The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-06
Copyright 1903 BY the Author.l
CHAPTER XVI.
nuaH %EAsTwoop's TORY.

to act. Holding out the sheet Of paper
towards Sir Sydney he said in a quick
imperative voice;
9" think that both you and Lady
Carsland ought to read this once"
Then turning to the servant who was
standing on the threshold Of the room
he added, "Will you kindly wait for an
answer2"
The baronet took the note, cast his
eyes over 1t lurriedly, and then handed
II To his wife with a look Of wonder on
his face. A few moments later her
Iadyship asked sharply:
"Who is this Hugh EastwOod|
IA young ,pitman who lives-or did
live at Marsh Green and who told me
that he worked in one OF Sir Sydney's
mines. l was attacked n night by q
couple Of trampa while making my way
through Gale Wood, and might have
got robbed and maltreated had he not
CHANGED to be at hand. He appears to
be a most respectable young fellow,
and II no and his friend know anything
about the jewels / think We ought to
see them at once. What do you say,
Sir sydneyH
II iam willing to hear them," the bar
onet returned, "if her ladyship has no
objection" L.,
Il do not object-tell Mr.. Eastwood
and his friend to come here" her lady
ship answered, addressing the last part
OF her sentence to the maid, who at
once departed, to return q short time
later with Hugh Eastwood and the old
miner, Dick Miller.
This" said Paul, as he shook hands
with the younger OF the two visitors"
Is Hugh Eastwood. But is II true, East
wood, that you can explain this mystery
surrounding the jewels which salome
Birmingham had in her possession2"
lean explain q portion Of it. and my
companion here, whose name is Miller,
and who lives ct Thorrell Moor, and
works at the Wood Pit, tan tell you the
rest. In the first place let me say that
1t was from me that salome Birmingham
got the jewels."
"From your" Sir Sydney and his
ward exclaimed in a breath.
Eyes, from me, strange as it may
SEEM" Hugh replied, quickly.
"And where did you obtain them?'
Lady Garland queried.
II found them one day about ten
months ago while at work in the mine.
Dick and me were working together
that day, and ne knows that while We
were clearing up the bottom OF the old
shaft called the Dingle Pit we found
at least 1 found-R leather handbag.
Tho bag was fastened up when I found
it, and when / broke II open I found all
the Jewels inside. But Miller here
never knew until I told him this after
noon what was in the bag. I was alone
when l found the bag, and ] told him
when l had hidden the jewels in my
can that it was empty. He looked at
the bag and recognized it, didn't you
DickY"
"Ah did," the old pitman replied,
somewhat slowly. "But Sir Sydney,
afore ah tell what ah know yo' will ha'
to gle me yore word that yo' will not do
owt at me for what ah say"
The baronet was silent for a moment,
and Paul broke out impulsively:
"You may speak out. Sir Sydney will
give you the assurance you want, and l
will see that you lose nothing by any
thing you say in order to clear Salome
from the suspicion under which she
now rests"
"Yes-speak out" said the baronet
with a logged air Of resignation. ~
suppose you were one OF the gang Of
poachers who robbed mo that night in
Hough Wood"
The miner answered in the afirma-
tive, and then proceeded in his own
rough fashion to relate how the poach-
ers attacked Sir Sydney, thinking he
was q gamekeeper, and how On discover
ing their mistake, tho ringleader had
insisted on robbing him in spite Of
Neutrality-suspicious.. Then he
spoke Of the row the gang had with the
keepers near Gale Wood, when the
locked bag was thrown down the disused
shaft.
Sir Sydney, Lady Carsland, and Paul
Meredith. listened quietly, but with
wondering faces, to the old pitmRn's
story, and when 1t was ended, East
wood spoke again.
"When l discovered the Jewels" he
said, ''and learned from Miller that the
bag was taken from you, Sir Sydney, l
knew that the ornaments must be valn-
able. l wa a poor man, and II was a
great temptation, but l did not touch a
single one l am glad to say. / sent them
all to Miss Birmingham, and | made her
believe that they had been left to me by
relation"
~ am glad the thing is cleared up,
Eastwood" Paul remarked, "but 1t
would have saved US all much trouble
had you returned the jewels at once 10
their rightfulowner"
VI was sorry enough, Mr.. Meredith, l
can assure you," Hugh replied, when /
heard that Miss Birmingham was sus.
pected Of being mixed up with the rob.
berry and had run away"
But why did you not tell the whole
truth to Sir sydney and Lady Carsland
long ago2"
because l was in Australia whom l
heard Of II. / came back strnightaway
throwing up my work and everything.
only landed in Southampton q couple
Of days since, 80 that you will see, Mr..
Meredith, that / have not lost much
time"
'"You have not, indeed, and / beg
your pardon for what l aaid," Paul
said, warmly. "And II you really came
all tho way from Australia simply 10
clear Salome's namo | shall never forget
such o service, Eastwood"
1T is quite enough for mo to know
that | AM ablo TO undo tho harm | did
her In sending the Jewels 70 her.
daresay Miss Birmingham would not
have accepted them had che been able
to send them back to mo-" Hugh said.
"How do you make that out, Mr..
Eastwood2" Lady Carsland interposod.
'WhnL Vna thaFn 10 nfnVont hNr rni,a.