Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-04-11
MRS. BOB.
by JOHN STRANGE WINTER.

by JOHN STRANGE WINTER.
Lady Lucifer CAV n sigh. "Ah, yes
one has time to live IN Observation-Disclosures
scarcely to breathe. However, now / have
half an hour to spare and l want to know
whether your diamonds are better thar
mine or not. Well. OF course, they are
better ia one way whether they are
worth more or not, for yours are your
own, while most of mine are family jew
eis.t
Thus urged, Mrs. Bob went to "A leather
covered box OF very ordinary appearance,
aud began TO upfasten the straps-then
the corner fell of and disclosed IA stou'
Dasket-she lifted the lid OF that and took
the basket. Its an unconventional af-
fair" said Mrs. Bob, as she felt in her
pocket for the key-"but we fiatter our
selves II does not look like q jewel-box."
ut does not" said her hostess.
Then she turned the entire contents out
for the benefit Of the two ladies-and
what a collection it was. The ornaments
were almost entirely Of diamonds, but
there was one exception, an enormous
butterfly formed OF a large pigeons blood
ruby, with a single pearl for the head,
emerald eyes and wide spreading diamond
wings. Lady Lucifer picked it out from
among the glittering collection. my
dear, wear that to-night-it will look love-
ly with that dead white gown"
"fes, l will wear IT," said Mrs. Bob.
81 never saw anything so lovely In my
life," exclaimed Mrs. Trafford; there are
so many, aud they are all so large and
beautiful. IL they were mine ] should
never be able to sleep for wondering IL
they were safe"
"Oh, yes; you would soon get used to
that" Mrs. Bob replied. II used TO feel
n little nervous in India and on board
ship. but l kept the shabby old basket in
sight and everybody thought it was bon
nets-I always called it my bonnet-box,"
she ended, smiling.
"My dear" said Lady Lucifer, II yield
you the palm. Mine cannot come any
where near them. I always said you
were the luckiest girl I ever knew, al
ways"
Mrs. Bob smiled and began putting the
cases back into the box, laying aside on
the table such ornamen as she wished
TO wear that evening. Then she packed
mp the basket again and threw n shawl
carelessly over 1t. There" she said. lit
is quite safe. Nobody would ever dream
there was anything valuable in that"
All this did not leave Mrs. Trafford
too much time In which TO get ready for
dinner. She went back to her room
where she found Julia already nearly
dressed.
why. mother!" said she. "where have
you beeni"
II have been in Mrs. Markham's bed
room. my dear. looking at her jewels-I
have seen jewels before" she added, but
never anything like hers"
Julia was too happy, however, to be
much impressed by anybods's jewels, no
matter how costly or beautiful.
Are they goodt" she said, carelessly.
Exquisite" said Mrs. Trafford, with
decision.
However, when Julia, half an hour
later, saw Mrs. Bob walk into the draw
iug-room, with her dead white satin dress,
the big butterfly playing on her left Shout
der, and three large stars adorning the
bodice beneath IL, which in their turn
caught up and held ia place a lovely neck
lace OF large single stones, she felt indif-
lrItul uO lOuktE, OuN lbOhcu ~ HcE WIN
undisguised admiration aud caught her.
self wondering whether she would ever
be able 10 adorn herself in like fashion.
wonder is there any woman in all the
world who does not really like d~iamondst
! once knew "A man who said he detested
them, and / nave heard hat same man
tell a lady that her diamonds were ex-
quisite. Jnlia. that evening, turned to
Stephen Howard and said, How delight
full your sister looks"
Yes. abe does look rather nice" he an
q nice frock she's got on"
"And her diamonds are lovely" said
Julia.
do you like diamonds" he inquired.
IL love them" she said promptly, at
which he laughed and said how odd il
was, ladies were all the same on that sub
ject.
Yes, I believe we are" said she, laugh.
ing too.
II was . large dinner, Of more than
forty people, ~indeed-and Julia went In
with Stephen aud enjoyed herself obi SO
much. OF course the evening seemed to
60 like magic and IL was quite with sur
prise that she realized that the guests
were quickly saying good. night. AS the
last one disappeared Mrs. Bob moved TO
where Lady Lucifer was standing. ''I'm
SO tired to night, Violet" she said, ~ am
going to bed. Goodnight"
Goodnight, dear" said Lady Lucifer.
"Bu: cannot 1 do anything, Will you
have anything sent up to your rooml"
Mrs. Bob fairly laughed. Not a thing,
dear Il am tired, that is all" she replied.
al viii just steal of before you have those
wonderful card-tricks."
SO away she went and then Mr.. Car
rington. who was a young man highly
popular In society, a sort OF Jack-of-all-
amusements, began to show of his skill
at various card-tricks-yet scarcely had
he began when the door was hurriedly
opened and Mrs. Bot came running In
with a scared white face. scarcely indeed
less white than her satin gown. 'Oh! Bob
Violet" she gasped.
Her hostess and her husband both
Jumped up. what - it," asked one.
Are you ill," said the other.
MY box-my jewels!' she cried. ''They
are gone-all go~ne-stolenf"
Good Heavensr' cried Markham: then
dashed up the stairs followed by all the
panic stricken company.
'Oh. Maimie! what shall we do," cried
Lady Lucifer in great distress.
Mr.. Bob began to laugh In a very sus-
picious way as IL very little was needed
to send her into h, ~sterics. Ill" she
began-then pointed to the place where
the box had stood and to the open win
dow.
1t was not more thar two or three inches
open. but already 1t was too late in the
year for bedroom windows. or indeed sor
the matter Of that any windows, to stand
open without some special reasou--there
was, however, a very special reason for
this window standing open. and with an
exclamation Bob Markham dashed across
the oom and hung IL to the top, thrusting
his head out as II II was likely that the
thief or thieves would be c~rouching In the
laurels below.
They have actually left the ladder
against the wall" he said to Lord Lucl-
fer, who had followed him.
"'What Is TO be done,' Lord Lucifer al.
svered. with a question. Here Thomas,
"a down and turn some of the men out.
Let ms rave the police such an they are a.
once. Aud let Joe saddle benny Bess and
drive OH to the station at Blankhnmpton
at once and tell the police there. Let him
drive like steam"
at won't be any good" said Bob Mark.
ham. hia head ssi've uoticed