The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1893-06-29

/. lliqpor ron gave me v@ dragged aud you
. thought 10 escape before your theft vas
} discovered. II vas very clever scheme.
. bot II hes failed. Give me the necklace
. or ] shall tura you over 10 the police.
Islrsiehed ont my hand. ,hinkiug that.
seeips the folly OF further eouceslmons
/ sud by ihs uselnesspe.s OF denial. she
J would return the STOLEN property. was
wrong. She drew herself up hsughtily
and looked me iull 10 the face When
she spoke it was 10 voice that showed DO
traces OF the sweetness which had at first
stuscted me,
You bsve brought . serious charge
against me, she said. aud one OF which !
sm lnnoeeat | am alone, aud . woman--
this With momentsry tremor in her voice
that somehow made me ashamed OF the
way bad spoken TO ber. II s yon say
yoi have lost uecklsce, your only reason
Tor accusing me Of having stolen il is that
we have been The only occupants OF this
compartment. The instant you opened
che box ard found II empty, | saw the
awful position that Was placed in. For.
tunstely, however can prove my innocen,
ce. Perhaps you msy hesitate before
sesin attempting TO blackmsil an unpro
tectsd woman. As soon as We arrive Ut
Nice shall insist on going at once 10 the
police station. where . thorough search
OF my baggage and person shall be made.
shall then ask you TO prove that You
ever had necklace. This remark was
accom- panied by . smile that was poi
pleasant to see, Until we reach Nice you
will not again address me.
She loaned back in her seat and turned
her face toward the window. felt rather
than saw that she WAS crying.
began TO feel Uncomfortable. What il
after oil. hsd been to, ready to jump to
, conclusion and had been mistaken. Was
I not possible that tie box might have
been empty when / received il nom the
eweler2 had not seen the necklace after
was left TO be repaired, ss the box was !
wrapped up when called for it. My
10 ompsnion had insisted on an investigs' =
ion that might prove her innocence
uvestigstiou that guilty woman would . .
ever have proposed. Besides this. she -
as expressed doubt as 10 the eIistsnce y
the necklace. aud had accused me Of an =
tempt At blsckmail. The more | thought ;.
I |. the more unpleasant my position be- : :.
anne. -
Suddenly my eyes fell on something w
right lying on the floor Of the carriage. / e.,
Iooped and picked il up, 1t proved to -
Q the little heart shaped paddock had ~
sen the night before on the poodle's col,
II. Like flash . thought came TO me; -
ere might be the solution Of the problem; ~
any rate would put it to the test. No
me must be lost, as we we're just enter
q station, and in momeat more the y.
/. -rd would omen the carriaoe dnrr -,
eaching across the seat With aquick MOI !,
on, drew I'll ], sleeping animal to my
de. The woman sprsng for ward to pre-.
mt me, but she WAS too late; had ale
ady torn the collar from the dogs neck ~
ID was holding it to the light that eni
red dinly through the window from -
% covered station.
/ bresthed sigh Of relief; the inside OF 80
% collar contained hollow groove, 7snd
this grove. securely fastened, lay the -
issing necklace. turned triumphant. ,n'
to my companion. The door was open; wv
% was gone. no
That morning as ! entered Ediih's par
+, the little poodle tro.tsd contentedy 'u'
my side. and instead OF the collar be oas
ore the Iecklaoe. As for the woman. / eu
yer saw her again.
Tailor rose, light, d another cigar, and
rning to his companion continued: 4
That 10 why said that when that dog "T
me into my possession he was worth no apt
70 tnan thousand dollars And now, hst
9 tone OF newly acquired importance, Bel
me and see baby. ed
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