Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-10-02

I'm = u ulurn. 1 IlseaI,u,y .,IpI,ro on my
shoes aud crept out of my room and
down the stairs. could not get to the
library from the hall, as the stage blocked
the way, aud had to go all the way
round by the drawing room and morning
room. As went / thought how easy 1t
would be for Carr to force the lock of
the drawer, and so it flashed across me
could l? Oh, Ralph!" said Charles, Il
went down solely to look after your
property for you. but did think Of it.
| hope should not have done it, but
suddenly remembered how hard pressed
WAS for money, and did think of the
crescent and how You would hardly miss
it and how-but what does it matter
now? When / got to the library
found was too late. The lock of the
drawer had been forced and it was emp
ty. There WAS nothing FOR it but to go
back to my room. / felt as certain that
Carr had done it as that am standing
here; but | dared say nothing next
morning, for fear Of drawing an ever
ready parental suspicion on myself
which, however, Middleton did for me.
All could do was to keep Carr well in
sight until the theft was found out, to
prevent any possibility of his escaping,
and then to accuse him. There" said
Charles, that is the whole truth. Carr
did not take the jewels. That Is abso-
lutely proved, and the sooner he is let
out the better. Who took them heaven
only knows! 1 don't. But know who
meant to, and that was Carr"
Charles" said Ralph, with glisten-
ing eyes, ''if ever get them back you
shall have the crescent"
"a very neat little story altogether, >
said Sir George, land the episode of
temptation very effectively thrown In.
It does you credit, my son, and is great
relief to your old fathers mind"
Thank you, Charles" said Marston,
getting up. ''Sir George, 1t Is close on
luncheon time and Carr must be let out
at once. Now that Charles has SO com
pletely cleared himself don't see tina
anything more can be done for the mo
ment, and of one thing am certain
namely, that you are making yoursel
much worse and must keep absolutel,
quiet for the rest Of the day. II I may
advise, should suggest that Carr SHOULD
be allowed to leave, as he wishes to do
by the afternoon train, and should no
be pressed to stay. There Ii nothing
more to be got out of him, and consider
ing the circumstances I should say tn
sooner he is out Of the house the better
As he has been wrongly suspected,
think the robbery had better not be men
toned to any one, even the ladies In tn
house, until after he has left"
'.Aurelia knows" said Ralph. "Sh
was with me in the library. left he
crying bitterly about them"
Let her cry, if she Will only hold he
tongue" said Sir George, making las
effort to speak, but evidently at the ex
treme point of exhaustion. "And you
Marston, you are right about Carr. Sc
| that he goes this afternoon. There
! nothing more to be done at present
Charles, you will remain here, thong
I have no doubt you have IN engage
| ment in London. I cannot spare yo
| just yet"
| Charles bowed and he and Marsto
went out. I remained q second benin
with Ralph.
81 see it auiteclearly," said Sir George
81 know Charles. He is sharp enough
He saw Carr meant mischief, and he wa
beforehand with him, and he took wha
Carr meant to take. 1t was not badl
imagined, but he should have made Gel
tain Carr was sleeping in the house.
all turned on that He never reckone
on the possibility of Carr being cleared.
Middleton is still here" said Ralpl
significantly, who was pouring out some
thing for his father.
'.Is he? l thought he was gone" sal
Sir George, so sharply that considere
it advisable to retire at once.
| Charles and Marston were talking tx
gether earnestly in the passage.
"He does not believe word l say,
said Charles. as I Joined them; "an
|. what is more I could see he had tol
. Ralph he suspected me before we cam
|; in. Did not you see how Ralph tried
| stop me when he thought I was con
: mitting myself by accusing Carr, wh
|, it seems was quite out Of the question
. I am glad you cut it short, Marstol
hs WdS mahiuS uHiSeA "OIse ever
! moment"
|, "Come on with that key Of yours an
D let US go and let out Carr, !" replied Mar
ton, patting Charles kindly on the bacl
] "or he will be kicking all the paint o
q the door,"
] "Not her said Charles. can hone
man would have rung up the who
nj household and nearly battered the doc
: down by this time, thinking it had bee
: locked by mistake. Carr knows better
We had reached the smoking room b
this time, just as the gong was beginnin
! to sound for luncheon, and under cove
s of the noise Charles fitted the key I'M
!, the keyhole and unlocked the door. E
and Marston went slowly In, talking c
some Indifferent subject, and followe
o fTo BE CONTINUED