The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-24

ucrScll uOWu III ucl uiSSoAiS So"u,
ready for any emergency; but the night
passed without any disturbance of any
kind.
Early on the following morning Mr..
Lane arrived from his late business trip,
and at eigh: o'clock the family repaired
to the breakfast-room, where, with one
exception, the table was nicely laid.
"Why, Betty" said her mistress;
"where is the silver2"
The girl stared.
"Surc, ma am, 1 thought you'd tuck
'em out O the coal scuttle. l went to
get 'em, and they weren't there"
"Not there? Why, I haven't been
near the scuttle; neither has Maude nor
Mr.. Lane"
All fastened to examine the impro-
vised plate safe. 1t stood where it had
been left, at the head of the kitchen
stairs, but the cindcrs which it had con-
tanned were scattered on the floor, and of
the silver concealed beneath, there was
rot sign.
Appalled, at the discovery, Mrs. Lane
proceeded to look alter her other hidden
valuables. The mantle-vase appeared all
right, until the plumy pampas and crys-
tallized glasses were removed, disclosing
within an utter vacuum.
The gold watch, the money and the
jcwclry had all disappeared.
"What could it meana No possible
explanation IN offered, and while they all
stood staring blankly, the door bell rang,
and Betty, who answered it, fastened
back to say that Mr.. Minor wished to see
Mr.. Lane on particular business.
Particular business, indeed! !" growled
Mcale's papa, savagely. "Hadn't he
sense enough to choose more reasonable
hour2 But stay! I'll see him; for tho
sooner the business is settled the bet
ter"
The two ladies anxiously listened to
the murmur of voices from the parlor.
The interview was brief, for presently
Mr.. Lane came hurriedly back and pro-
ceeded to put on his hat ard overcoat.
81 think we've got a clue to the rob-
berry, Emeliue," he observed, as he strug-
glcd into the latter garment. "That
young Minor tells me that as he was
passing here last night, he observed
boy hanging around the house, and
thinking his manner suspicious, he spoke
to him, though the fellow walked off
without answering. However, he thinks
he recognized him as Joe Finnerty,
boy who peddles about the offices down
town. Minor says, that feeling uneasy,
he came around thus carly this morning
to inquire after the family, and on being
informed by Bette at the door, of what
had happened, instantly suspected Joe of
having had hand in it. We are now
going round to the police Office, so as to
lose 70 time"
Maude peeped from the window, and
despite her trouble at the loss of her
jewels, smiled radiantly as she saw her
father and her lover proceeding down
the street together, to all appearance on
the most amicable terms.
When Mr.. Lane returned to dinner,
he seemed in very compiacent mood.
"The matter is all cleared up" he
said. "Joe Finnerty was the thief and
burglar, just as I conjectured.
"As Mr.. Minor onjectured, you mean,
papa" said Maude, with emphasis.
"Well, well, let him wear his laurels.
I confess that he's rather more sensi-
BILE young fellow than I gave him credit
for though be does wear his hair parted
in the middle and has complexion like
a girls. But as to Finnerty, he broke
down and confessed as soon as he was
arrested. 1t was he who stole the door
mat, and, with the assistance of another
boy, committed the burglary"
''But how on earth did he know just
where to find the things'" Mrs. Lane
inquired.
"That is easily explained. You gave
him instructions. It seems that after
slyly dragging the mat off the porch, he
hid it under the steps until he could car
~ it off in the darkness, and there dis.
covered an unsecured cellar window,
and at the same time overheard your con-
versation with Mrs. Coleman. Oh, it
takes woman to manage things clever
ly!"
"Aud it took Charlie to find it all
out, said Maude, triumphantly. ''You
ought to be very grateful to him, papa,
as he acted so kindly to us while you
were away and saved us our property"
"He will be around this evening""
her father replied, as calmly as though
his inviting Charlie to tea was an every
day occurrence.
Auo Maude instantly commenced pre-
pairing for her father his favorite salad.
"But that poor boy" said Mrs. Lane,
with remorseful consciousness of having
been the cause of his temptation--'ewM
he go to prison9"
81 think not. More probably he will
be sent to the new House of Reformation,
where he may learn to become good
and honest citizen. In any event this
will be profitable lesson for him-as it
ought to be with you, Emeline. Only a
woman would think of standing on the
street aad telling important secrets to-
her neighbors. ."-Saturday Night.
Frozen Siberia.