
were given an accurate account of its con
tents and description of the valuable orna
ments which it had contained. Then
they examined the window and by ths
dim morning light went out and examined
the ground below, found the ladder still
standing against the wall and a square OF
bass-ordinary common gardeners bass
which had been used to put on the slight
ly damp ground behind the laurel bushes
so that no impression might be left OF
tell-tale foot marks. The thieves had not
as generally happens, left behind them 8
Jenny with it's owners initials engraved
thereon or a hat or any other clue which
might lead to identifcatiOn-nO, the thief
or thieves had accomplished the work
quickly and deity, and neatly, too.
Lady Lucifer's room gave even fewer
evidences OF what had happened-ths win
dow had been found about An Inch open,
The sill was slightly marked aEd scratched,
aud the jewels were gone.
And there for the present they seemed
inclined TO stick. Lord Luci'er offered u
reward OF five thousand pounds for the
recovery OF his wife's jewels and Mr..
Markham offered twice the sum for the
restoration OF his wifes. Then, after q
lew hours, the box, basket, and leather
tyb fen mo- oH ha la tfa
found in thick shrubbery no more thar
n couple of hundred yards from the man
sion itself and even all the cases wer,
found within 1t.
The box was examined and taken bach
to the hou1e and Mrs. Bob was summon
ed. why" she said, they have left
every case-yes, every one. What nice
thisves This one" she added. taking
ont a little case from among its fellows,
CONTAINED the locket which had my dear
little chiId's hair in it. Why" and then
she tore 1t open with eager hands. "Oh
oh! they have left 1t to rne-they have
left II to me. OH how kind Of them-how
good OF themi ] don't care now II we
never get the others back againr And
then she began to kiss the lOcket pas
sionately until the tears stood in more
than one OF the eyes which were looking
on
Lady Lucifer, with marvellous rapidity,
got used to the idea Of her loss and even
discussed what she should do for suitable
jewelry supposing that her own should
not he traced.
81 must have towelry, you know" she
said, down the length OF the breakfast
table to her husband on the second morn
ing after tho robbery, ''if 10 is only to wear
at Court"
We'll" said he, "if you get your own
back again, you needn't trouble abUut
any more, and II you don't get your own
You must spin the five thousand ! have Of
fercd for the reward AZ far us you can TO
provide yourself with new"
But tho days went by and there was no
trace OF the jewels The various enter
tainments OF tho week came OF in due
course and Lady IucIfer made tho best
show abe could with the jewels that she
had worn at dinner on that eysntrul
night. while Mrs. Bob with her stars and
her gorgeous butterfly, and her beautiful
single stone necklace, did not give the idea
of having lost IA single thing.
She WAS sweet soul, for on the evening
after the robbery when everybody was
dressing for dinner, which was to he fol
lowed by ball. she left her room and
went 90 her hostess door Mt which she
Knocked.
Can ! speak to Lady Lucifer Mawson, ,
she said. when the maid opened it.
81 think so, ma'am," Mawson answered
Yes, yes. come in cried her ladyship,
who was just fastening the lace OF hcr
bodice with two OF her husbands diamond
breast-plns
Violet" said Mrs. Bob "you won't he
offended with mcr I've brought you this
TO smarter You up u little" and she held
ont the single stone necklace that | have
mentioned before
oh, my dear, couldn't" Lady Luci
fer cried. IL really couldn't. Put it ON
yourself. Mamie, dear, and bless you for
the sweet thought
But | never wear a necklace round my
throat" Mrs Bob urged. "And you nj
WAYS do, so know you won't feel proper
Is dressed unless you feel You have one on
Aud nobody will know it is exactly lk,
the one YOU Lost. you know"
Well, It is sweet Of YOU" exclaimed
Lady ucifer, waveringly.
do. dear" Mrs Bob went on, In hen
most persuasive accents, and then ms lady
LuCfer still looked doubtful, she put hel
arms up aud clnsped tho pretty glttcring
bauhe around her friends fair throat,
"Now you look like yourself" she said
foudly. And am smart enough Will
these" touching the ornaments in lien
own breast When she had gone away
Lady Lucifcr opened the door into hel
husbands dressing-room and went in.
"Lucifer" she said to her husband
"Mamie insists, as she got rather better
treated than did, that shall share he1
luck by wearing this to night. 1t is eX
actly like my own, you know. hope yoU
don't mind"
Not bit," he answered, "that IL tC
say | don't mind your wearing her neck
lace. should II IL belonged to anybody
else"
THAT Is all right" she said. much re
lieved, for Lady I.ucifer was good wife
and would not have done anything to We,
her husband for the world Isn't il
sweet OF herr"
Yes, she's nice little woman" re
turned Lucifer. who liked Mrs Bob wei
enough, but was not enthusiastic about
her or any other woman beside his wife.
II must he owned that the great rohber,
did a great deal for uur friend Mrs Traf
ford Iou see having lost nothing her
self having indeed nothing of that kind
to lose, she WAS left in possession OF 4
very calm clear mind. Never WAS any
woman in all the world So teudvrly syn
pathetic as was she To the two ladies' who
had heeu bereft NJ nearly all their aids &
beauty Some women in her place Coult
not have helped feeling some little salts
faction in the misfortune of their better
endowed friends (Which Is crib from
Rachefoucsuld, who has put il in infinite
ly better wordsl, but Mrs. Trafrord had
no such feeling in her heart She was
really and genuinely sorry and she ex
pressed IS much many times In the cours,
OF the day both To Mrs Bob and to hsI
hostess
u can't tell You how sympathetic Mrs
Tratford has bcen,' Lady Lucifer said e
her husband while she still fingered in hii
dressing room. Most women would bt
uncommouly glad when another woman
had lost all her diamonds, hut she is just
as sorry and feeliu : about il as il she had
lost them herself"
'Yes-very nice woman" said Lucifer
struggling with his tie.
Those Mauleverers may turn up theiI
stupid noses at her as much as ever they
like" her ladyship went on, las much a,
ever they like. ITS So silly. they Away,
pretend they won't know her On any &C
count Such nonsense: why, she's just Il,
good as they are or II not quite so well