The sea coast echo., 1895-10-12


Have you lost somethiag?"
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 to the gate-all in vain.
Then, and not till then, did she ac-
quaint her mother with her loss. Mrs.
Lawson was even more disturbed than
Jacky, and she went over all the
things and places that Jacky had
searched, as vainly. Then her sus-
picion fell on Matte. She was too Just
to say anything of it 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 a chance to go
home once in two months and spend
the sabbath, SO she went on the train
Saturday. Truth to tell, it was a 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.
~ went to the city to-day" she said
''and / sat just opposite your girl
Matte, in the car. And / want to ask
you question. Does she wear n
ring2'
II don't remember as ever noticed
her wearing one. Why?"
well, it may not mean anything,
but she certainly had on one to-day,
for could see the shape of it through
her worsted glove"
SHOULD you think the shape might
have been like Jacky's?' asked Mrs.
Lawson.
~ should think it might, though
didn't think about that at the time,
and should never have thought of it
again, but for one circumstance. l
had an errand at Peck & Snyder's-
they're the finest jewelry store in the
city you know-and | met Matte COM
ing out just as | went in. She must
have gone there direct from the depot.
She had on veil and didn't notice me,
SO many are all the time passing out
and in, but | wondered why a poor
girl like her should visit fine store
like that"
Mrs. Lawson was more stirred by
this confirmation of her suspicious
than she was willing to confess. With
out telling anyone she wrote immedi-
Ptely to Peck & Snyder, asking if they
had had diamond ring offered them
Tor sale that day, If SO, what style of
ring and by whom.
The answer came back immediately.
They had several clerks, so it 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 it's 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
himself, asking that he describe to her
as nearly as he could the lady and the
ring.
The clerk replied that he did not re-
member at all particularly about the
lady, and could not we'll describe her
face, as she had on a veil, but his i'm
preston was that she was young;
should not say that she was richly
dressed, or very poorly, and there was
nothing suspicious in her manner;
should say the diamonds were a mod
est cluster, but did not examine the
ring and could not tell positively it's
style.
The modest cluster" described
Jacky's ring so exactly that Mrs. Law
son now took her husband into her
confidence, told him what Kitty had
said, and showed him the letters.
Its case of circumstantial eyi-
dence." he said, after they had talked
over the particulars. mo one should
ever be condemned on that I'll think
OF 1t over night, and give you my ad-
vice in the morning"
"Go yourself and talk to Matte kind
ly and in private" was the advice he
gave. III she is guilty you may get
some clew.'
That very afternoon Mrs. Lawson
nerved herself to the task, and, know
ing Matte was alone in her own room.
went thither and knocked at the door.
Matte opened 1t and looked surprised
at seeing Mrs. Lawson, who came in,
closed the door and sat down.
II want to ask you few questions
Matte" she said, kindly. why did
You visit Peck e. Snyders jewelry store
the day you went home?"
For answer Matte burst into tears
and Mrs, Lawson now felt sure he,
suspicious were correct.
"Oh, Mrs. Lawson!n she sobbed, 81
know you have thought / stole that
ring. could read it in your face, but
indeed | never did! | went into Peck
& Snyder's and bought little iet
brooch to carry to mother for a pres
ent She had never had black mir
since father died, and I knew She
would like one, and that Peck & Sny
der always had a pretty assortment, Sc
| went in there to buy it. For, though
theirs is such a stylish store, they ar.
honest and will tell yon just what
things arc, and their prices for sucf
things are no higher than they are
elsewhere, And they always treat