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

6erVatlOn ana opportunity aJ his cOn-
mand to discover the whereabouts of
Lady Merton's jewels, and of the man
or woman who had stolen them.
James Blayne was II promising young
member of the detective force, on the
lookout for the lucky step that should
lift him above the level of his COM
peers, and when the Merton robbery
was entrusted to his care he thought
he had got his chance at last.
1t certainly was rather an interest
ing case.
About three weeks before the day on
which we record Mr. Blayne's loss of
temper, pretty Lady Merton, as might
have been gathered from the newspa-
per, was spending a solitary evening
in her house in Brook street. Sir
Robert was dining with an old friend
some little way out of town, and not
returning until morning, and my lady
had intended going to the play with
some friends. But late in the after
noon she altered her plans, dispatched
a note begging to be excused on &C
count OF a severe headache from join
ing the party, and with a curious
feminine idea of comfort and indul-
gence told her maid that she would
not go down stairs again, but would
have some dinner ION a tray" in her
boudoir at 1880.
At 10 o'clock she rang her bedroom
bell, and saying that her head still
ached badly and she should go to bed,
dismissed her maid, requiring nothing
more that night. Before leav-
ing the maid asked if she should
go to the jewellers the next morning
early, as had been arranged, to take
there for repair a diamond brooch for
her mistress. Yes. adding, as her
maid sopened the Jewel case to take
out the brooch, "oh, leave it till the
morning."
The box was relocked and the key
was put in its usual place in one of the
dressing table drawers. The butler
stated that at 1890 the house was shut
up and every one went to bed,
The next morning, Lady Merton.
finding her headache no better, kept
her room darkened until after 10
o'clock when some tea was brought
to her by her maid. The latter then
went to the jewel case for the broken
brooch, and finding the box unlocked.
with the key lying near, hastily opened
it and cried out her discovery of the
robbery to her mistress.
This was the story that in twenty
four hours was known to most news
paper readers in this country, and this
was the story that about three weeks
later was trying Mr. James Blayne's
temper. Again and again he reviewed
the few heads of the case.
So Mr.. Blayne was little out of
temper with his tagging luck, and he
decided to get two or three days
leave, and then, having rested his rid
die bit to start afresh at reading it.
Thus he found himself on the after
noon of August 13-his request forleave
ofabsence had been granted-talking to
a pretty neat looking girl at a small,
semi-detached villa on the outskirts of
the new and fashionable watering
place, Stonelay.
so you've been getting on pretty
well, eh, Nellie?" he asked.
Ou, IOo OOhl, NCi y. lhO esAi hStC
seems to be quite setting me up, so l
fancy 1 had been working bit too
hard, though / always said it was
mothers nonsense. It's true it's rath-
err dull here, but then l often go into
Stonelay and have look at the smart
visitors. So, even il Aunt Sarah IS
snappy at times, / don't mind. She's
kind enough really"
''She couldn't have gotten anyone
else to bring her here, so she ought to
be. bet the beastly water puts an
edge on a temper like hers! Yes,
expect it's pretty dull alone with her.
Poor Nelly"
''Oh, don't mind; and we've got a
new neighbor."
"Old Mrs. - what's name. you
told me of. gomez"
mo. She's got 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 hep"
asked Jem rather snappishly of the
pretty dressmaker.
Nonsense, Jem, he isn't hiding.
He is drinking the waters, he says,
and he has very pretty sister,"
Sister! Then they both lodge next
door?"
mo She comes to see him. She
is lady's maid staying at Stonelay.
The husband of the lady she is with is
drinking the waters"
ugh! lady's maidP" said BlaySe
spitefully, thinking OF his recent trials,
with which his fiancee was acquainted.
Really Jem, believe your failing
to fix the stealing business on the poor
lady's maid has made you hate the lot!
And talking of your jewel affair, / find
while you lose"
"How do you meanP"
why, yesterday / found such a
lovely button on the path just outside
here. 1t was sparkling in the sun and
picked it up and brought 1t in. /
went into old Mrs. Browns to ask Mr..
Martin Cher lodger) IL he knew any
thing about it. but he was away for
two DAYS. she told me; coming back