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

briefly explained to him what had occurred
and her reasons for supposing that the thief
of the necklace had been accomplished BY
an inmate Of the Hall.
"Such suspicion is of course very pain
full to me-" she finished; "but under the cir
cumstances, Mr.. Inspector, though deeply
regret the necessity, I think 1t better fol
the satisfaction of all concerned, that
should accept the offer made by my servants
and L reoust you to search their boxes
You, Mr. Cunningham" she added sudden.
ly, addressing herself to Ralph, twill, just
for forms sake, undergo the same unpleas-
ant ordeal"
For an instant the tutors self-possession
was disturbed; the color rushed to his face,
and he was about to make some protest
against the indignity, when a warning
glance from Gladys checked him. "Most
certainly" he said, "when Mr.. Inspector
has searched the servants rooms ne is quite
at liberty to ransack mine. l will remain
here with Miss Harrington and the servants
while the examination is in progress" he
added.
Mrs Harrington and the inspector left
the saloon, and again the hum of whispered
conversation was audible. Gladys, with o
queer smile on her beautiful lips, sunk into
the chair her step-mother had quilted, and
turned her attention to the newspaper which
had served that lady as pretext for silence
during the purgatorial half hour that had
followed on her strange exordium.
Ralph seated himself at some distance
from Gladys, and Freddy nestled at his side
with look of puzzled anxiety on his child
tutor; the look said plainly: 'This ordeal
must be borne for my sake. I love you,
and trust you; cannot you trust me?"
Ralph smiled an affirmative, and let his
thoughts drift into pleasanter channel
than that of Mrs. Harrington's enmity, her
plot to ruin him, and the strange upshot
thereof
An hour pass ed; the whispers of the
servants were hushed; their curiosity was
on tiptoe, for in the silence that had sud-
denly fallen on the saloon they caught the
distant sound of the inspectors deep bass
voice, and the rustic of Mrs Harrington's 5
silk dress descending the stairs. The search
was over; what had been the result?
In another moment the lady and the in
spector advanced to the table in the center
Of the saloon. Mrs Harrington's eyes
flashed full on Ralph's face, and for the
moment the mask of courtesy she had
hitherto worn in his presence was lifted;
and hatred, rage and baffled malice looked
out at him from under her level brows.
"Have you found your necklace, madam"
said the tutor
'T have not; the thief has probably hid
den it too we'll" was her biting reply
"On his or her person, perhaps" sug-
gested Ralph, ironically. "Allow me to set
an example, which no doubt others will be
glad to follow. If you, Mr.. Inspector, will
come to my room, I will gladly submit to
personal search"
Mrs. Harrington was shamed at last.
Tbara x,-oe n n irfo Lspn tbo cto oouna IF
the tutors words. He had found out the
abominable plot she had concocted, and
he meant her to know that he had done so.
ST cannot allow such an indignity to be
put upon my sons tutor" she said, drop
ping her eyes.
"Mr Inspector, you are witness that
have offered to submit to personal search;
Mrs. Harrington declines to avail herself of
my offer"
Tne inspector, understanding that there
was more in the affair than met the eye,
bowed respectfully to the tutor, and then
asked Mrs. Harrington if she desired him
to prosecute any further inquiries
Certainly" she answered defantly. ~
have had a valuable article of jewelry
stolen from me under most extraordinary
circumstances. Iwish no pains or expense
spared; and offer reward of e100 for any
information that shall lead to the discovery
and apprehension of the thief"
The inspector pulled out his pocket-book
and instantly made a note of this; then
turning to Mrs. Harrington, asked whether
he had her permission to interrogate each
member of the household in private.
Most certainly; give you carte blanche
in the matter" the lady replied. "But as
the unfortunate affair has somewhat upset
my nerves, shall now retire to my own
al Iro@ oT1
case to you with the greatest confidence"
With this gracious speech Mrs. Har-
rington left the saloon and remained invisi-
BILE until dinner time. The intervening
hours were spent by the inspector in cross |
the servants, in minute investi- |
cation of the premises, and In making |
Dopious notes in regard to every item Of |
evidence he solicited. About o'clock the |
worthy official took his departure; and |
every man, woman and child at Harrington |
Hall breathed more freely when relieved |
from the overwhelming majesty of the law,
In that awe-inspiring per-
,onage.
When Mrs Harrington rang her bell to
summon the faithful Morris to assist at her
evening toilet, that valued factotum ap-
Deared in tears and with an open telegram
IN her hand. She had Just received the
distressing intelligence that her father, a
respectable publican, residing at Holloway,
ay dangerously i'll. Would her kind mis-
ress allow her to go up to London by the
asst train? She, Morris, would break her
heart if anything happened" to her dear old
ather, and she, his only daughter, was not
here to receive his dying blessing.
"Of course you may go. 1 am very sorry
rain?" said Mrs. Harrington sympathetic
lily
''There is one at Z, ma am"
o get to the station"
7But who is to dress your for dinner,
a'am?"
"Send Jane to me; she will be able to do
II 1 want"
With profuse thanks and tears, Morris
eft her mistress, packed a small bag of
lecessaries and was driven off to the station
" sympathizing groom, who had long
herished an admiring regard for the comely
bigail, and was believed to entertain mat
imonial intentions on her behalf
Dinner that night was a disagreeable
rdeal alike to Mrs. Harrington, Gladys
nd Ralph. The first was slightly sulky
nd ashamed; the second, covertly indig-
was bitterly aggrieved
the humiliating position in which Mrs.
treachery had placed him.
When dinner was over, Gladys pleaded |
eadache as an excuse for going straight to
er own room; and Ralph strolled out into {
he garden to smoke cigar, sedative
-hich he sorely needed But heswas not
,ted to enjoy his "weed'' in peace, for he
ad scarcely established himself in his
avorite nook in the shrubbery when he
aught sight of white gown through the
,ees, and in another moment Gladys, look