Evening star., 1896-02-22
THE RAJAH'S HEIRLOOM.
BY FLORENCE MA&RYAT,
Author of ..Her Lord and Master" Etc.
copyright, 1895, by Bacheller. johnson Bacheler)
(Cohtinued from February 15)
SYNOPSIS.

81 NOfSlS.
John Busby, a Scotland Yard detective, is
sent to Manningford to investigate the rob-
berry of a diamond necklace worth f30, 900.
This belonged to Sir Henry Ellesmere, who
has just died. and the jewels were found
missing after the reading of the will. Busby
puts up at the hotel, and overhears the Gus
toners discussing the matter, one OF whom
suspects the young wife of Sir Henry to
have taken them
The detective questions her stepson, the
new baronet. who tells him the jewels were
given to his father by an Indian prince.
were intended as an heirloom, and that his
stepmother always wanted them. He tells
OF his own marriage and OF quarrel with
his father, who was angered by 1t. RuSby
questions the widow, and she hirtS that Sir
Charles himself has taken the jewels. He
also hears of and sees deaf and dumb wo-
man, Julia Craley7 a dwarf. who has a home
In the house, and has always been very de-
voted to Sir Charles AMI his father.
An uncouth sound, unlike the speech of
human or animal. was uttered in reply to
this appeal, and 1 saw Lady Eilesmere
shrink back little as she said:
'Oh! it's poor Julia! He is bringing her IN
hereT
The next moment the young baronet had
entered. dragging by the hand most dis
fressing-looking object in the shape of
deforned woman of about four feet high.
with Il large face and head, repe1lant ex-
preston and very ugly features. She was
cinging 70 his hand and gazing in his face
with lock that was meant to be affection
ate, but to ne seemed very repulsive; but
as soo;i as Sas caught sight of young Lady
Eies-ric:- AMI :lysC:f she gave . sort CT
angry s2r'.,sri l. ;aa;i Of Z monkey. and
hob6's. -. Ky i:.e:.. Sir Charles enter.
the - = n als...s:
''Po2t- .:-'!;3 eaET-t oFl=-n-1e Ler ieaIo,.-y
of yaC. = ..=gsi,.-. l.n ...i. Il ,annot set
her over the threshold of the room. She
regards you as intruder to the family
Poor little creature. How terrible it must
be to have no intei!ectr'
is that Miss Craley. Sir Charles, of
Whom the Dowaser Lady Ellesmere has
Been telling me?' 1 inquired
les She is an unfortunate member Of
oCr family. whom my late father adopted
Mhen an infant. ard she has run loose at
The Gables ever since She is almost If
not quite. imbecile. She can neither sneak
nor near aud scarcely understands any
thing. L believe she understood what nv
father said better than anyone else She
was devoted TO him and would sit at his
feet for hours gazing in his face. l am
sure she feels his death"
oh. Charlie. she is very fond of you,"
exclaimed his wife That Is why she dis
likes me-
she is like an animal" he replied: "she
had the same aversion for my stepmother
Just because my father liked her Imbe-
though they have no power of expressing
them.
This is the lady who remained by the
late baronet's side all the time he was i'll
then" / said.
Yes, SO 1 understand. and is supposed to
have Kept strict guard over the rajah's
heirloom" said Sir Charles. II suppose the
cowager told you that. But what depend
ence is there to be placed on the sharpness
OF an idiot, even if she could tell Us what
SIZE saw or heard. | consider that proof
utterly valueless. \ dozen people may have
entered the sick chamber whilst Julia was
doing, and rifled every lock in the place"
w no else watched beside the baronet's
bed | asked.
Goddard. the butler. He has been in the
family for forty years. and always nursed
my father in his Illnesses"
with your leave. then. Sir Charles, 1
should like to examine Goddard next
with pleasure. If you Will descend to
the library, Mr. Busby, 1 will send him to
you
Bowing to the lady 1 left the room with
Sir Charles. We found the deforme1 wo-
man croucheI outside the door with her
eyes eagerly directed towards 1T. AS the
young baronet> passed her, he placed his
hand upon her head.
Poor judy he CALCULATED kindly. The
dwarf seized his hand and kissed 1t pas
sionately at the same time giving MIN
look which. to my mind, fully accountsi
for her jealousy of. and dislike to, the
pretty young wife inside the room.
Were l Sir Charles" l thought, Il
shouldn't care to have that evil-minded
little hunnpback too near my wife, lest she
should do her an injury Creatures Of this
sort are often as vicious as they ugly"
But, of course, / kept my thoughts to my
self
Goddard entered the library with a
stealthy step and look of grave import
ance. Evidently, he was bristlns with
news.
sI am glad you sent for me before any
of the other servants. SIR" he comm enced,
r g., 7 " n n n
VIII make their revelations more signih-
cant to you"
Il am glad to hear It, Mr.. Goddard 1
replied las this case appears to be rather
a difficult one and we want all the light
thrown upon it that is possible When Gid
you last see these jewels?'
Not for ages and ages. sir-them sort OF
things have no interest for me, and barring
that nv Ia st master got them in return for a
very gallant action. 1 shouldn't never have
looked at them at all. But, when robbery
has been committed from q well-known
house like The Cables-be 1t Of jewels or any,
thing else-it behooyes every one TO put on
his considering cap. and think who has been
about the house, and what they've seen as
has struck them suspicious, in connec-
tion with the circumstances Do you agree
with me. Sir?'
Most certainly I do. You take a very
sensible view of the matter Mr. Goddard.
Have you ever seen any suspicious-loobng
characters about The Gables of late?'
Goddard drew nearer to me. and lowered
MS VOICE
This here is IN confidence sir. You
wouldn't get NE into scrape with the young
master?''
PART ".
"Of course not. Are you not acting In his
interests?"'
why certainly; but things seem a bit
mixed to me. Well. sir, you see. servants
amt all deaf and dumb. like that pore cree
ter that is kept here out of charity. We has
our senses. sir, and our feelin's, and we can't
always shut our eyes to what is a-goin' on.
Well, 1t was about month ago when fust
see one evening. l was putting up the
shutters in the library, dark fisger 1urk-
ing along the shrubberies-I couldn't see him
Jery plainly. but he looked like a loafer or a
Tramp to mel didn't like the looks of him
at all and called James. the footr1an, to
go OFT into the garden and see who it might
be. But James, being but lad and tim
orous-like, was such time about obeying
my orders that when he went the man was
gone. though I'm as certain / saw him as /
am that l see you at this present momentr'
{a] ME= ME=-===z=,l;f#=;=f;: 1@