Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-03-03
"n0BLEssE oBLlaE."

On the night Of the 81 OF November,
1870, James Carlton brought from
Paris two magiiicent rubies that he
had picked up ut u sale. and which,
considering their history, were
dirt cheap ut the price he paid for
them.
They had belonged to the unfor-
tunate Marie Antoirette, and had
been sold by u mistake, of which
the shrewd dealer had been quick to
avail himself.
It was too late when he reached
home to take them to the city, and he,
therefore, In the presence Of his son
John Carlton, deposited them in a
saie thgt stood In the corner Of his
bedroom.
Over the mantelpiece in this room
hung two old horse. pistols, and TAX.
Ing them down the father loaded
one, laughingly observing that at oil
events the report would alarm the
neighborhood.
About two o'clock in the morning
he was awakened by the sound Of fire
arms, followed by the slamming OF a
door. He reached out for the pistol
that he had placed on the chair beside
him, and found It gone. He heard
someone rush across the hall and try
the front door; then he heard foot.
steps on the stairs, and his son rushed
into the room with one Of the pistols
in bis hand.
The Cons story wus TINT lie had n
restless night, and thut about two
o'clock he heard some one moving
about very quietly in his fathers
room, which room connected with his
by swing door. Pushing this door
open he saw, by the light OF the night
lamp, man In the act OF closing the
safe, and before he had recovered
from his surprise the fellow slipped
quietly out Of the room. Catching
up the pistol that lay on the chair by
his fathers bedside, he followed down
stairs, across tho hall and towards the
kitchen, the door Of which stood
open.
When he challenged, the man whom
he suspected Of having stolen the
rubies turked and presented n pistol,
and youns; Carlton fired. 1t was a
very cleaa, moonlight night, and he
distinctly saw the thief stagger. The
next mtment tho kitchen door
slammed TO, and when he reached 1t
10 foVnd II locked. lie then run to
tho front door and found 1t also
locked end the key gone. Hurrying
up to his fathers room, he discovered
him aittiny up In bed as already de-
scrlbed. He threw up the bedroom
window, which looked upon the street,
and called Police" and when an
officer came no found the back door
locked and effected an entrance by q
window.
On examination II was discovered
that tho keys OF the safe were in the
safe door, that the rubies had disap.
peared, and with them a number Of
sovcreigns.
When old Carlton went to bed that
night, he remembered perfectly well
that he had put his keys under hi
pillow. Tho most rigorous scarcl
failed to furnish any proof that the
house had been burglariously entered
One OF the pistols was missing, al
also were the keys of the two doors.
When Carlton senior reported til,
loss OF the Jewels to his two partners
tho younger of them unhesitatingl
declared that John Carlton, the son
was the thief, and, refusing to accep
the senior partners offer to max,
good the loss, he took out warran
at once.
Evidence was adduced to show tina
the young man was heavily in debt
and when 1t was further proved tina
he and his father were the only per
sons who knew the secret OF the safe
he was ut once committed for trial.
DR.. Castell sat In his snug stud 8
smoking what ought to have been tn
pipe Of peace, but tho troubled lool
on his pale, handsome face betokene,
an unquiet mind. He was thinking
Of Alma Talbot, who Just one montl
before had refused him, and that, too
for Jack Carlton, the man who, OF
the morrow, would most assuredly b
branded as a thief. "What would sh
dor" was the question he asked him
self, and as he sat there turning
over In his mind, the answer came t
him, as surely as one noble natur
can answer for another. She woul
be true to her promise througl
good report and evil report, and woul
wait faithfully for the man whom sh
believed innocent until he came bac
to her from prison. No! there coul
never be any hope for him, that tn
beautiful woman whom he loved wit
all his soul, would ever fill the plac
he had SO often fondly assigned her.
In the midst of his gloomy thought
there came to him the sound Of tn
night bell, and, going to the door, h
found ON the step an urchin scarcel
tall enough to reach the bell. Woul
he come to see dad!
Who was dadP
mr.. Bly,, what lived In Green's ALE
and he was awful sick, and woul
the doctor be sharp9" And so pre-
emily the doctor came out, and 70
lOved HIS Ouida IN the sluma. I'm