Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-02-20

from my comfortable bed to go out
into the cold bleak morning, l found
myself in the presence of a superbly
handsome woman, elegantly dressed as
for a ball. and fairly trembling with
her weight of jewels.
Her drawing room was brilliantly
lighted and in the halls a few servants
stood at their posts, but all the guests
had gone. Then, and not till then
did | remember reading pn the previ-
GUS evening Mrs. Van Dyck Potter
was booked for the greatest ball of the
season.
For a minute Mrs. Potter stood eye
ing me closely, as though sentencing
me, then, speaking to a servant who
drew shut the great drawing room
doors, she motioned me to be seated.
Il asked you to come here, Mr.
Boyle" she said, because it is here
that it happened; and it is here that
you should hear about it."
l nodded attention.
First" she said, 'let me be sure
that what [ am to tell you will be
wholly confidential; because if--from
its nature
lifted my hand. Madam, if the
slightest doubt exists in your mind"
Your pardon! l will proceed"
Last night in these parlors | gave
the greatest ball of the winter. 1t was
TO be the last one before Lent and I
spared nothing to make it a grand
one she hesitated.
Yes"
And there is my reward as she
spoke she laid her left hand upon my
arm and pointed to it. The fingers
we're bare of jewels. Then she laid
her right hand beside it. Each finger
glittered like the cave of Golca.
Until supper last evening l wore
as many jewels upon my left hand.
But after supper, when my gloves had
been removed, I suddenly missed the
rings from my left hand and, though
searched for them, they were gone.
Where did you look?'
Upon the floor. l called my trustl-
est servants and told them to keep a
lookout for the rings. They know
them at sight"
DO YOU suspect anyone?"
NO. but in so large an assemblage
there are many
Many who might be suspected"
spoke the words with inhospit-
able infection which Mrs. Potter
would have hesitated to utter.
And you still suspect no one?'
NO one"
And your husband Does he know
Of your loss?"
yes, and he is Frustrated by it.
Does he know you have consulted
me-"
BY no means. He would fear pub
LEFTY and scandal Almost over
whemed at the theft, for | must con-
less to you, that we can i'll afford TO
lose such valuable securities at thus
time. He retired Immediately the
company had departed
Was there any stone of special
vaue?" | asked, for I began to sus-
pect more than she had told me.
There was. The solitaire ring that
was stolen from my third finger con-
tanned the Esterhazy diamond. It's
value is many thousands. When my
husband bought it for me he said:
This contains a fortune. Remember
It in time of need
And you missed the RIM"
AS | was walking with him after
supper. For a minute he would not
believe that it was gone. Then It's
loss staggered him. zone hundred
thousand lost in Wall street to-day"
ne said land now the Esterhazy
gore,"
rs there anymore to tell?'
Only that one of my dearest friends
lold me- before she left, that she mad
lost her diamond bracelet just before
dinner which preceded the dance. she
was our guest of honor and sat at my
husbands right hand
The plot began to thicken and l
wanted to think about it; so, rising
extended my hand to her and sald;
Promise me on you honor Madame