The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-01-23

gross dishonesty angrily cut his ac-
quaintance. We met. OF course. Ike
perfect strangers, but Crackenthorpe's
manner was polite. even TO obsequi-
business.
had looked at water colors. bronzes
and prints and now asked for the minia-
lures. They were contained In three
large cases. placed upon the table In the
smaller chamber Of the blue gallery.
and unlocked at my request. Just as
was preparing TO examine the works OF
art a footman entered and Informed
me II was his masters wish / should
take luncheon. | could either sit down
with Mr.. Crackenthorpe or be attend
ed separately. But | excused myself
on the score OF wanting to leave almost
Immediately. intending to resume my
visit next day. Left alone, examined
several OF the miniatures. At last
unlocked the Mountfalcon picture. II
represented the nobleman In court
dress. | satisfied myself on every point.
After the closest scrutiny | was con
WINGED the miniature / carried In my
breast pocket differed In nothing from
the original. 1t was perfect in similar
lty OF Jewels. arms and setting. 1t
struck me that | would compare the
pictures.
The light being less strong In the
northern than southern division Of the
gallery, entered the brighter chamber.
There I looked at the miniatures side
by side. | was aghast for moment
lest they should become displaced. To
tell which from which would have been
impossible. Putting the copy In my
pocket, returned. placing the original
on n small table near the cases. Some
feeling lmpelled me to again visit the
south apartment, where / once more ex-
amined every point in the picture Mr..
Atherstone had sent. My all-absorbing
thought was to get clew to the history
OF that picture. My meditation was
broken by faint sigh-llke sound from
the inner apartment. looked around;
1t was perfectly solitary and silent. But
on returning TO replace Lord Mount
falcons miniature, 1t had disappeared.
My feelings can be conceived.
searched in vain. Everything else had
been untouched. Amid bewilderment
terrible idea occurred to me. | knew
Crackenthorpe's malevolent nature.
Had he, | thought. found an opportu-
nifty to pay Off his grudge against me?
1t was time. however to meet the diff
Guilty. Stating what had happened.
requested Crackenthorpe to at once
summon his master, II at hand.
Lord Mountfalcon listened to my
statement with the greatest calmness
and patience. In reply. he said most
likely must have Inadvertently drop
ped the picture among the prints or 9th
err things on the table. The keeper and
n footman were then ordered to make a
search through everything. 1t was per-
fectly fruitless. The nobleman. whose
eyes had never left me, said;
what explanation have you? learn
that you have been alone with the
works of art more than half an hour.
and during the time no one has been
near the gallery"
at is matter of opinion. my lord"
returned. looking hard at the keeper:
IA noise | heard warrants my belief
that someone secretly did enter"
"Do you want to throw suspicion on
meT exclaimed Crackenthorpe. at
would not be the first time you have
falsely charged me with dishonesty"
The nobleman waved his hand and
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 n moment only" cried
the keeper. 81 assure you he is a man
of disreputable character" and. creep
ing closer to me- Crackenthorpe struck
my breast pocket and Kissed out. "What
have you there?"
knew full well. heaven knows. but
what could do?
II have no property of Lord Mount
falcons" | said. land Mr.. Cracker.
thorpe knows that perfectly we'll"
"Disprove his charge. then. by pro-
ducing what your pocket contains"
was the answer. Il can have no more
delay. II you again refuse what is de-
handed one OF my servants must ride
or to Salisbury for a constable"
Surveying the whole situation. an
swered:
ALLOW me private interview. Lord
Mountfalcon. and can give you such
an explanation that must remove all
suspicion"
What the nobleman's answer might
have been | know not. Al the moment
a Wild. mocking cry came from the
garden.
what Is thatT" exclaimed Lord
Mountfalcon. anxiously; surely
know the sound"
In an instant he had quilted the gal
lery. Soon confused voices. lntermin-
gled with the angry tones OF the master
OF the mansion. arose in the corridor.
Something unusual had taken place. In
n few minutes Lord Mountfalcon.
strangely pale. re-entered and laid the
missing miniature on the table Ha