The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-01-27

NJ lhab buBy gov up huu Weub lhOO
the ball room again. On the chair
where the girl had been sitting, lay
something shining. / strolled across
and examined it. 1t was her vinai-
grette, which she had probably left
there by accident. / replaced it,
thinking it might serve as q trap for
our fashionable thief, if he we're in
the neighborhood, and withdrew to
my corner, where l was almost invis-
lble.
Presently an old gentleman strolled
out to smoke q cigarette. He
was tall, handsome, intellect
ual looking man, with the air
of the true aristocrat. His name ]
didn't know, but ] had noticed him
chatting with the guests. HewAs evi.
IDENTIFY known to every one, and was a
man of social Importance.
Presently his eye caught the little
jewellod vinaigrette. He looked care
lessly round the conservatory, to see
if he were observed, and picked it up.
He now had his back to me. was on
the point of stepping up to him, when
he turned round, and replaced the
vinaigrette and walked quietly away.
1t was lucky had not moved.
should have looked rather fooli sh.
Same curious instinct bale me cross
the conservatory, and look at the
vinaigrette again. Without thinking
about it put it to my nose.
The next thing / remember is, that
1 found myself sitting i'll q chair.
Gradually, things became clearer.
The vinaigrette lay by my side. II
was drugged. For q few minutes
had lost consciousness. / still felt
dizzy ami sick, but knowing that
everything depended on my being
prompt and acute, / managed with an
effort to pull myself together.
Then arose the qestion. What
should 1 do next? Should go straight
to the man who had tampered with
the vinaigrette? A MON ent's thought
showed me that that would be worse
than useless. l had no proof OF any
thing. The situation must be allowed
to develop itself before l interfered.
After some little reflection, / decid.
ed to go back to the drawing room,
where 1 could see what was going on.
Under any circumstances l must moi
lose sight of the girl to whom the vim
aigrette belonged.
For nearly half an hour l waited in
vain. She danced with two or three
different men, but did not seem to
have missed it.
At last, after one OF the dances, she
appeared to be looking for something.
With what was, presume, an apology
to her partner, she skipped across the
room to group of girls. Evidently
she was asking if any OF them had seen
her viniagrette. For some time she
got no information, but presently a
girl who was passing, leaning on O
mans arm, turned roun1 and made
some remark, pointing with her fan to
the conservatory door. The owner OF
the viniagrette gave q little nod of
thanks, and hurried across the room.
All this time 1 observed that the
man who had drugged the scent bot.
tie, and who was chatting with some
of the people standing about, watched
the girl closely.
AS soon,as she left the drawing room
he broke of his conversation, and
strolled quietly toward the conserva-
tory. AS he passed through the cur.
tains noticed that he glanced round
to see if he were being followed.
That settled it; 1 had found my
man, and must act promptly. Lady
yarmouth was standing near the
piano. Remembering her injunction
that there was not, under any circum-
stances, TO be an expose or a scene, it
was necessary to proceed with caution
1 caught her eye without much diff
GUILTY. She understood at once that 1
had something to say, and disengaged
herself from her friends.
"Will you come with me to the con-
servatory2" l said quietly. 81 be-
lieve l have solved the mystery"
She turned pale. every WE'LL" she
said. "Give me your arm. Be care
full what you do. Mr.. Lowe, she added,
in troubled voice; sit must be
hushed up"
When we reached the conservatory
we found, just as 1 expected, the
young lady lying back in a chair un-
conscious. Her ear drops were miss
ing.
"Miss Da inton has fainted," said
Lady yarmouth.
cone moment" said; "there is no
cause for alarm. Do you see what
has happened2 Her diamond ear drops
have disappeared" F"
"Do you know who it is?" she whis-
pered.
"Yes. Her vinaignette has been
drugged-not sufficiently to do her
any harm. / saw it done.
"What shall L do? Fetch Lord Bar
mouth, will you? He must advise
me-.
(Which is Lord Barmouth? ?"
She came to the curtains, and pointed
him out to me.
"Very well" said /. "Chafe Miss
Dainton's hands, and try to bring her
round, but don't send for any help al
present" "
1 don't think 1 ever felt so reluctant
to proceed with case as did at that
minute. The man whom Lady Dar-
mout had pointed out as her husband
WAS the man who had drugged the
vinaigrette-who had followed Miss
Dainton into the conservatory. In a
word, Lord yarmouth was klepto-
maniac.
"Will you come with me into the
nopaarvatorv Lord Rarmoutb 90 said