The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-09-05


wish, she said sweetly. Il am going
into the town early tomorrow shall
wire myself to Linklater's to send one
Of their people to fetch them "
He quietly ran up to London in 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 <dey
heard from the colonel himself.
But, my dear sir, - the jeweler
said, Il know nothing of these jeweN
No such telegram as you mention has
been received by US. "
The September afternoon was waning
when he got back to Broadwater, and
Mrs. Fairholme, superb in velvet din
ner gown, swept across the hall to greet
him.
You tiresome fellow, " she said play
fully, "where have you been all day?
The man frol-l Linklater' 5 has been here
since 3 O'Clock waiting for you to come
home with the st1ongroom keys
There was moment S pause, wherein
a dozen wild ideas flashed through
Dick $ brain. 1t was evident that Mrs.
Fairholme had merely used the pretext
of wishing the jewels reset in order to
get them out of the house.
ooh, Of course. forgot. He has
come for the jewels, hasn't he? III
fetch them.
But when he reappeared his handf
were empty.
IN awful4y sorry, Mrs. Fairholme,
he said coolly, but I've mislaid my
keys. l hope haven't dropped them
out of doors. "
Il don't think it will be much use
searching for them, she replied, with
an unpleasant laugh. II shall have a
locksmith down from London the first
thing in the morning. And the jeweler' S
man shall wait. "
Dick wrote out telegram and gave
it to a groom with a sovereign. "Send
it off at once, Rogers. And keep still
tongue in your head "
The message ran as follows.
To Colonel Fairholme, on board the Australian
mail steamer Oratava at Naples;
Return overland. Imperative business
Please don't fail. DICK.
If the colonel obeyed, he would be ut
home in three days-that is to say, fouI
days before he would have arrived un
der ordinary circumstances-four days
before he was expected by Mrs. Fair
holme.
When the locksmith arrived, Dick had
a little private conversation with him,
and a bank note changed hands. AS the
result, the man told Mrs. Fairholme
that the job was long one, and that he
could not undertake to accomplish it
under three days.
The mysterious man, who was not
from Bond street, went away, and OH
the third afternoon returned, but the
strongroom door was not opened yet
The workman was awaiting instruc.
tions.
About p. m. there was a rattle of
wheels in the avenue, aud somebody
rang the front door bell.
The next moment the colonel, in tray.
cling cap and ulster, stepped into the
lamplight. She shrieked and sprang to
her feet, overturning the bamboo table
with a crash.
Colonel Fairholme" she gasped
wildly. "Home already I"
Mrs. Bellarmine Bless me, what II
remarkable thing Why, thought
had left you in Melbourne"
"Then she's not your wifep p cried
Dick aghast.
my wife !" exclaimed his uncle, per
picked to irritability. you know very
well have no wife, sir / met this
lady and her husband in Melbourne
and they very kindly nursed me through
my bout Of influenza. | told you so i'll
my letters.
OF course the imam from Linklater's'
was her husband and the pair of ad
venturers, knowing the colonel's plans,
had taken advantage Of his illness to in
tercept his letters, forge substitutes To
serve their own ends and make this
bold attempt to steal the famous rubies
The colonel beamed upon his nephew.
"And what shall | do for you, Dick,
for saving my rubies?'
"GOu can repay me very easily if you
like, sir. Call upon Sir George Warbur
ton. -
The colonel made grimace. But hi
went, And within twomonths Evelyn :
prophecy was fulfilled. Answers.