The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-09-06

bidhce ~ the lounge where She had
ieit her wraps showed that the, were
AL picked up and carried away.
Nv no carried my things awav?- She
asked Matte, who was busting the
room.
II did. Wasn't that righto"
"oh, yes but she hurried into the
hall and examined her mittens. her
muff. cloak and hood even her over.
shoes and lcggings, shook everything,
but To no purpose.
Did you hear anything drop on the
floor when YOU picked UP nv things.
Matte? she asked. when she returned
To the dining room.
II don't remember as l did," Matte
said I've swept the floor since.
Have you lost something's"
Jacky said yes and, getting down
ON her hands and knees. peered in the
hollow Of the stove legs. examined the
lounge and shook its cushions. Then
She went out At the front door and
carefully examined every inch of the
path 10 the gate-ali in vain.
Then. and not till then. did she ac-
quaint her mother with her loss. Mrs.
Lawson was even more disturbed than
Jacly. and she went over all the
things and places that Jacky had
searched, as vainly. Then her sus-
p.csOn fell on Matte. She was too Just
to say anything Of il To anyone else.
but she watched the girl narrowly
and thought she saw traces of guilt.
Judge Lawson took measures To have
the sleigh searched carefully, and also
sent word to the house where the
party was given, but all as fruitless as
the other efforts.
The next week was Mates time for
visit home. Her widowed mother
lived in the city. ten miles away. and
it had been stipulated when she came
that she should have chance to go
home once in two months and spend
the sabbath. so she went on the train
Saturday. Truth to tell. it was re-
lief To her to get away. for she felt
that Mrs. Lawson was all the time
watching her and suspected that she
knew what had become of the ring.
That evening Kitty Logan. one Of
Jacky's many girl friends. came bust
ling in.
II went to the city to-day" she said.
and sat just opposite your girl.
Matte. in the car. And l want to ask
You a question. Does she wear .
ring?"
II don't remember as ever noticed
her wearing one. Why?"
well. il may not mean anything.
but She certainly had on one to-day,
for conld see the shape Of it through
her worsted glove"
should you think the shape might
have been like Jacky's?" asked Mrs
Lawson.
II should think ii might. though
didn't think about that at the time.
and should never have thought Of it
again. but for one circumstance.
had an errand ut Peek * Snyder's--
they re the finest jewelry store in the
city you know-and l met Matte com
ing ont just as / went in. She must
have gone there direct from the depot
She had on a veil and didn't notice me,
so many are all the time passing out
and in. but l wondered why a poor
girl like her should visit a fine store
like that"
Mrs Law son YVES more stirred by
this confirmation of her suspicious
than she was willing to confess. With
out telling anyone she wrote immedi-
ately to Peck q Snyder. asking if they
had had a diamond ring offered them
for sale that day. If SO. what style of a
ring and by whom.
The answer came back Immediately.
They had several clerks, so il was diff
cult to trace such things. but one
clerk. name given, remembered a
young lady bringing in diamond ring
about that time. was not positive as to
the day. and asking its value. She
did not say she wanted to sell it. The
heads of the firm were both out then,
and the clerk told her he did not think
any Of the clerks would be competent
judges of its value, and advised her to
call again.
Mrs. Lawson was not satisfied. and
wrote again. this time to the clerk
asking that he describe to her
as nearly as he could the lady and the
ring.
The clerk replied that he did not re-
at all particularly about the
lady. and could not well describe her
face. rs she had on veil. but his irn-
preston was that she was young;
should not say that she was richly
dressed. or very poorly, and there was
suspicious in her manner;
should say the diamonds were a mod
e, cluster. but di not examine the
ring aud could not tell positively It's
style.
The modest cluster" described
Jacky's ring 50 exactly that Mrs Law
son now took her husband into her
told him what Kitty had
said. and showed him the letters.
Its case Of circumstantial evil
ience." he said. after they had talked
over the particulars mo one should
ever he condemned on that III think
81 it over night. and give you my adj
vice in the morning"
Go yourself and talk to Matte kind
" and in private was the advice he
gave. III she is guilty you may get
some clcw."
That very afternoon Mrs. Lawson
ncrved herself to the task. and. know
ing Matte was alone in her own room,
went thither and knocked at the door.
Matte opened it and looked surprised
II seeing Mrs. Lawson. who came in,