The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-04

1ty or jewels, arms an0 SetClng. 1t
struck me that would compare the
pictures.
The light being less strong in the
northern than southern division of the
gallery, entered the brighter chamber.
There looked at the miniatures side
lest they should become displaced. To
tell which from which would have been
impossible. Putting the copy in my
pocket, returned, placing the original
on a small table near the cases. Some
feeling impelled me toagain. visit the
south apartment, where once more ex-
amined every point in the picture Mr..
Atherstone had sent My all-absorbing
thought was to get a clew to the history
Of that picture. My meditation was
| broken by a faint sigh-like sound from
the inner apartment looked around;
it was perfectly solitary and silent. But
on returning to replace Lord Mount
falcons miniature, 1t had disappeared.
My feelings can be conceived. l
searched in vain. Everything else had
been untouched Amid bewilderment a
terrible idea occurred to me. I knew
Crackenthorpe's malevolent nature.
Had he, thought, found an opportu-
nifty to pay off his grudge against me ?
1t was time, however, to meet the diff
Guilty. Stating what had happened, l
| requested Crackenthorpe to at once
summon his master, IL at hand.
Lord Mountfa1con listened to my
10 70, NM yr0ofoSt nolnon
and patience. In reply, he said most
likely 1 must have inadvertently drop
ped the picture among the prints or 9TH
er things on the table. The keeper and
a footman were then ordered to make a
search through everything. 1t was per-
fectly fruitless. The nobleman, whose
eyes had never left me, said:
What explanation have you? learn
that you have been alone with the
works of art more than haf an hour,
and during the time no one has been
near the gallery;
"It is a matter of opinion, my lord"
returned, looking hard at the keeper;
"a noise heard warrants my belief
that someone secretly did enter"
DO you want to. throw suspicion on
meT" exclaimed .Crackenthorpe at
would not be thesfirst time you have
falsely charged me-with dishonesty"
The nobleman waved his hand and
said to me:
at is very painful to me, but have
no alternative. You must be searched"
'Forbear, my lord,' calmly replied;
"spare me such humiliation"
Hear me for a moment only. cried
the keeper 81 assure you he is man
of disreputable character" and, creep
ing closer to me, Crackenthorpe struck
my breast pocket and hissed out, what
have you there"
l knew full well, heaven knows, but
what could do?
81 have no property Of Lord Mount
falcons" l said, 'and Mr.. Cracken-
thorpe knows that perfectly WELL"
"Disprove his charge, then, by pro-
fducing what your pocket contains"
was the answer. 81 can have no more
delay. If you again refuse what Is de-
manded one Of my servants must ride
off to Salisbury for a constable"
Surveying the whole situation. l an
swered: ~s
"Allow me private interview, Lord
Mountfalcon. and 1 can give you such
an explanation that must remove all
suspicion"
What the nobleman's answer might
have been know not. At the moment
wild, mocking cry came from the
garden.
what is that?" exclaimed Lord
Mountfalcon: anxiously; surely I
know the sound.",
In an instant he had quilted the gal
|. lery. Soon confused voices, Intermin-
gled with the angry tones Of the master
of the mansion, arose in the corridor.
Something unusual had taken place In
few minutes Lord Mountfalcon,
strangely pale, re-entered and laid the
missing miniature on the table. He
said to me, with extended hand:
Il deeply regret we have caused you
so much anxiety. Hear my explana-
ton. A niece of mine, unfortunately
Of weak intellectf gained admission In
some inexplicable manner to the gal
lery. The noise you heard doubtless
came from her entrance or departure.
A gardener observed her unattended,
and, following the young lady, saw her
cast something into the rosary. It was
the portrait taken from the table where
you had deposited It. deeply regret
you should have been placed In such
an awkward situation"
/ bowed and PREPARED to depart. Lord
Mountfalcon would not hear of It, stat
ing he wished to see me in private.
by the way" he added to Cracken-
thorpe, 'it is mystery to me how Lady
Hester could have obtained entrance
here. By means Of that locked door
she. ii entirely cut of from this side of
the mansion. Has the door been un-
locked since my orders?"
81 have no knowledge of It." faltered
the keeper, turning pale.
Lord Mountfalcon crossed to the door,
and 1t opened on the handle being turn
ed. What transpired I did not learn
until an hour later.
As sat down over my luncheon be-
gan to see my way to the possibility of
obtaining a clew to the history of the
miniature In my pocket. Atherstone
had given me some facts, but I had
been sensitive about disclosing them.
1t was not long before I was closeted
with the owner of Shrewton court. In
a lull of conversation his lordship OBJ
served in a quiet tone:
''Was it solely an interest In art bring
ing you to Merivale?'
answered in the negative.
81 thought so" was the reply. Now
we have established friendly relations,
may / ask why you at first SO firmly
resisted my demand Of your being