Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-05-16

turneu up, anu 1 gave ner over 20 n,,n,
it was too dark to let her go alone"
There was pause, then Mrs. Ruthven
asked, dreamily, as if speaking out of her
thoughts:
"What did the jeweler in Paris say
that man who was collecting rubies for
Russian prince was willing to give for
miner"
II don't remember" said Marsden.
"When? When you were last in Paris 2"
YES. Don't you remember the clasp
of the necklace did not seem secure, and
| gave it to the jeweler that Count Henri
de Meudon recommended? Or, was it
before you met me there in June?'
Before, | think. | should not have
forgotten, had heard, though my mind
was full of different natter An ex-
pressive glance gave point to his words.
Mrs Ruthven looked down with
thoughtful smile.
'Well, believe this agent, or jewel
merchant, offered something like 1,5OO,-
900 francs!"
''That was large sum! I suppose it
is worth it?"
II have always been told so. It is too
much to lose!'
cit certainly is! I must bestir myself,
and find some good investment for that
money of yours, which is lying fallow in
the Three Per Cents"
81 shall not invest in jewels, at all
events! The sense of insecurity will new
err leave me-" And she shivered.
You ought never to be alone again"
said Marsden, in low voice. 'Well,
you will endure this ill-omened house till
Monday, at least, then will escort you
to town. Is that understood"
$50 be it," she returned.
"And you will come down to dinner?
You must not allow yourself to despair!
These detectives do wonders, some
tines"
''No doubt. But I see the difficulty of
recovering my rubies is enormous. Once
out of their setting land Mr.. Winton
says thieves always take them OUT, how
can swear to them? How can l identify
them"
'Let us hope for the best. Now,
have barely left myself ten minutes to
dress. I shall find you in the drawing
room shall 1 not?'
He took and pressed her hand once
more before he went hastily away.
Mrs. Ruthven looked after him with
anxious eyes, then she clasped her hands
together and walked once to and fro.
Finally she went down to her toilet table
and touched her lower eyelids with Khol,
delicately, artistically; took up a shell
containing rose-colored powder; but laid
it aside again, divided the thick, curly
fringe on her forehead to show her fine
eyebrows, and fastening bouquet of
deep red geraniums among the black lace
Of her corsage, wrapped her cloak closer
round her, ard descended to the draw
ing-room.
The well-known astute London detec-
tive, however, had no more success than
the less experienced rural police.
He made careful search through the
rooms, insisted on Mrs. Ruthven's repro
ducing her position in the tent and
infinitely describing the circumstances
of the robbery, and inquired the length
of time Marsden was absent. Finally
he limited darkly that he had an idea as
to the guilty party.
II don't say it's more than suspi-
cion," he said to Mrs. Ruthven and Mars
den; ''but it seems to me it's not impos-
sible that some trained hand might have
got in among the confectioner's men, and
watched his opportunity. You see, if he
had the pluck to go straight back to his
post, with the jewels in his pocket, and
just kept at his work, he'd be as safe as
a church. There is no tracing the cloak
and hat to any one. / have spoken with
the men who were here, and they seem
all right; but two have gone away. I'll
find out all about them when | go back
to town. If one or other is a stranger
taken on job, I'll have to track him.
''It seems impossible that any man
would have the daring to do such q deed
and then return to his duties in the sup
per-roomw cried Mrs Ruthven.
"You can have no notion, ma'am what
a hgh-cass swell mobsman would dare
and do It's possible the jewels have
gone that way. We must hunt up the
thief in London, and especially in the
big Dutch towns. There are lot of Jew
precious stone merchants abroad, as would
give long price for such gems and no
questions asked OF course, if they had
clear idea the goods were stolen, they
would give notice fast enough, but they
would not be too keen to act even on q
shrewd suspicion"
you will give notice to all the prln-
cipal jewelers. at home and abroad and
in the colonies, in case the lost gems are
offered for sale" cried Marsden.
eyes, of course; but there comes in the
difficulty of identification. Any way, I'll
do my best for my own characters sake,
and the lady's sake; but Wen say moth
ing of the handsome reward you men
toned, sir; that is against my principles;
but if, when 1 have done my 'dooty' you
like to make me compliment, that's an
other pair of shoes"
"You may trust me-" said Marsden.
"And me, too" added Mrs. Ruthven,
with a sweet smile, whereupon, after en-
joining the strictest secrecy on his hearers
regarding his suggestions as to the posi-
BILE thief, the highly intelligent officer de-
parted.
(To be continued.)