Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-20
The House on theMaTSh;;
OR THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
BY fLoRENcH WARDEN.

did not learn it then, for he looked very much amused. and said
 "That is blow number two; you are too quick at fence for me-" Then changing his tone, he suddenly asked: "Well, don't you want to know what is going on at Denham Court?'
 "Oh. yes! But there has not been time for much to happen; I left there :, on Monday and this is only Thursday "There has been time for very se- rious misfortune to happen, for all that" he said, gravely. Last night Dcnham Court was broken into, and Lady Mills and Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Carcw and some of the other ladies had all their most valuable jewelry stolen; and q quantity of gold plate was taken, too"
 Twas so startled by this intelligence that for few minutes hardly knew "Last night. did you say?" said I at last, in frightened whisper.
 "Yes, last night. Sit down." said he, kindly, putting me into a chair. "This seems to have quite overwhelmed you. Why, child, your very lips arc white! Let mo ring for some"
 "No, no!' interrupted, starting up. "I am quito well; am not going to faint. Don't-don't ring. Tell me all about it quickly, please. When did you find it out? Have they caught the thieves? Do they know"
 "Stop-l can't tell you all at once. The thieves have not been caught yet, and we don't know who they are. The robbery was discovered this morning."
 "This morning! Who discovered it? How?'
 "Now don't get excited, and I will tell you all about it. This morning Lady Mills dressing-room window, which had been opened by smasLin-, one of the panes from the outsidc. 1t was Lady Mills maid who first gave the alarm by q cry at sight of tho open window when she went into the dre"s- ing-room this morning, after calling her mistress. Lady Mills ran III; they looked out together, and saw the lad der lying underneath The dressing room has two doors; the one which does not lead into the bedroom had been unlocked and left open by the thief, to pass into the house by. But, at first sight, nothing seemed to have been disturbed. The dressing-casc was locked and in its place; q strong tin case in which Lady Mills kept the greater part of her jewels was still in the locked-up wardrobe. But, on nov ing it, they found that the lock Lad been burst open. and 1t was entirely empty. Jewels. cases and all, had dis appeared. By this time the head-gar- dener had come into the house, saying that he hoped all was right, but that he had gone to the tool-house this morning with one of the under-garden CTS, n man named ParkeS-' "Tom Parkes?"
 "Yes. He keeps the key to the tool house. And they had found the door forced in, and file and one of the lad ders gone. Of course the alarm spread quickly all over tho house; and then the other losses was discovered ono by one. There is the mysterious part of it. Every thing had been done so methodically and so neatly, even to locked doors being found still locked, that it was not until after careful eN- animation that the stolen thing were missed. Lady Mills and Mrs. Carew found their dressing-cascs locked; but when they opened them, each found that the most valuable of the contents were gone.
 The butler and Sir Jonas himself examined the plate-chcst together. That was locked. too. and, on first opening it, they congratulated themselves on its having escaped. But on removing that part of it which is in constant use, they found that the gold plate, which is used only now and then, and some solid silver cups anC candlestlcks had been taken. But the loss which has caused the greatest sen sation is Mrs. Cunningham She
 sL ,1-r~ ,:. white and scarcely able to speak, witl some pebbles and a piece of cotton woo Tn her hands, She declares that sh, carried about on her person, sewn III in wash-leather and cottonwood. very valuable set of diamonds ant cats eyes; that it was not until lons after she discovered her othe losses that she cut open the leather just to make sure that her greates f treasure was safe; that she found tn, educed in their place. The poor wom an was so hysterical that it was lon. time before she could tell us all abou it. She declares that she slept witt them under her pillow, and that Il, one in the world knew where she kep them, for she never mentioned the fac to any one"
 ''Oh, but that is not quite true, MT t Carruthers! For she told me-"
 ''So she said," said he, looking at m steadily. "But you could never hay repeated such thing to any one wh could make a wrong use of the knowl edge"
 "oh. no! The only person I spoke o
 Mr. Rayner!' said he, quickly "You could not have chosen a wors person to intrust the secret to, all afraid"
 What do you mean?"
 "Why, he is the most talkativc ma I know"
 "Oh, but he would not repeat thing like that!" said l, earnestly. I'll scolded mo for telling him. and sai such condolences should never be re peated, no matter to whom."
 That's all right said he, much re