The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-05-29

way near the lodge gates, and requested
him TO hani the letter over 10 her
"Thanks." said Dick. lightly. "Of
course Mra. Fairholme has forgotten 10
give q 10 me. IN ask her about H."
Conscious Of her duplicity. Dick could
scarcely force himself to be civil TO her.
But che appeared not to notice his mo.
rosoness, and In the evening she rose
from the piano suddenly, as though on
impulse.
by the way" she said. have you the
key OF the sirong.room. Dick7 meant
20 ask You before aud forgot should
30 much like to see the family jewels,
Your uncle told me that he has come
wonderful rubies which he brought
from india Bring them down. there's
a dear boyw
The dear boy brought them down
with the best grace Ia the wcrld. Mra.
fairholme admired the jewels and
played with them like a child with
new toy Bat the rubies seemed espe-
ciallY 10 captiyate her fancy.
They nre magnificent she said. and
her eyes were almost as bright with ox.
element as the gems themselves. Il
never saw anything like them. And
the diamonds are fine. too. But those
oli-fashioned settings are horrible. |
shall have them all reset at once. DO
YOU know the address OF a good Jew
elcr?"
"Linklater Of Bond street. is one Of
the beat. ! believe. But II you will ex.
cule my saying So doa't you think the
matter will keep till the ooloners re-
turn? I'm not sure that he would care
10 have them altered"
"oh. be won't object II II Is my wish
she said sweetly. Il am going into the
town early tomorrow. shall wire
myself 10 Linklaler's 10 send one Of
their peoTle TO fetch them"
lie quietly ran up 10 London In the
morning and paid a visit 10 Mr. Link
later 10 whom he explained the cireum-
stances and then requested that ihe
stones rhould not be unset until they
heard from the colonel himself
But my dear sir" the ieweler said.
Il know nothing OF these jewels. SO
such telegram a. You mentioned has
been received by MS"
The September afternoon was waning
when he got back 10 Broadwaier. and
Mrs Fairholme. superb IN a velvet din
ner gown. swept across the hall to meet
him.
You tirosome fellow" she said play
fully. where have you been all FAY?
The man from Llnklater's has been here
since three o'clock waiting for sou 20
come home with the sirong-room KEYS"
oh Of course. forgot He has
come for the jewels hasn't ho1 I'll
fetch them"
But when he roappearod his hands
we're iiill empty.
I'm awfully sorry, Mrs FalTholmc"
De said coolly. but I've mislaid my
keys. horo haven't dropped them out
Of doors"
i don't think Il will be much use
searching for them" she replied. with
an unpleasant laugh, Il shall have a
locksmlth down from London the irst
thing In the morning. And the Jew
elers man shall wait"
Dick wrote out a telegram and gave L
20 a groom with a sovereign.
Send Il on at once. Rogers. and
keep a sim tongue In your head
The message ran as follows:
To Colonel Fairholmc. ON board the
Australia mail steamer Oratava AZ Ma
Piles
Return overland. Imperative busl-
ness DO not fail. Dick"
II the colonel obeyed. he would be at
home IN three days-that l. to say. four
days before he would have arrived IN.
der ordinary circumstances -four days
before he was expected by Mrs. Fair.
holme
when the locksmlth arrived. Dick
had a little private conversation with
him and a bank note changed hands
IS result the man told Mrs Falrhalmo
iha, the Job was a long one and that
De could not undertake to accomplish j,
under three days
The mysterious man who was no,
from Bond street. went away. and on
The third afternoon returned. but the
slrong-room door was not yet ops @ed
The workman was awaiting instruc-
t.ons
About eve O'Clock there was a rattle
OF wheels In the avenue. and somebody
rang the door bell The next momcn,
the colonel. In travelling cap and ulster
stepped into the lampllght. Mrs. Fair.
holmc shrleked and sprang to her feet
overmning the bamboo table with a
crash.
Colonel Falrholme" she gasped wild.
ly. Home alreadyr
Mrs ncllarmlne' Bless me, What q
remarkable thing, why. { thought
had left you In Molhourner
Then she's not your wife," ex,
claimed Dick, aghast.
My wife, cried his uncle. perplsxet
to irrltahlllty. "You know very sell
, have no wife, sir! I met this lady ant
her husband In Melbourne. and he,
very kindly nursed me through my bou
Of Influenza told you so In my let
. tera."
. Of course the man from Linklaters'
b. was her husband. and the pair OF ad