Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-02-04
miss Benton has tainted" said Mrs.

'Miss Benton has tainted" said Mrs.
Register.
zone moment" | said: "there is no
cause for alarm. Do you see what has
happened? Herdiamond ear-drops have
Disappeared
do you know who it is?" she whis-
pered.
Yes. Her vinaigrette has been drug
ged-not sufficiently to do her any
harm. | saw it DONE
What shall / do? Fetch General
Register, will you? He must advise
me-"
(Which is General Register?'
She came to the curtains and pointed
him out to me.
Very WELL" l said. "Chafe Miss
BentOn's hands, and try to bring her
round, but don't send for any help at
present"
l don't think l ever felt so reluctant
to proceed with case as did ut that
minute. The man whom Mrs. Register
had pointed out as her husband was the
man who had drugged the vinaigrette
who had followed Miss Benton into
the conservatory. In word, General
Register was kleptOmaniac.
"Wiil you come with me into the con-
servatOry. General?' | said AS | spoke
/ looked him sternly in the face. He
turned deadly white. and his eyes shift
ed nervOusly about the room.
whats the matter?" he said, husk'
lily. rs anything wrong"
Miss Benton has tainted"
"Oh." he murmured with relief.
"And her ear-drops have disappear
ed," l added. For moment thought
he was going to drop down. put my
arm through his, and led him toward
the conservatory. He was trembling
like a leaf.
When we got well into the shadow Of
the curtains stopped. General Regis
ter" | said, quietly, take my advice,
and give them up to me at once
What do you mean?" he said,
hOarsely.
'The ear-drops. 1t will prevent a
scene"
He put trembling hand into the
breast pocket of his dress coat and gave
me the ear-drops. He did it like man
in a dream, and | really believe that
for the time being he was unconscious.
Then he turned away and left the
dra wing-roOm hurriedly.
"Will he not Gomez" said Mrs. Regis
ter, with an awful look of terror in her
eyes.
General Register is not WELL" re-
piled. Here are the ear-drops."
The poor woman went scarlet. She
knew what | meant. and was deeply
grieved for her. From the first she must
have had a faint suspicion - the truth.
and was anxious to save him from pub.
lie disgrace and scandal.
She was thoroughly unnerved Miss
Benton showed signs of returning con-
sciOusnesS.
Now | said, put the ear-drops
back into her ears. She won't know
what has happened"
Mrs. Register replaced them with
trembling fingers.
Send someone to look after this girl
I'll stop with her till help comes. But
you must go and find your husband
Make haste" | added significantly,
"or you will be too late"
My work was not quite over. When
Mrs. Register found her husband in his
dreSsing-rOom he was. as feared. on
the point of committing suicide. She
saved him. \ number of trinkets, some
of great value, were found in his safe
There is, of course, only one eXplana-
tion. On that point the General was
mad. There was no object in his steal
ing ladies ornaments. as he is very
wealthy man, and had not put them to
any use
There was not much difficulty in find
ing their respective owners. | returned
them myself, asking each one as n mat
Ter of courtesy to make no INQUIRIES
as to how they fell into my possession.
Buffalo Times.