The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-10-07

For a most mysterious sound had pro-
ceeded from the inside Of the bottle as
my father carefully inclined it toward
the funnel. 1t sounded rs if-but it was
absurd to suppose that a handful Of
marbles could have found their way in
to "a bottle of old port.
"The crust began the vicar cheer
fully.
cts not the crust said my father
decisively.
Let us see what it is, " suggested Sir
Matthew very urbanely
"I've done nothing to the bottle, sir, .
cried Dawson.
My father cleared his throat and gave
the bottle further inclination toward the
funnel. A little wine trickled out and
found its way through the muslin. My
father smelt the muslin anxiously, but
seemed to gain no enlightenment He
poured on under the engrossed gaze Of
the whole party. The marbles, or what
they were, thumped in the bottle, and
with a little jump something sprang out
into the muslin. Sir Matthew stretched
out hand. My father waved him away
1--WE will go on to the end, >" said he
solemnly. And he took it up, the object
that had fallen into the muslin, between
his finger and thumb and placed it on
his plate.
1t was round in shape, the size Of n
very large pill or smallish marble and
of dull color, like that of rusted tin.
My father poured on, and by the time
that the last of the wine was out no
less than seven of these strange objects
lay in a neat group on my fathers plate,
one lying by itselt little removed from
the other.
81 have placed this one apart. OBJ.
served my father pointing to the coli
tary marble, "because it is much lighter
than any of the others. Let us examine
it first. "
81 propose that we examine the six
first, l." said Sir Matthew in tone Of
suppressed excitement.
"As you will, Sir Matthew, said
my father gravely. And he took up enc
of the six that lay in group 1.-THE
surface, " said he, looking round, zap
pears to be composed of tin. "
We all agreed. The surface was com.
posed of tin. A line running down the
middle showed where the tin had been
carefully and deXterously soldered to.
gether. Sir Matthew having felt in his
pocket, produced a large penknife AMI
opened strong blade. He held ont the
knife toward my father, blade foremost,
such was his agitation.
THANK you, Sir Matthew" said my
father in courteous and calm voice,
reaching round the blade and grasping
the handle.
Absolute silence now fell on the COM
pany. My father was perfectly compos-
ed. He forced the point of the knife in
to the surface of the object and made a
gap Then he peeled off the surface OF
tin. felt Sylvia's eyes turn TO mine,
but did not remove my gaze from my
father plate. Five times did my father
repeat his operation, placing what was
left in each case ON the tablecloth in
front Of him. When he had finished hi:
task, he looked up at Sir Matthew. Sii
Matthews face bore look of mingled
bewilderment and triumph, He opened
his mouth 10 speak. A gesture of my
fathers hand imposed silence on him.
1T remains" said my father, "tc
examine the seventh object
The seventh object was treated as 1T
companions had been. The result wal
different. From the shelter of the sealed
tin covering came small roll of paper
My father unfolded it. Faded lines O
writing appeared on it.
"Uncle Johns hand, " said my father
solemnly. II propose TO read what hi
says.
Aren't they beautiful" whispered
Sylvia longingly
A glance from my father rebukeC
her He began to read what Colone
Merridew had written. Here it is:
That old fool Marston having mndo the If
of everybody on board the ship burden q
them ON account of his miserable rubies ant
having logged my footsteps and spied upoi
my actions in n most offensive manner, de
termined 10 give him "A lesson, so 1 took thes
stones from his cabin and carried them TO m,
house. | was about to return them when h
. found his way into my house and accused m
me, Colonel John Merridew-of being n thief
What followed is known to my family. Tn
result OF Sir Georges incorporate behavlo
was 10 lhNkt IL Impossible lOf me 10 return IN
, rubies without giving rise to an impressio
most injurious to my honor / have therefor
placed them in this bottle. They will not b
discovered during my lifetime or IN that q
Sir George. When they are discovered, / re
quest that they may be returned TO his sol
with my compliments and an expression of IN
hope that he is not such "A fool as his father.
JoHN MERRIDEw, Colonel
Continued silence followed the read
, ing of this document. The maharajah
rubies glittered and cleaned on the ia
blecloth. My father looked up at Uncl
Johns picture, To my excited fame
the old gentleman seemed to smile NOR
= broadly than before. My father gather
D ed the rubies into his hand and he'll
them out to Sir Matthew
lyon have heard Colonel Merridew
message, sir, " said my father "Ther
is presume, no need for me to repea
it, Allow me to hand you the rubies,
Z Sir Matthew bowed stiffly, took tn
, maharajah S rubies, counted them care
! q