The Forrest City times., 1891-07-10

-' '''~N' ''NA' WI Nellie!'
 70, don't mind; and we've got new neighbor"
 "Old Mrs.-what's name? you told me of, goneg'
 'No. She's got a new lodger-a man good looking rather. She brought him in'one day to tea, and We meet him now and then on the road. But he doesn't go out much."
 "Oh, hiding on some count, is he?" asked Jem rather snappishly of the pretty dressmaker.
 Nonsense, Jeml he isn't hiding. He is drinking the waters, he says, and he has very pretty sister,"
 "Sisters Then they both lodge next door?"
 "No. She comes to sec him. She is lady's maid staying at Stonelay. The husband of the lady she is with is drinking the waters"
 "Ugh! lady's maid?" said Blayne, spitefully, thinking ofhis recent trials, with which his fiancee was acquainted.
 Really, Jem, believe your failing to fix the stealing business on that poor lady's maid has made you hate the lott And talking of your jewel af- fair, find that while you lose"
 "How do you mean?"
 "Why yesterday I found such Q lovely button on the path just out side here. It was ssparkling in the sun, and picked it up and brought it in. went into old Mrs. Browns to ask Mir. Martin, her lodger, if he knew any thing about 1t; but he was away for two days, she told me; and coming back tonight. Auntie says I'll have to make it known, perhaps advertise if no one claims it, for this morning I showed it to Mr Frazer, the jeweler at Stonelay, and he said 1t was a very good button, and uncommon, as the stones are beryls.
 "What?"
 "Dear mel-neryls. Are they as ex- traordinary as all that?"
 That depends. Show us the button, Nelly?"
 "Here it is, she said, taking it from the mantleshelf
 Twelve gold iiligree buttons jeweed with beryls, Blayne murmured to himself. "I should like to see your neighbor, Nelly, and his sister, the lady's mafd
 "Nhy, Jem, you don't think-O. remember now, that description you sent me of the lost jewels. But this can't be. She is such Il dear little thing and so pretty"
 "les; what sort?'
 "Oh, middle height, dark hair, pretty eyes, nice figure"
 .'That'll do, Nelly It would fit al- most any one. say who's that coming up the path to the house now2"
 Why. that's Mir Martin" said Nelly, as Bayne instinctively got be hind the window curtain, from which post of vantage he could easily see without being seen; ''he sgood- looking, isn't he Jim? Looks like agentIeman, rather?'
 "le-es; just that last. think I've got his measure"
 And Q, there is his sister just be- hind him--see2 Now that's not your ladys, maid,is it? That" exclaimed Blayne. with eyes nearly starting through the lace Of the curtain; 'is that your lady s maid and that mans sister,"
 "Yes, answered Nelly, as her neighhor and his sister nodding and smiling to her entered the next house.
 Does she stay the night there?',, in quired Bayne. 70, no; never more than an hour Her lady could not spare her. But what Is the matter with you, Jem, lDuvhipy in iarls ltka thnt9f 70, nothing. l say Nelly, is there a visitors list in the paper here?" ''Yes; but Jem-now that wasn [ your lady's maid was itg" No, dear; now-the paper" Blayne wandered though the list of fashionable visitors" till he came to Victoria hotel; Sir Robert and Lady Merton" Then he folded up the paper, saying: Well, Nelly, I'll go in 1 to Stonelay with you tomorrow 1 morning to have q look at the fashions. | Here Is Aunt Sarah coming to see 1 after us" as that respectable lady en- tered the room. l And there goes Mir. Martins visi- 1 tor, said Nelly, as n woman hastily closed the door of the next house and hurried away. "She must be late" Rather, said Blayne. l The next day the detective and his intended walked into Stonelay, and after few minutes private conversa- tion with the manager of the Victoria. he astonished Nelly by insisting on buying her different trash in all the shops that commanded a view of the ! hotels. At length, on offering her d | pink glass mug decorated with the le- gend, ''ln atfectionate remembrance, " | in forget me-nots, she began protest | ing.
 "All right, dear, we'll take it to Aunt Sarah" he said, with his eyes fixed on a gentleman who was mount ing a horse that groom had been leading up and down in front of the hotel.
 As soon as the object of his atten- ton had ridden out of sight, Blayne said to his companion: Do you mind walking on home. Nellys l have little business at the Victoria, which 1 must see to at once; then I'll come on after you with the"
 "Jewelry9" "Yes, and the mug" Blayne walked into the hotel and sent q written message to Lady Mer- ton asking her to meet him at that somewhat early hour, as he had to catch the next train to town. He was shown into sitting-room where very pretty woman in soft morning wrap per was lying on the sofa, reading the