New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
The months glidcd on. and after great deal of
anxiety | could honestly feel that | WAS getting
Gurtleigh's little kingdom into fair state, VIXEN
one night we had shock. | was in the little
library, porting over some papers sent down by his
| needed | had been speaking 10 Dick about il
| over our coffee, and he had replied, We'll, you
know best. Don't bother me. 60 and get it
done, and then We'll have Il quiet cigar. I'll Join
You in an hour.
lie joined me in half that time, dashing into
| the library cXcitcdly.
| Charley, old man" he cried. Quick, there s
something wrong.'
What" cried as excitcdly. Lady Florry--'
! Burglars" ! cried. Quick, call the ser:
vantsl Go up and guard that door, and send
some one round to me-"
| Where are you gong?"
| Under your windows" | cried. throwing open
the one at the end of the room and. sprnging ont.
| ran round TO the front of the house fully ex-
pccting to sec one Of the farm ladders reared
| up against the broad stone balcony which ran
along the first floor, There it was, in the dim
| light. which sufficiently strong for me to
| that the window was open.
did not hesitate moment. Burglars
always towards reasoned. ana ran up the
| ladder and dashed TO the window thinking, though
that should he awllwardIy sitnated if our visi,
tors had rvovcrs
But no shot welcomed me as I stepped
| in. took little matchbox from my pocket
struck a light, and held it above my head
Nothing to be seen. so stepped forward. lit the
! candles on the toilctte-tablc and pccrcd about.
HglS cried voice behind me- and Lord
there"
NO" said. Eve are too Late
minutes search proved that ! was right. and
then we turned 10 the door, which was carefully
bolted on the inside; and. as we threw il open,
there stood Brayson, the footman and couple
of grooms, while voices behind us told that help
was ready below. the gardeners and stabemen
having been called up.
Mind shouted. running To the window.
| keep back on the grass there may he footprints
therc-I shall want 10 examine.
Then / stood thinking for moment before
issuing my orders a. promptly as ! could send,
ing grooms off mounted 10 summon the police and
then ride on to the railway station. and ask for
help TO dctain any snspicious-looking people;
while the gardeners went Ia scour the grounds
and rouse the keepers, watchers. and people AT
1t all proved labor in vain. and toward morning
sat tagged out--nftcr dispa'chng a tclcgram to
the county town and another Il London-tallling
10 Lord and Lady Gurtlceh.
Il wouldn't tworcncc" said the former.
but they've got Jewels that are priceless All
poor Fl0Ty's pearls. which came from the Gut
cowar of Badjar Aman, and the old family
diamonds"
Don't fret, Dick, dear" said Lady Gurtlcgh,
quietly: "it's a great pity, hut I will not mind
I daresay Charles Lester will get them back for
me.
Bless your faith" I cried, unable to rprcss
smile in spite of my chagrin; what wonder
Well" said my old college chum. giving the
table n rap with his fist. wonderful no, ! do
say this if any one can get them back it's dear
old Charley here"
"Indced.7 said, then my dear Lady Florry,
| try and be resigned for your jewels are gone for
ever unless the detectives can run the scoundrels
What. have you sent for the detectivcs?7 cried
Gurtlcgh.
How delightful cried Lady Gurtleigh, clap
ping her hands, lit will be like reading Il
romance"
el,ofc
going to break her heart about the jewels"
Il should think not. indeed, dear, she cried
merrily. They haven't killed us TO get the nasty
things. There now, you two poor tired creatures
are TO smoke a cigar each, and I'll bring some
coffee"
She rang, and Brayson appeared looking sadly
| troubled and bearing tray
| :" took the liberty, my lady he began.
| oh Brayson how good OF you!"
| YES" said Lord Gurtlcirh but, / say Bray
son: you should have brought the brandy too
Il did, my lord, l have it outside here on n
tray
| soon were alone, that chaps getting quite
a moral as they say down here. Here's to you,
dear boy, and hope Florry is right"
he ponce oon D@ the spot ana at @
| threatened - leave in body on finding that they
were suspected, the upper housemaii beng
| demands that the p0licescrgeant should have
| searched her box.
But they did not trace the thieves, neither did
1
| brokers or diamond merchants, and the months
rolled on. and it was summer once again.
1T isn't your fault old man. Gurteigh said
| to me one day when they down at the castle
again, after spending the winter in Italy. "and,
| look here. abOo the topic. Whenever meet
you begin going on about those COMPOUNDED Jewels
| | don't mind now and Florry doesn't mind, ~
let them rest. Any one would think they were
yours, you make such fuss.
But could only think about those lost stones,
| and Lady Gurtlciqh's words that if they wer,
\
| their loss, and suspected different people, but
only 10 feel guilty afterward of misudging them.
For again and again | had felt convinced that the
| theft had been committed by some one who knew
| the place and our habits; hence ! argued that
| it must have been one Of the outdoor servants
| groom, gardener, farm laborer or perhaps even
| a keeper. / grew more convinced Of this as time
| gidcd by; for it seemed TO me that those jewels
must DE buried or hidden somewhere with the
thief waiting his time till he could find an oppor-
| tunity for disposing Of them safely. i don't
| know how it was, but the gardener excited most
| of my suspicion and | used TO 20 about the
| grounds at all hours pondering upon likely places
| where they could have been bured-undcr newly
planted trees, in wineries, under forcing frames
| in pots or tubs in the conscrya'orics; Then the
| laborers. the men who could be handy with
ladders, had their turn in my suspicious, and, with
| my monomania increasing, | wandered about hay
stacks and farm buildings, pccred under matches
and caves, and pondered over the tiles and stones
| Of floors
| "Those jewels never reached London" used
| TO declare TO myself as | wandered about with
| my WalKlnG-sHcK zone mace OF steer, heavily
| vanished, and sharp at the point that could
| Use il a probe TO thrust into the ground
| among roots or into stacks or matches, in the
| hope Of discovering the hidden gems There
were times when told myself il all imaein
| ton, especially when | was wcarcd ont and felt
that ] had searched everywhere, and one night
| | thought that would follow Lord Gurtlegh's
| advice, and give the matter up.
| Result / woke the next morning, and went
down 10 the sea for my plunge in the deep hole
beneath the cliffs determined 10 proceed. and with
i a belief q | shOUll
| those gems.
| CHAPTER w.
| great change had resulted from my manage
ment. | must The people about the place
had fOic;.t. out that j not 10 he tried with.
and it was quite cheering TO find how they settled
down 10 the work. But ! did not relax my
vigilance. was out early every morning and