Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-02-28

10 cnnflNuto nCf ianlcy.
''They arc magnificent she said,
and her eyes wero almost as bright with
excitement MS the gems themselves. II
never saw anything like them. Aud
tho diamonds are fine too. Dut thOre
old fashioned settings aro horrible. /
shall have thom all rosCt at once. Do
you know the address Of Il good jew
eicri"
"Linklntcr Of Bond street Is cne II
the best, 1 believe. Dut, IL you will
excuse ne saying so, don't you think
the matter will keep till the coloncl'a
return? I'm not sure that he would
care to have them altered.
"Oh, he won't object if it is my
wish" she said swcctiy. II am going
into the town early tomorrow. shall
wire myself to Linklater's TO send Al
Of their people TO fetch them"
He quietly ran up tn London in the
morning aud paid a visit to H.. Link
later, to whom he explained the cir
cunlsiances and then requested that the
stones should not no unset until they
heard from tho colonel himself.
But. my dear sir" the jcwelcr
said. Il know nothing Of these jewels.
No such telegram us you mention las
been received by rs.
The September afternoon WAS waning
when ho got back tO Bruadwatcr, and
Mrs. Fairholme, superb in II velvet din
ncr gown, swept across the hall to greet
him.
lyon tiresome fellow, A" she said play
fully, "whcro have yOu been all day?
Tho mnn nom Linklstcr's has been here
since . o'clock waiting for you To come
home with the strongroUm keys"
There WIS II mGlucnt' IS pause, wherein
a dozen wild idcus flashed through
Dicks brain. 1t WAS evident that Mrs.
FAirholme had merely used tho pretcxt
Of wishing the jewels reset III order to
get them out Of the house.
"Oh, Of course. l forgot. Hc has
como for the jewels. hasn't he: Ill
fetch them"
But when he r%eappcared his hands
were empty.
"I'm awfully sorry, Mrs. Fairhollnc, ]"
he said coully, "but I've mislaid my
keys. l hope 1 haven't dropped them
ont Of doors.
II don't think il will bo much use
searching for them" she replied, with
an unpleasant laugh. II shall have q
locksmith down FROM London the first
thing in the morning. And the jewellers
man shall wait"
Dick wrote put u telegram and gave
it TO n groom with n sovereign. "Send
it of at once. Rogers. And keep q still
tongue in your head"
The message ran Us follows:
To Colonel Fairholme, on board thu Australian
mail steamer Oratava ut Naples:
Return overland. Imperative business.
Please don't fail. DICK.
II the colonel oboyed, he would bo at
home in three days-thGt is to say, -four
days before nc would havo arrived I'M
der ordinary circumstances-four days
before no was expected by Mrs. Fair
holme.
When the locksmith arrived. Dick had
a little private conversation with him,
and II bank note changed hands. As the
result, the man told Mrs. FairhOlme
that the job was n long ono, and that he
could not undertake to accomplish II
under three days.
The mysterious man. who was moi
from Bond street, went away, and on
the third afternoon returned. hut thu
strongroom door was not opened yot.
Tho workman was awaiting insiruc
tions.
About o n. III there was "a rattle q
wheels in tho avenue, aud somebod,
rang tho front door bell.
Tho next moment the colonel, IN trav
cling cap and ulster, stepped into tn
lamplight. She slmieked and spraDg 4
her feet, o%verturnins tho bamboo tabl'
with II crash.
Colonel Fairholmor' she gaspo'
wildly. "uome already"
Mrs. Bellarmine! Bless me, what
remarkable thing! Why, l thought
had left Won III Melbournel'
"Then she's not your wifef' crie'
Dick aghast.
my Wife! !" exclaimed his uncle, per
plcxcd TO irritability. lyon know yer,
well l have no wife, sirl l met thi
lady aud her husband in Melbourne
and they very kindly nursed mo throug
my bout of influenza. told you so /
my letters"
OF course the ''man from Linklatcr's
: was her husband, and the pair of ad
. v~enturcrs, knowing the colonel's plans
had taken advantage Of His illness to Ia
|, tercept his letters, forge substitutes I
= serve their own onds and make thi
bold attempt TO steal tho famous rubie'
The coionrl beanled upon his nephew
"And what shall | do for yOr, Dicl
: for saving my rubies:'
"YOu can repay mo very easily If 20
: like. sir. Call upon Sir George Warbui
ton"
B The colonel made n Rrimace. But b
went. And within two months Evelyn
prophecy was fulfilled. Answers.
Il Fruitful Desert.