Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-31


stones are beryls."
"Whatp"
Dear me, beryls? Are they us ex-
traordinary as all thatP"
THAT depends. Show us the but
ton, Nellie"
Here it is" she said, taking it
from the mantel shelf.
Twelve gold filigree buttons, jew
elled with beryls, Blayne murmured
TO himself.
IL should like TO see your neighbor,
Nellie, and his sister, the lady's maid"
"Why, Jem, you don't think-oh, /
remember now, that description you
sent me of the lost jewels. But this
can't be. She is such dear little
thing and so pretty"
Eyes; what sort?"
"Oh. middle height, dark hair,
pretty eyes, nice figure.
"That'll do, Nellie. 1t would fit al
most any one. / say, who's that COM
ing up the path to the house nowP"
why. that's Mr.. Martin, " said Nell
lie, as Blayne instinctively got behind
the muslin window curtain from which
post of vantage he could easily see
without being seen: "he's cookbook
ing, isn't he, Jem? Looks like gen
tleman, rather.
"Ye-es, just that last think I've
got the measure"
"And, oh, there is his sister just
behind him-see? Now, that's not
your lady's maid, is it?"
That" exclaimed Blayne, with
eyes nearly starting through the lace
of the curtain, lis that your lady's
maid and that man's-sister?"
YES" answered Nellie as her
neighbor and his sister, nodding and
smiling to her, entered the next house.
docs she stay the night thereP"
inquired Blayne.
"Oh, no; never more than an hour.
Her lady couldn't spare her. But
what is the matter with you, Jem.
laughing in jerks like that?"
"Oh, nothing. l say, Nellie, is
there a visitors list in the paper hereP"
Yes; but, Jem-uow that wasn't
your lady's maid, was it?'
mo, dear; now-the paper"
Blayne wandered steadily on through
the list of fashionable visitors till
he came to Victoria hotel, Sir Robert
and Lady Merton" Then he folded
up the paper, saying: well, Nellie,
I'll go into Stonelay with you to-mor-
row morning to have look at the
fashions. Here is Aunt Sarah coming
to see after aus" as that respectable
lady entered the room.
"And there goes Mr.. Martins visi-
tor" said Nellie. as a woman hastily
closed the door of the next house and
hurried away.
She must be late"
Rather" said Blayne.
The next day the detective and his
intended walked into Stonelay, and
| after few minutes private CONVERSE
| ton with the manager Of the Victoria,
he astonished Nellie by insisting on
buying her different trash in the shops
that commanded view of the hotel.
At length, on his Offering her pink
/ glass mug decorated with the legend,
lin affectionate remembrance, " in for
get-me-nots, she began protesting.
''All right, dear we'll take it to Aunt
Sarah. he said. with his eyes fixed on
a gentleman who was mounting a horse
! that a groom had been leading up and
down in front of the hotel.
AS soon as the object of his attention
had ridden out of sight Blayne said TO
! his companion:
'Do you mind walking on home
Nellie? ! have little business at the
Victoria, which / must see to at once;
then I'll come on after you with the"
| 'JewelryP" r
| yes and the mug"
Blayne walked into the hotel and
sent written message to Lady Mer-
ton. asking If she would see him at
that somewhat early hour, as he had
/ to catch the next train to town. He
was shown into sitting room where
a pretty woman in soft morning
wrapper was lying on the sofa reading
! the paper. She rose as he came in
and he thought of the lady's maid,
whose description would "ft almost
anyone"
well, Mr.. Blayne," she said with
a smile, 'you come about the jewels,
! of coursep'
Yes my lady, / do"
There's no news, | supposed"
Your ladyship will be pleased to
hear that there is news"
ABR she exclaimed, starting,
"what-what newsP
"A small very small portion of
your jewelry is in my hands"
'IndeedP" said Lady Merton more
calmly, ARE you sure it's mineP"
Il think, my lady, that beryl but
tons. such as yours, pausing to note
her pallor, ARE extremely rare"
'Ah! and"
"And this button that hold in my
hand" and he showed it as he spoke
was found in a small semi-detached
villa at some little distance from this
town during the absence of-the thief"
! He watched the blood rush to her
face, her throat her brow, and
thoughtfully looking elsewhere, said:
The rest of your jewels, my lady,
must be recovered by me or by-you."
U.Reallvn she stammered Ill