The morning call., 1892-08-03
Her DIAMONDS.

said to get on together; fought on togetheE
is a more correct word. She had all TIE
money and he didn't even give her quid DO
QUO in love. She was past her first youth,
we'll into her second. in fact, when he pro-
posed to her. She was a widow. ana she
gave both love and money-till he spent tie
latter and half killed the former
was stopping down st Twivel one suns
mer and the house was pretty full There
was no one l particularly fancied among
the guests. so l kept my attention to rry
hostess. whom l could see was suffering
good deal of mental worry; besides l really
think that the cash had begun to run short.
She said TO ME once-Rwfully bitterly:
'Give a man short measure Fred-dO you
know what ] mean? Always give him
light weight-if he beStows IA ounces
sToirdupois Of love on yon only give him y
ounces, 1t will keep him hanging on for the
other tive"
Iguessed at what she meant-and she re-
GREETED not having acted on that principle
herself.
They were giving a big dinner on the
10th. and about three-quarters Of an hour
before any one had turned up, Mr.. and Mrs.
Westervedt came into the drawing room
where we were all chatting.
Mrs. Westeryedt said, in an awfully Rgi-
tated way
ado you knew that all my diamonds have
been stolen 2"
MI Westerveldt broke in significantly
with
'We'Il not call them stolen till we've
found out more about the case"
She bad been pale enough 10 begin with,
but she became liy!d at the implied Insult.
Ladies diamonds" he went on with
sheer, get lost in the most extraordinary
way sometimes, and ars found, too, in re-
mRrkabe fashions as well, when the hus-
bands make fuss over H."
Ii Was internally mean Of him. consider
Ing he hadn't bought his wife's Jewels, and
as the loss was all hers II was a shame TO
behave Ike a hound 10 her before all her
guests
Mrs. Westerveldts neck looked bare and
rather unlovely that night. She had in
tended wearing her diamonds, and nothing
would induce her 10 wear substitute.
Next day came down a detective, and
there was an awful shindy. All the ser
wants boxes routed cut. all the maids wear
ing an air of innocence an inch deep on
their faces, and tossing their hands al the
sacrileRe; and the butler getting drunk over
II, to celebrate the event and Mr.. Wester-
Veldt scOwliDg till he looked like an ugly
ehimpsnzee. and Mrs. Wesierveldt aging 20
years through II all, and miserable into the
bargain.
Ono day Mrs. westerveIdt came to me
with telegraph form in her hand.
Fired, l want you to do something for
me. would have asked my husband II be
weren't away In town. l don't believe that
the detective we've got at present is any
good. do you? He wears whskers. and his
hairs such horrid color. isn't il? | want
you 10 take this yourself 10 the p0stoffiee l
don't think that Mr.. WeSterveidt can have
stated the gravity OF The case when he
telegTaphed for the first man; and so l am
sending Of to Scotland Yard for another. in
the hopes that he viii be more successful
There is much at stake Fred"-her voice
OnaV6TpG kit-ttmu - hef 5,l- I
something about the diamonds" she went
on in a " whisper IT'S so hard. so hard %
abe beat her hand on the table in frenzied
sort of way. II love him So" she said.
though l could hardly hear, her voice had
all gone.
SU off I went
Mr.. Westerveldt was away two or three
days. In the mean time q new man came
GOWN. Nothing "whitey-brown" about him,
can tell you, and his hair was the right
color. too The only thing l didn't like
about him was his way OF popping around
corners and into rooms. l used TO change
all sorts Of COlors. and [ bet you enything
you Ike be rather shifted full-blown burg
lar IN ME. believe he would have driven
me into II If it had gone much longer.
Then he, toe, passed aTay-and peace
rsigned in his stead.
One day fell asleep In the library. and
when L awoke II was pitch dark except for
the IRE smoldering away 10 the CRATE, and
what woke me was tie entrances Of Mr.. and
Mrs. WesteTyeldt. He had lust come hsck
from town. and she was hanging about him
and be seemed shade kinder to her. You
should have seen her; she seemed 10 er-
pand under il and looked twenty shades
handsomeT and younger. Presently she said !:
"Oh. henry dear. do you know l was not
satisfied with that first detective you sent
for. and so l wrote down for another, and
be came here two days ago. and l told him
every"
BE sprang up with a sudden yell
You sent for detective from Scotland
Yard?"
why, yes-what's wrong?
And You gave him all particulars you
fool! You gave him all the information YOU
knew?"
He let his hand down with clap on his
shoulder. Ii made her jump She nodded
her head
you fool, do ycu know what You have
done with your meddlingP" And he low
cred his face ill 1t was CD level with hers.
You've only set all Scotland Yard at nv
heels" ~
Then he turned away with dash OF fury.
MY Godl Henry, what do you-what do
you meanP" and she followed him to the
chair on which he had fallen, his head In
bis hands.
"oh. you may as well know" be
have ruined me, II that's a pIeasprs ~ t.
think OF. 1herel l took your diamond
jewels. Oil for Gods sake now. don't
go fainting and shrleking all over the
She had only staggered bit, and clutched
at the back of a chair.
iou-took my diamonds' Oh. darling,
what for Y'-her face ali drawn and gray
would have gwen you all had"
meant to get paste put in; you would
never have known" he answered win
brutal indifference. and ignoring her last
words.
She sank down by his side and clssped
her hands on his knees.
but II the 6rst detective knew. wbv
rs wellp" =" :
1.-THE first detective2 BE wasn't de-
tectiye al all. You don't suppose / was
such fool as to Invite Scotland YARD,
inspection. L just sent for a man whom
knew would do the work for me- Thara
Do you understand at last?"
She turned and gave him such look.
don't Know how he felt as 1t was intendaC
for MIN, but know how feIt-confounC
thls smoke, rs all In my eyes-in ill m,
lie 1 never saw a face so changed AND
TRANSPORTED by love, such pathetic tender
ness.
Il will save you, HENRI. indeed will. Il
L ole Tor it-you believe me, dear ?" she
said.
That night after dinner tthere's no good
telilng you hoW the couple looked I voude,
10 one noticed ip. Mrs. Westeryeldt kent
jumping at every sound, and great nurnis
rings mao started around her ewes She
sent OF wire to say that she wished al
proceedings stopped, as she had resigned
herself TO the loss OF her jewels. But II wa,
too late-there were three men standing ont
side the drawing-room door.
I happened to catch glimpse of them