Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-09-16
after that? 1t seemed more than doubt

The ladies were rising to leave the ia
be. and Amathwaite, who opened the
door for them, took advantage of their de-
parture to take vacant seat beside Lord
kildonan's guest, Sydney, and within
three seats of Ned Crosmont, who had
been morose and silent during dinner, and
who now greeted him with black and I'M
disguised scowl, which the young York
shireman resolved stolidly not to see.
"You were not on the ice this after
noon, I thinky' began Armathwaite, as
an opening
"Oh, no, l was not nearly well enough.
And l hate ice and snow, and all those
things" b..
"Well, really think you would have
looked better if you had put on pair of
skates and tried your luck on the lake to-
day"
II think you don't quite understand my
case" lisped Sydney, in languid tone,
but with an obstinate expression in his
unhealthy, suet-colored face. II suffer
from the nerves; any shock upsets me; and
have had great shock"
''Indeedv'
Eyes. You must know, DR.. Arma-
thwaite, that I always carry about with
dressing case with silver-g gilt fittings
Well, in the little drawer at the bottom
l generally keep some money-not much,
but couple Of hundred pounds or so,
partly in gold and partly in silver. And
in the trays and other compartments
keep my watches and few articles of
jewelry. Well, last night
Don't you think that everybody has,
by this time, heard enough of that story
of yours!" interrupted harsh voice.
Il think, Mr.. Crosmont, that that is my
own affair. And if you really believe, as
you seem to imply, that my story is not
true, l can soon settle that by going to
Lord Kildonan and asking him to let me
put the thing into the hands of the police"
Either of malicious purpose or through
loss of self-control, Sydney had raised
his voice so that it's high effeminate tones
carried his words from end to end of the
room; and Lord Kildonan, who was in
the midst of an argument about rare edi-
tons, hearing his name mentioned, stop
! ped in his talk. Crosmont's dark face as
sumed in a moment a ivid hue, and it
was with an effort which caused the mus
cles of his mouth and eyes to twitch in
convulsve hideousness that he burst into
constrained laugh, and slapping Sydney
on the shoulder with familiarity which
| the latter strongly resented, told him that
! he was too touchy, that he mustn't take
| offense Mt a joke; then he added quickly
in a much lower tone, while his eyes seem
| ed to pierce right into the lads shallow
| brain:
"You could never commit an act so
unworthy Of gentleman as that"
He had struck the right chord. The
word gentleman" was a fetch to the
| heir of IN advertisement contractor Sgd
! ney gave him a faint and sickly smile of
| condescending truce, and was about to
| resume his talk with Armathwaite when
the agent again interrupted him.
"You haven't told me all the details of
the affair yet, Sydney. Seriously, think,
knowing this place as well as l do. I
might be able to find c,ew to the disap-
pearance Of the things, if anybody could. ~
| At this moment Crosmont caught the
eyes of the young doctor fixed upon him
with great intenseness. Sydney, offended
at hearing his Christian name from the
lips of the rough-mannered man he dis
liked, shrugged his shoulders and said
languidH:
| "You have heard oil the details already,
and l don't really see why you should be
able to find out any more about it than
DR.. Armathwaite can. Don't you agree
with meY and he turned to his other
neighbor.
! "Well, yes." answered the doctor II
agree that Mr.. Crosmont, having heard
the details, knows much more about the
affair than do. And also agree that by
hearing them I shall find out great deal
that don't know now"
perhaps you have a special faculty for
discovering mares nests!" said Crosmont,
rudely.
| II have not yet had experience enough
in hunting for them to know"
"Well. you won't be long in getting it
at the rate You are going" said the agent
| in the same tone.
Armathwaite, who was exceedingly anx-
ious, for Alma's sake, not to be led into a
quarrel with her morose husband, affected
not to catch these last words, and again
begged Sydney Mason to let him hear the
promised story.
II was telling you," said the young fell
low at once shat keep some money al
ways by me in my dressing case. And
the key keep on q steel ring with some
others. Last night went to the ward
robe and took the keys out of my coat,
| opened my dressing case. and found that
all the gold, about sixty or seventy
pounds, was gone. and worse than that
a diamond breastpin. Now what do you
think of that? The moneys nothing,
and. for the matter of that, the diamond 8
| nothing. but it's the feeling that here, in
house where you are on intimate terms
with the people, and do expect to be
| treated with some consideration, you
should be as unprotected as if you were
sleeping in a barn."
but surely you can't blame Lord and
Lady Kldonan? They would be awfully
! vexed if they heard Of it."
HE would, but Lady KiIdonan doesn't
care. She was told about it, and she only
said"-here his face began to pucker up
! almost as il he were going to cry-"that
the little laddie must have been dream
ing! What do you think of that? call
it shameful. And say Lord Kldonan
ought to be told. and must be told, DR..
Armathwaite. and l en- sure you will
! agree with me-"