Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-10-04


They are magnificent y she said,
and her eyes we're almost as bright with
excitement as the gems themselves. II
never saw anything like them. And
the diamonds are fine too. But those
oldfashioned settings are horrible. I
shall have them all reset at once. Do
you know the address of good jew
eler ?"
"'Linklater of Bond street is one of
the best, believe. But, il you will
excuse me saying so, don't you think
the matter will keep till the colonel's
return I'm not sure that he would care
to have them altered"
"Oh, he won't object if it is my
w'sh,' she said sweetly. ii am going
into the town early tomorrow. | shall
wire myself to Linklatcr's to send one
of their people to fetch them"
lilo quietly ran up to London 10 the
morning and paid visit to Mr.. Link
later, to whom he explained the cir
cumstances and then requested that the
stones should not be unset until they
heard from the colonel himself.
But, my dear sir" the jcweler said,
81 know nothing of these jewels No
such telegram as you mention has been
received by us.
The September afternoon was waning
when he got back to Broad water, and
Mrs. Fairholme, superb in velvet din
ner gown, swept across tho hall to greet
him
lyon tresome fellow" she said play
fully, "where have you been all day
Tho man from Linklatcr's has been here
since 3 o'clock waiting for you to como
home with the strongroom keys"
There was n moments pause, where
in dozen wild ideas flashed through
Dicks brain. II was evident that Mrs.
Fairholme had merely used the protext
of wishing the jewels reset in order TO
get them out of the house.
"Oh, of course. forgot lie has
come for tho jewels. hasn't no 7 I'll fetch
them"
But when he rcappoarcd his hands
were empty.
I'm awfully sorry, Mrs Fairholme,' -
he said coolly, "but I've mislaid my
keys. hope | haven't dropped them
out Of doors"
II don't think il will be much use
searching for them she replied, with
an unpleasant laugh. II shall have u
locksmith down from London the first
thing in tho morning, And the jewell
er's man shall wait"
Dick wrote out telegram and gave
il to groom with n sovereign Send
it off at once, Rogers And keep still
tongue in your head"
The message ran as follows:
To Col. Falrhome. on board the Australian
mail steamer Oratava at Naples:
Return overland Imperative business.
Please don't fail. DICK.
IL the Colonel obeyed, he would be at
home in three days---that is to say, fonr
days before he would have arrived un-
der ordinary circumstance days
before he was expected by Mrs Fair
holmo
When the locksmith arrived Dick bad
II little private conversation with him,
and bank note changed hands AS the
result, the man told Mrs. Fuirholme
that the job was a long one aud that he
could not undertake TO accomplish IL
under three days.
The mysterious man, who was not
from Bond street, went awny, and on
the third afternoon returned. but tho
strongroom door was not opened yet
The workman was awaiting instruc-
lions
About s =, NJ. there was rattle of
wheels in tho avenue, and somebody
rang the front door bell
Tho next moment the colonel, in trav-
sling cap AMI ulster, stepped into tho
She shrickod and sprang To
ier feet, overturning tho bamboo table
with a crash
"Colone Fairholmo !" sllc gasped
wildly "IIomo already!"
''Mrs. Bolarmino Bless me, what n
thing Why, thought /
had left you in Mclbourno!"
Then she's not your @ifo p cried
Dick, aghast
"My wife exclaimed his uncle, per-
picked TO irritability "You know very
we'll have no wife, sir met this
lady and her husband in Melbourne.
md they very kindly nursod mo through
ny bout Of influenza told you 30 in
ny letters.
OF course tho imam from Linklater's"
vas her husband, and tho pair Of ad-
knowing tho coloncl's plans.
rad taken advantage Of his illness TO in
eroept his letters, forge substitutes to
ervo their own ends and make this bold
Ittempt to steal the famous rubies
The colonel beamed upon his nephew.
"And what shall | do for you, Dick,
or saving my rubies?"
"You can repay mo very easily il you
ike, sir. Call upon Sir George War
,urron.'
The colonel made grinace. But he
vent And within two months Evolyn's
prophecy was fulfilled.
She had rejected him. He rose to
lis feet The tears we're trickling down
l., IL.