The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-11-23
NEATLY PLANNED.

had just reached my Office after
lunch one miserably wet day last No
vember, when a visitor was announced.
MIR Engstrom" was inscribed on the
card-a name quite unknown to me.
MIR. De Warre?" said my visitor, a
shrewd looking, we'll groomed man,
who apparently had not yet touched
forty.
..i:Ebat is my name" 1 answered.
can do for won Tqat and tell me what L
Il am in great trouble" So NJ,
Engstrom. I'VE had burglars at our
house at Lyndhurst, in the New For
est, the night before last. They broke
in while we were at dinner and several
thousand pounds worth of Jewels are
gone from my wife's bedroom But what
distresses us is that a valuable heir
loom, pearl necklace of great value.
that has been in our family Tor two
hundred years, is among the plumber.
The other jewelry we could bear to
lose, but not this To tell you the
truth" he added, with a smile. Il
must own to being little supersti-
tious, and there is legend in our
family that this necklace was a gift to
an ancestress of mine by Charles IL,
shall be very short and full of evil. 1t
is said il was lost about the beginning
of the century. and the legend came
true My wife is more superstitious
than myself, and | am afraid if it is
not recovered it may seriously affect
her health. OF course the police have
been at work, but | have not very
great confidence in them, and up to
the present they have discovered moth
ing. IL you can aid me l shall be
very glad.
Il am" said Mr.. Engstrom, 1.-The de-
scendant of an old landed family who
have lived in Hampshire for genera
tions. We are not as wealthy as we
once were, and | find employment for
my time by being on the board of di-
rectorS of several companies. | have
only been married a short time, not
quite year, and we have been living
very quietly. On Tuesday night, when
the burglary occurred, there were only
five of us at dinner. Besides my wife
and myself were the rector and his
wife and Capt. Olyer, the son of an old
friend, whom lately met in the city
and invited down. He has been with
us over a week, and leaves to join his
regiment on Saturday.
I'VE bad just reached dessert and
Capt Olyer was inquiring of the but
Ter if Wisden (his man servant) had
returned from London, when my wife's
maid came in gasping: '0h, ma am,
your Jewels are gone-robbersr and
sank fainting on the floor
Goodness gracious" l exclaimed,
and we sprang up.
Let us search out of doors at
once said the captain. Bring a
light, john he said to the butler. and
rushed ont We followed him.
1t was quite dark, and we had not
gone dozen steps before he fell down.
Look OUT he cried. the brutes have
laid wires. They have caught one fool
at any rate he remarked as he got up.
/ went hack for a light, and sure
enough there were wires around that
side of the house.
The captain was holding his nose.
He was but little hurt, he said, for,
luckily, he had fallen on the grass. AT
the captains suggestion L summoned
two men servants.
Il found a lantern. and we searched
the grounds and the surrounding roads.
We found nothing. save a ladder under
one of the windows, and a small
brooch which the thief or thieves had
dropped. No suspicious looking person
had been seen in the village or at the
station, and the two policemen who
came could do nothing beyond looking
wise. ! called at the police station
this morning. but they have no clew,
nor is it likely they will have one. All
l have learned from them is that they
believe that two were engaged in the
affair from the footmarks."
''It will be too dark by the time we
could reach Lyndhurst to investigate"
| said, but / will come on by the first
train in the morning.
Il wish you to promise me one thing,
not to mention to anyone the object of
my visit. Call me f,llow director or
anything you like"
found Mr.. Engstrom at the station
the next morning with a dog cart l
forebore to talk on the subject of my
visit save to ask one question.
why did you keep such a valua BILE
necklace at home, Mr.. Engstrom?"
Il kept it in the safe Deposit in
Chancery lane" he answered, ''and only
brought it home Saturday because my
wife wanted it at the county ball to-
morrow night"
| had some lunch and a pleasant
chat with my host and hostess, after
which | asked permission to interview
the servants.
Are your visitors imp" 1 asked Mr..
Engstrom.
capt. Olyer is rabbit shooting with
the rector, but he will be in to din
ner."
''Oh, / merely wanted to have his ac-
count of what happened. Now, would
you be SO kind as to have the wires
arranged round the house in the ex-
act place the burglars left them?'
The gardner, who had taken them
up, brought them again. 1t was fine
but strong wire, fastened to the ground
by small iron pegs
Are the wires in the exact placer"
81 put the pegs in the very holes, +"
replied the gardener. You can See
the holes yourself, sir"
And now l should like to be left
alone little" l said. II want to
make some minute Investigations
My wish was complied with. and