Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-05-30

"Never go out till after the second act"
put In Bob. Come along. Julia, my dear,
let us go down 70 dinner now"
Mrs. Bob laughed. Bob Is quite touchy
about walking round" she cried, teasing
ly. "Obi by the by. Julia, dear, I have
just had q letter from Lady Lucifer and
they have had the biggest robbery in
Blankhampton that they have ever had
yet"
what. another'" cried Julia, standing
stock-stlll in the corridor.
my dear" replied Mrs. Bob. impress
sively, they have got all the Civic plate
the sword and mace, the Mayor and
Mayoress' chains of Office. they have got
her ladyship's diamonds. they have got
everything. Ny dear. II is wicked to
laugh Mt The misfortunes of Others. but
when / think Of the sword and mace !
can't help laughing. And when ! read
Violet Lucifer's letter, ! Just reared"
But Mamie, " exclaimed Julia, IN an
awed voice, where will they stopi Where
will they go nexti'
Impossible to say" answered Mrs. Bob.
"but depend UPON Il the sword aud mace
have been boiled down long before this
aud the chains and all the big silver can.
dlesticks. too. And what they'll do at
the banquets and parties I can't think, for
I'm sure there isn't money enough In
Blankhampton 10 buy any new ones."
Julia tried TO think-tried TO realize
what AsTze Sunday would he like with
out the insignia OF civic state and dignity
to give an air Of splendor TO the scene;
tried and failed.
"Well," she said, as she unfolded her
serviette. I'm very glad I don't live in
Blankhampton any longer. 1t did not
matter as long as | had nothing 10 lose
but I should be very sorry to lose all the
pretty thipgs ! have now"
'Of course, you would" Mrs. Bob re-
turned, IL know / felt losing my things
badly enough. II you will believe me ]
keep what I've got left about me night
and day, aad I sent every silver teaspoon
we had 20 the bank before we came away
Just as well, for as likely as not they
would all have been gone when we goI
home again."
II was n charming little dinner that
they enjoyed that evening, at the com
Portable little table in the coolest corner
of the great dining room, which Bob had
TEStINtl lOI ululSoil duu MS WIZ hps
during their stay In the hotel. Add Julia
when she was pade much of by the othel
three, quite as ihuch OF by Bob and hi:
wife as she was by Stephen. began 70 fee
that she was q mean little wretch ant
nothing less to be giving house-room Il
such a feeling ao had taken the shape o
a little cloud no bigger than q mans hand
They got somehow during the course o
the meal 10 talking about a great murde
case just then occupying the ~attentiou'o
the newspapers, Q case In which a Wit
who outwardly Had all the appearance o
deyotedly nursing a sick husband only {
be confronted by his relatives with
charge Of wilful and deceitful murder. o
using affectionate solicitdde for his we
fare a. q cloak under which e admiuiste
a deadly poison.
~ think she'll get of, " said Bob.
al hope she will" cried Julia: poo
thing, II must be bad enough to lose you
husband without being accused Of killinI
him"
at must be pretty bad 10 be staudin.
in a dock on a charge Of murder whethe
you happen to have done II or not" put 1
Stephen. thoughtfully.
"Oh! horribler' Julia answered. "w
knew a man who was charged with mur
der, but only at the inquest, you know
And we knew the man who was murdefe
too. They were both in the Blankshir
Regiment"
Then he didn't do iti' said Stepher
The man who was had up ! mean"
"Oh, no!-they were the greatest friend
possible. But they never found out WI
did do it, all the same. / remember VI
Beresford-he was such a nice fellow; /
married Nancy Earle, a great heiress. a
terwards-told US whcI he came back ths
often eecpgh drrlng the few days that h
was inprisb7HAs used to wonder what
wouldfSaH to be hanged for the mul
5af ----s,.---- %. .-'.'
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