Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-11-19


the miniatures. They were contained
in three large cases, placed upon table
in the smaller chamber of the blue gal
lery, and unlocked at my request. Just
as I was preparing to examine the
works of art footman entered and in
formed me it was his masters wish i
should take luncheon. / could either
sit down with Mr.. Crackenthorpe or he
attended separately. But I excused my
self on the score of wanting to leave al
most Immediately, intending to resume
my visit next day. Left alone, 1 ex-
amined several of the miniatures. At
last / unlocked the Mountfalcon pic
ture. 1t represented the nobleman in
court dress. Isatisfied myself on every
point. After the closest scrutiny was
convinced the miniature I carried In
my breast coat pocket differed in moth
ing from the original. TWAS perfect in
similarity of jewels, arms and setting
It struck me that 1 would compare the
pictures.
The light being less strong in the
northern than southern division of the
gallery, entered the brighter chamber
There l looked at the miniatures side
by side. I was aghast for moment
lest they should seem displaced. To
tell which from which should have been
impossible. Putting the copy in my
pocket, L returned, placing the original
on small table near the cases. Some
feeling impelled me to again visit the
south apartment, where / once more
examined every point in the picture
Mr.. Atherstone had sent. My allah
sorbing 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.
I looked around; it was perfectly soil
tary and silent. But on returning to
replace Lord Mountainous miniature,
it had disappeared. ..a.
My feelings can be conceived. l
searched in vain. Everything else had
been untouched. Amid bewilderment,
terrible idea occurred to me. l knew
Crackenthorpe's malevolent nature.
Had he, L thought, found an oppor-
tunity to pay off 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, if at hand.
Lord Mountfalcoln listened to my
statement with the greatest calmness
and patience. In reply, ne said most
likely must have inadvertently dropped
the picture among the prints or other
things on the tables. The keeper and
footman were then ordered to make
search through everything. 1t was
perfectly fruitless. The nobleman,
whose eyes had never left me, said:
what explanation have you? Ilearn
that you have been alone with the works
of art more than half an hour, and dur
ing that time no one has been near the
gallery"
1T is a matter of opinion, my lord,
I returned, looking hard at the keeper;
"a noise l heard warrants my belief
that someone secretly did enter"
"Do you want to throw suspicion OIL
me?" exclaimed Crackenthorpe. "lt
would not be the first time you have
falsely charged me with dishonesty"
The nobleman waved his hand ano
said to me:
ut 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" criet
the keeper. 81 assure you he is maj
of disreputable character" and creep
ing closer to me, Cracllenthorpe struci
my breast pocket and Kissed out: "Wha
have you there" ......
1 knew full well, heaven knows, blu
what could 1 do? 49,.
81 have no property of Lord Mount
falcon's," l said, land Mr.. Cracken
thorpe knows that perfectly WELL"
"Disprove his charge, then, by pro
ducing what your pocket contains" wa
the answer. 81 can have 10 more de
lay. If you again refuse what is de
manded one of my servants must rid
off to Salisbury for constable"
Surveying the whole question, an
swered:
"Allow me a private interview, LORI
Mountfalcon, and I can give you sue
an explanation, that must remove al
suspicion" x
What the nobleman's answer nigh
have been / know not. At the momen
wild, hooking cry came from the gar
den.
"What is that?" exclaimed Lor,
Mountfalcon, anxiously; "surely know
the sound"
In an instant he had quilted the ga
lery. Soon confused voices, inter
mingled with the angry tones of tn
master of the mansion, arose in the cor
ridor. Something unusual had take,
place. In few minutes Lord Mount
falcon, strangely pale, reentered an
laid the missing miniature on the table
He said to me, with extended hand:
ST deeply regret we have caused yo
so much anxiety. Hear my explana
ton. A niece of mine, unfortunate
of weak intellect, gained admission i
some inexplicable manner to the ga
lery. The noise you heard doubles
came from her entrance or departure
A gardener observed her unattended
Al 4