Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-04
CHAPTER IL

|
Mrs. Harrington's fine eyes had never
looked more brilliant and more malicious
than when they rested on the pale but com.
POSED countenance of the tutor as he quietly
entered the saloon leading Freddy by the
hand.
! Excuse my somewhat abrupt summons,
Mr. Cunningham" she said, speaking very
courteously, though there was a ring OF
covert triumph in her clear tones that
warned Ralph that she meant mischief.
"But circumstance has occurred which
renders it imperative that 1 should speak
collectively to every member of this house.
hold"
Ralph bowed, but made no reply, though
| he could not repress the slightly sarcastic
smile which played upon his lips as he
noted the judicial formality Of her manner
'Thls morning-indeed, not more than an
hour ago, found that, probably during the
night, have been robbed of very valua-
BILE diamond necklace My maid, Morris,
and at once made careful examination of
| the room where, as most of you know, I
am in the habit of keeping my jewels. We
found, much to our surprise, that the room
had not been entered from the outside; the
| window was securely bolted, and there
| were no signs whatever of any evil minded
person having effected an entrance in that
| way. 1 am therefore forced to accept the
other explanation to this extraordinary
affair-namely, that my room was visited
by some one from inside Of course, it is
just possible that the thief may have gained
admittance to the house from some other
part of the premises, and found his or her
way to my apartments; you, Walters, will
be better able to speak with authority on
this point than I can. Will you tell us if
you found any door or window open this
morning."
The old butler, who had served his mis-
tress faithfully ever since her arrival at the
Hall as bride, II years ago, at once de-
clared that he could solemnly swear that no
signs of burglary had been visible when he
went the rounds early that morning. A
look of genuine concern was on his honest
countenance as he met Mrs Harrington's
eye, and certainly the most suspicious wo-
man on earth would have instantly acquit-
ted him of having anything to do with the
disappearance of the necklace.
''Has anything else been missed? Is all
the plate intact?" queried Mrs. Harrington.
There is nothing missing, ma'am. If
you will examine the strong room"-
''I am quite ready to take your word, in
terrupted his mistress with a smile that
strove to be kindly.
"My daughter tells me that she also has
lost nothing" she continued.
'Mr. Cunningham, can you say the same?"
Her cold bright gray eyes were suddenly
flashed on the tutor.
81 have lost nothing" he answered
quietly.
tgThen it seems that the thief was con-
tented with my necklace for spoil"
Here the servants looked at each other
with dismay; it was clear to the meanest
understanding that Mrs. Harrington sus-
pected that some inmate of the Hall was the
thief. There was a low buzz of whispers as
their mistress ceased speaking; the cook
and butler exchanged few words and then
the latter spoke out.
1--WE are all agreed, ma am, that the fair
est thing to everybody would be that our
boxes should be examined. No one has
left the house this morning. If, as I fear
you think, ma'am, the thief is here pres
ent''-
81 think nothing of the sort, Walters; 1
have only mentioned the facts of the case,
which l certainly think go to prove that
the thief gained admittance to my apart |
ment by the door, and not by the window. |
AT any rate, 1 intend to place the affair in !
the hands of q person more competent to de- |
eide on the matter than myself Directly 1 |
made the discovery that had been robbed,
1 dispatched my maid to the station to tele- |
graph to Leatherhampton for the inspector |
of police, who, 1 expect, will arrive in less
than half an hour. In the meantime l de- |
sire you will all remain in the saloon"
The servants again exchanged glances of |
Such an unprecedented oc-
currence as this would furnish food for
gossip in the servants hall for many year
to come. Even the presence of their mis-
tress and the uncomfortable chill that had
suddenly fallen ON the assemblage did not
silence the hum of whispered talk among
men servants and the maid servants, who
waited with what patience they could COM
mand for the next act in this tragedy-com-
edy of the mysterious burglary.
The half hour expired at last. Mr.. Cum
ningham had throughout maintained an
attitude of polite Indifference; Gladys
had been studiously silent; and little
Freddy, who had only half understood
the scene, still clung to the tutors hand
with an expression of mingled wonder and
terror in his big brown eyes. Mrs Harring-
ton had seated herself in one of the deep
easy chairs scattered about the saloon, and
made pretence of glancing down the
columns of a newspaper. Her face was pale
and her lips firmly set; but the hand which
held the newspaper shook slightly, thus be-
traying the emotion she strove SO hard to
hide.
The arrival of the inspector Of police was
, relief to every one. Mrs. Harrington