The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-08-03
She seemed to read my

Ih9Ieus Due b6eu0u w EShu my
thoughts,
"'You are a Judge of good liquor.
That is Otard of 1870
Taking the glass from my hand
she poured little of the liquor into
it and barely touched it with her lips.
"'You must not Judge of my good
wishes by the amount take. I wish
you all the happiness that life can
give, but l cannot drink as you men
do; to me it is simply 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. I turned my head toward the
window, through which the surround
ing country could be seen dimly in the
moonlight as we rushed along, put
roll of rugs under my head and re-
signed myself to night of discom-
fort. The next thing it was broad
daylight. awoke with dull pain in
my head and sense of WEAKNESS that
my sleep had rather increased than
diminished.
"My companion was sitting by the
window reading the book l had given
her the night before. On perceiving
that [ was awake she put down her
book and remarked that l was evil
IDENTIFY sound sleeper and that she
envied me. She has passed a wretched
night and was glad that we should
soon be in Nice. thought of Edith,
whom should now see so soon, and
then of the surprise I had in store for
her.
81 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 1 had consulted
some woman of taste before buying it.
A brilliant idea struck me-my com
panion was just the one to decide. 1
would ask her opinion. 1t was not
too late to change the necklace for
something else if she thought it not
suitable. Twas sure she would tell me
candidly just what she thought.
"Unbuttoning my coat drew the
package from my pocket and laid it on
my lap. Removing the wrappings I
opened the little blue case. For q
moment Dcould not believe my eyes
it was emptyl
II turned quickly to my compan-
ion. She was leaning forward motion
less, breathless, her face pale and in
her eyes look that shall never for
get. One hand was pressed convul-
sively over her heart. She had re-
moved her gloves worn the night be-
fore, and on one finger blazed a dia-
mond--the one l had seen the previous
day at the jewelers.. In an instant I
saw it nil. I sprang forward and
grasped her wrist-roughly, I am
afraid.
"'Give me back the necklace, you
thief 1 cried. Il know you. You
stood by my side yesterday in the jew
eler's shop on the Avenue de rOpera. 1
remember that ring and your voice.
You heard me say that was going to
Nice by this train. The liquor you
gave me was drugged, and you thought
to escape before your theft was discov-
cred 1t was very clever scheme,
but it has failed. Give me the neck
lace or 1 shall turn you over to the
police
81 stretched out my hand, thinking
that, seeing the folly of further con-
cealment and the uselessness of de-
NAL, she would return the stolen prop
erty. I was wrong. She drew herself
up haughtily and looked me full in
the face. When she spoke it was in a
voice that showed no trace of the
sweetness which had at first attracted
me.
"'You have brought serious charge
against me, she said, and one OF
which am innocent. l am alone, and
woman'-this with a momentary
tremor in her voice that somehow
made me ashamed of the way 1 had
spoken to her. IF, as you say, you
have lost necklace, your only reason
for accusing me of having stolen it is
that we have been the only occupants
of this compartment The instant you
opened the box and found it empty
saw the awful position that I was
placed in. Fortunately, however, !
can prove my innocence. Perhaps you
may hesitate before again attempting
to blackmail On unprotected woman,
AS soon as we arrive at Nice shall in
55iiss t Oh going at once to the police sta
ton, 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
accompanied by a smile that was not
pleasant to see. Until we reach Nice