Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-09-30


smoke or drank In business hours.
Don't you find that mask rather un-
pleasantly stuffy?" inquired the lady.
"If you would like to take 1t of. don't
mind me in the least
"And have my description in the pa
per tomorrow? replied the burglar.
"No, thank you"
Il think that l could give II In my
case" said the lady. Listen: "A tall,
fair man, about 40 years of age, scar on
right temple, and left eyebrow, blue
eyes, rather close together, dark eye
brows-"
'You needn't go on, Geraldine" said
the man pulling off the mask, and
fllnglng It on the table. 81 see you
know me we'll enough"
DO you think anyone could live with
you for three years and not know you
pretty we'll, Arthur" asked the lady IN
a tone that made her visitor vince Il
knew you had gone to the devil, but I
did not think you had come down to
robbing your wife"
'If you do not want TO lose your
jewes," said Captain Mauleverer,
write me check for four thousand,
and call it square,"
Lady Geraldine laughed bitterly.
"This is a delightful reunion of two
discovered souls that ought to beat as
one. am afraid, Arthur you do most
OF the beating, don't you? No,
don't think 1 will write you a check.
My bank account is too low. How
much money have your"
II have two hundred pounds, and
upon my honor-well, upon the Bible
i have no more. With what l can
get on your Jewels, shall have enough
to leave the country and become an
other man"
"a laudable ambition, certainly"
said Lady Geraldine. 81 will offer you
another suggestion. Suppose we make
this a regular business transaction.
Rather than be robbed, will sell you
the jewels for half of your two hundred
and give you a receipt to the effect that
1t was a regular sale"
you take 1t coolly, my girl" said
Captain Mauleverer, 81 always said you
were a we'll plucked one. Well, let 1t
be as you say"
He took out pocketbook and count
ed out ten ten-pound notes on the table;
then he wrote on a sheet of crested
paper. Received from Captain Arthur
Mauleverer the sum of one hundred
pounds, as the price of a diamond
necklace"
"Sgn IT," he said, handing 1t to his
wife, and at the same time picking up
the jewel-case and dropping it into
his pocket.
Lady Geraldine appended her sigma
ture and carefully counted the money.
Don't blame me If you are sorry for
your bargain, Arthur" she said lightly.
Captain Mauleverer laughed. well.
goodbye" he said. at has been
queer meeting, hasn't it? 1 am off for
Amsterdam to sell the stones, and then
for Australia. Will you shake hands
before l go?"
"Why not?" said Lady Geraldine,
lightly. Always shake hands over a
good bargain. Goodbye, and if you
happen to be in the neighborhood of
Botany Bay, you will probably find the
associations rather interesting"
She stepped to the French window.
through which her husband had made
his entrance and exit, and watched his
figure disappear in the night; then she
laughed softly to herself.
"Poor Arthur" she said, t'he is still
very good LOCKING Heigho. 1 am
afraid the poor fellow will be disap-
pointed What luck 1t was that l re-
oeived that money in time" She rang
the bell, and in a few moments her
maid made her appearance.
Marie" she said, 81 shall want you
to go up to town by the early train.
Go to Solomon's, and tell him l want
a facsimile of my necklace as soon as
he can make it. He has the stones to
copy, and can repeat the setting as
closely as possible. Now put me to bed,
ing"
In a small room in the top of a low
London lodging-houses sat an ill-favored
man gnawing his nails. and glancing
now and again at the door with an air
of impatience. Presently a tread
sounded on the crazy stair, and Cap
tain Mauleverer entered the room with
a jaunty air, and threw himself into a
chair.
"Well," said the other, in a surly
tone, did you work it."
Like a charm" replied the Captain,
"and saved my conscience"
d your conscience!" was the reply,
where's the stones"
an my pocket" said the captain,
"and a little receipt for the money paid
/ 10 rthem." He took out the case and
the receipt, and laid them on the table.
whats this" said the surly man,
zone hundred pounds? DO you mean
to say you bought them?"
"What if l did?" replied the other
isn't it worth a hundred to get four
or five thousand, and no risk Of quod
Besides, it was my own cash."
The surly man grunted, and picked
up the case, which he opened, while
Mauleverer watched him in evident
expectation of some complimentary
remark.
"Well, Fancy" he said having to
gather anything from his friends
countenance, "are you not going Il
congratulate me on my management
of the AFFAIR.""
Fancy laid down the case, and plac
ing his hands on his knees, took 1
long stare at Mauleverer.