The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-07-03
THE LOST JEWELS.
A Story Which Contains the Solution of
Great Mystery.

A Story Which Contains the Solution o
Great Mystery.
James Blayne was little out of tenn
per. For more than fortnight lie hat
unsuccessfully devoted all the observa
ton and opportunity at his command t.
discover the whereabouts of Lady Mer
toms jewels. and of the man or woman
who had stolen them.
James Blayne was promising young
member of the detective force, on the
lookout for the lucky step that should
lift him above the level of his compeers
and when the Merton Robbery was en-,
trusted to his care he thought he had
got his chance at last.
1t certainly was rather an interesting
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 subsequently, from
the newspaper, was spending 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 nv
lady had intended going to the play
with some friends. But late in the af-
ternoon she altered her plans. dispatch
ed note begging TO be excused on &C
count OF severe headache from joining
the party, and with a curious
feminine ideas Of comfort and indul-
gence told her maid that she would not
go down stairs again. but would have
some dinner ION tray" in her boudoir
at 7:3O.
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 leaving the
maid asked if she should go to the Jew
elers the next morning early. as had
been arranged. to take there for repair
a diamond brooch of her mistress.
Yes, adding. as her maid opened the
jewel case to take out the brooch, ''Oh
leave il till the morning"
The box was relocked and the KEY
put in its usual place in one of the dress
ing table drawers. The butler stated
that at 1890 the house was shut up and
everyone went 10 bed.
The next morning lady Merton. find
ing her headache no better. kept her
room darkened till 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 newspa-
per readers in this country. and this
story that about three weeks lates was
trying Mr.. James BIayne's temper.
Again and again he reviewed the few
heads Of the crSe.
On July -. Lady Merton went to bed
between 10 and 1870 D. m. The Jewels
we're then in their places, and she, see
ing the box opened. told her maid not
to disturb them till morning. The maid
locked the box, replaced the key in a
drawer and shortly went to her own
room. fastening the door-this last fact
being attested by the house maids. who
slept in an outer room. The butler
swore to turning out the lights and shut
ting UP AZ 1890. Lady Merton slept
little and restlessly till 1870, when she
got up and stirred the fire-this fact
was attested by the cook. who slept in
the room above and was aroused by the
sound of the poker. At 10 o'clock the
next morning the jewels were missing,
and the jewel case stood in the dress
iug-room within. and only approschable
through Lady Nerton's bedroom.
Robbery from without Blayne reject
ed. after due examination, as an impos-
Utility. From within, by nan. well
nigh impossible, owing 10 the position
OF the jewel case. and to Lady Merton's
restless state during the night II
seems case OF chercheZ Is femme. and
Blsyne has sought Ncarelessly. chiefly
among the women Of the house, of
course, though here also the great diff
iculty of crossing Lady Merton's bed
room uupreceived by her was with him
more strongly in their favor than their
excellent characters from their employ
ers. The lady's maid seemed his oniy
chance. as Of course she was fully &C
quainted with the situation in all its
senses. and her footballs, which he
proved TO light and TO which. OF course,
Lady Merton Was sccus5Om I'd, would
disturb her less than those OF any other
visitors. But the lady. while suggesting
no other solution OF the problem. reject
ed this last theory with some indigua-
ton. declaring that she had the utmost
confidence in her maid. and that she
had scarcely closed her eyes before mid
night, after which hour the household
pronounced it an impossibility for the
ladys maid TO cross their room IN
noticed
So Mr.. Blayne was little out OF tenn
per with his tagging luck, and he de-
cl7ed 70 get two or three days
leave, and then, having rested his rid
die bit, 70 start afresh At reading il. |
Thus he found himself on the afternoon
OF August l3-his reQues: for leave OF
absence having been grantsd-talking
to pretty, neat.looking girl al small |
semi-detaehed villa on the outskirts of |