The Dickinson press., 1894-06-23

tioning the names of many well known
people who, she said, were her friends ]
and whom I should no doubt meet.
"As the evening wore on she opened
a basket containing q dainty lunch.
Would 1 share it with her? The cook
evidently l;ai a ridiculous idea Of her
appetite. Why, there was enough for
ski This seemed to be the case; SO,
as we were Ivy this time very well ac-
Quaintetl, l accepted her invitation, and
we were soon doing justice to a really |
excellent lunch.
"NNhat a charming creature she is
I thought. How Edith will like her.
Growing confidential, i spoke Of my
visit to Nice and of my dear girl who
was awaiting me there. She seemed
Interested, and listened patiently to
the recital of my fair ones many
charms.
"'You will meet her, and can see
for yourself IL all 1 say Of her is not
true.' l exclaimed. She will be very
grateful to you for having made this
stupid journey so pleasant for me-
1--WE will drink her health!! cried my
companion, gayly, drawing a small sill
yer flask Of exquisite workmanship
from the depths Of her basket. 1
always CuIEN Il HUH COSAaNN WIN AAS
In case of Sickness she explained.
glass with the amber liquid, she hand
ed it to me with a radiant smile. TO
Edith's health she said.
II drained the glass. 1t was brandy
of the finest quality 1 had ever tasted.
She seemed to read my thoughts.
"'You are a judge of good liquor.
That is Otard of 1870.'
Talking the glass from my hand she
poured Il little of the liquor into 1t and
| barely touched it with her lips.
"'YOu must not judge of my good
wishes by the amount I take. I wish
you all the happiness that life can give.
but l cannot drink us you men do; to
me it is simply a medicine
"Soon after this I began to grow
sleepy, and as my companion did not
seem inclined to talk l made myself as
comfortable as circumstances would
permit. l turned my head toward the
window, through which the surround
ing country could be seen dimly in
the moonlight as we rushed along, put
a roll Of rugs under my head and re-
signed myself to a night of discomfort.
The next thing it was broad daylight.
l awoke with a dull pain In my head
and Il sense of WEAKNESS that my
sleep had rather increased than dimin-
isled.
my companion was sitting by the
window reading the book I had given
her the night before. On perceiving
that 1 was awake she put down her
book and remarked that 1 vas evident
" a sound sleeper and that she cnvied
me. She had passed a wretchcl hight
and was glad that we should oon be
in Nice. 1 thought of Edith, whom
l should now see SO soon, and then of
the surprise I had in store for her.
Il hoped that the necklace would
please her, and then, for the first time,
it occurred to me that perhaps it would
have been better if I had consulted
some woman Of taste before buying it.
A brilliant idea struck me-my con
panion was just the n to decide.
/ would ask her opinion. 1t was not
too late to change the necklace fol
something else if She thought 1t not
suitable. I was sure she would tell
me candidly just what she tho light.
"UnbuttoniEg my coat l drew the
package from my pocket and laid II
on my lap. Removing the wrappings
opened the little blue case. For q
IQOllIcuJ ] COulu uOC OcllSSC NY SSCS~
it was empty!
Il turned quickly to my companion
Size was leaning forward. moti0nless
eyes a look that l shall lever forget
one hand was pressed conyulsively
over her heart. She had removed
her gloves worn the night before, ant
Oh one finger blazed a dlamond-tht
one l had seen the previous day Mt thu
jewelers.. In all instant l saw it all
/ sprang forward and grasped her wris
roughly, l am afraid.
"'Give me back the necklace, vol
thief l cried. I know YOU 70,
stood by my side yesterday in til,
jewelers. shop on the Avenue de rope
ia. l remember that ring and you
voice. You heard me say that l wa!
going to Nice by This train. The liquo
you gave me was drugged and yol
thought to escape before your theft WA
discovered. 1t was very clcve
scheme, but it has failed. Give me tn
necklace or l shall turn you over to til
police
II stretched out my hand, thinking
that, seeing the folly Of further COZ
ccalmcnt and the usclessncss of denia,
she would return the stolen property
l was wrong. She drew herself u
: haughtily and looked me full in til
face. When She spoke it was in Il voic
that showed no traces of the swee,
ness which had ut first attracted me.
, "'You have brought Il serious charg
; against me- she said, and one of whic
: l am innocent. am alone. and il W,
man'-this with Il momcntary tremC
: in her voice that somehow made N
, ashamed Of the way l had spoken I
!. her. If, as you say, you have lost
: necklace, your only reason for accusin
!. me of having stolen 1t is that we haH
!. been the only occupants of this con
v partment. The instant you opened tn
n box and found it empty ] saw II nv
: ful position that l was placed in. Fo
Il tunately, however, l can prove my II
n nOcence.
It perhaps you may hesitate befol
again attempting to blackmail an Vi
l. protected woman. AS soon as we a
rive ut Nice I shall Insist on going
r. once to the police station, where
n thorough search of my baggage and pc
X son shall be made. l shall then as
d you to prove that you ever had
necklace This remark Was acc0l
er panied by Il smile that was not pleasal
lr TO see. Until we reach Nice you W
not address me again.
"Slc leaned back in her seat al
Df turned her face toward the windo'
| felt rather than SAW THAT she W
e. crying.
y Il began to feel uncomfortable. VIII
Ie If, after all, 1 had been too ready
IS jump ut conclusions and had been m
c. taken. Was Il not possible that t
box might have been empty when
a received it from the jewelers.? III
not seen the necklace after it was Il
is to be repaired. as the box was wrapp
It. up when l called for 1t. My comps
ion had insisted on an Investigate
Id that might prove her innocence-an
Id vcstigation that a guilty woman Won
m never have proposed. Besides til
she had expressed a doubt as to t
existence of the necklace and had
es cused me of an attempt at blackms
as The more l thought of it the more
70 pleasant my position became.
III: Suddenly my eyes fell on somethi
re bright lying on the floor Of the carrlai
m