Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-03-28

MY AUNT'S EARRINGS.


the police. The first thing you should
do when a crime has Teen committed, az
often said = Uncle Poffkins, is to sus-
pect the most unlikely man as being the
criminal.
That was the course l adopted when
Aunt Pofzins' earrings were stolen. 1t
was in the morning when the theft was
discovered. Aunt came down late and
ran into the room where Uncle Poffkins
Dora and were breakfasting My aunt
bore traces of strong agitation. and she
had forgotten her cap.
My earringsf she cried. They are
gone--they are stolenl"
"God bless my soul!" exclaimed Uncle
Pofkins. dropping his teacup as if he had
been shot and leaping up with yell of
pain. He said the yell was attributed to
the heat Of the tea, which was trickling
down his legs.
Ny aunt explained. The earrings were
kept wrapped III cotton wool in a jewel
box on her dressing table. The box was
never locked, and the housemaid had ac-
cess TO the room. The girl had only
been in the house week and was known
TO have beau. My aunt and cousin at
once concluded she was the thief and sent
for policeman, who searched her trunk
and found nothing, of course. could
have told them that
Meanwhile | kept my eye on Uncle
Pofflxins. Tie was the one person who
could have no motive whatever in steal
ing the earrings. He was very rich,
most respectable and extremely slow
and noisy in his movements. Moreover,
my aunt would have given him the ear
rings at any moment if he had asked for
them. Evidently he was the last man TO
attract suspicion. Accordingly watched
Uncle Poffkins closely.
We passed week of excitement. The
police were running out and in. Dora
cross examined the housemaid incessant-
ly. Aunt Poffkins went abroad weeping
and reminding every one she met that
the earrings were a present from Uncle
Poffkins on the occasion of their engage
ment.
My uncle himself affected to make
light of the matter and went so far as
loudly and ostentatiously to curse the
earrings. He was wrong if he thought
he could put me off the scent by that
clumsy maneuver. | never left him
alone. tracked him to the city, hung
about all the morning, shadowed him
when he went to lunch, when he re-
turned. when he crossed over TO the ex-
change.
Unknown to him was on his bus.
inside if he rode on the top, and on top
when it rained and he slowed himself
away inside He never escaped me ex-
cept when he was in his Office. At last,
after 10 days weary chasing, / was re-
warded. need not say that the police
had discovered nothing. The house was
still topsy turvy and my aunt subject to
intermittent Mysteries.
That wronged creature, the house
maid, did her work with mop in one
hand and in the other a handkerchief.
wet with innocent tears. But to return
to Uncle Poffhns. The tenth day after
the earrings had disappeared, as he was
brushing his hat before leaving the
house and looking at my aunt's tear
bedewed visage, his conscience smote
him, and he 50 far forgot himself as to
exclaim audibly:
I'm blamed if ! can stand this any
longerr' The folly of the man was in
credible. had him nowI In an instant
was after him. He took bus, took
a cab, and we started for the city. Now
came the odd thing-Uncle Poffkins
disappeared.
How it happened do not know, but
when the bus pulled up to the bank
Uncle Poffkins was not to be seen.
questioned the conductor, but he had
evidently been bribed and told me very
rudely that he had something better to
do than answer my riddles. He drove
on, and was left for the first time at
fault
1t was evening before / saw Uncle
Pofkins. | was going home in very
disconsolate state, when, about 200 yards
from our gate. espied him ahead of me-
Quickening my pace, stealthily ap-
preached him. He opened the gate and
passed in; noiselessly followed him.
A little farther on, sheltered by the
shrubbery, he stopped, and after a
stealthy glance toward the house took
from his coat pocket small morocco
case. Istood on tiptoe just behind, and
with mingled horror and satisfaction as
/ looked over his shoulder / saw the
earrings! was right. Uncle Poffkins
sighed.
''Shall ! give 'em to her or not." he
said to himself. Its rank waste. Still,
it will keep her quiet" / watched the
struggle between his good and his evil
angel. Clearly the good angel had tri-
umphed so far as to bring the earrings
within 80 yards of Aunt Poffkins, but
now came the tug of war. It was severe,
and it ended in the victory of evil.
Uncle Poffkins, shutting the case with a
snap exclaimed:
Its all blamed nonsensel I'll take
'em back to Abraham tomorrow Abra-
ham no doubt was the receiver, for my
uncle went on in a satisfied tone:
Hell make no trouble about taking
'em." He was putting the case into his
pocket when my feeling overcame me.
Respect for ones elderly relatives is q
praiseworthy feeling. but it must not BE-
allowed to override higher duties |
flung myself ON Uncle Poffkins. crying:
Surrender You cannot escape meP
Ny uncle fell heavily on the gravel path
] fell heavily on the top Of him and PIN
ioned his arms to the ground
ssTomIr he exclaimed. what the mis-
chief-are you drunk
1T is useless, sir, began, Ito affect