The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-09-07

SIN the circumstances, Gus Darrell
carried himself remarkably well. In
cellar which ran under the roadway he
and the lads rugged up scientific labor
atory and playroom combined. He
wrote scientific and other articles in the
library, stayed to dinner and made Mrs.
Ross an excellent partner at whist in
the evening against Muriel and Horace.
packed off to bed again, grumbled
Sid one night as they assembled to their
bedroom.
Its a beastly shame assented
Bert. They are going to have dancing,
too, tonight
"'Bert, I've lovely revenge for you.
| should die laughing to see it, but we
mustn't. Sh',' and he whispered his
plan.
after they had turned out every
light they could find in the house ex-
cept in the kitchen, where the three
servants were, and in the drawing groom
to which, of course, they had no ac-
cess--the young oonspirators entered
their room.
"Mrs. Ross, turning a deaf ear to
Murie's entreaties for quiet evening,
had persuaded every caller, invited or
unlimited, to stay. A set of lancers was
in full swing. Never mind if you are
not in evening Dress, said the hostess.
'Yol can dance just as well surely with
out. / shall lose Muriel soon, and then
shall be lonely enough
"Pemberton was MuriePs partner.
Her white neck showed off to perfection
his gift, which she wore to please him.
Darrell presided at the piano. They
whirled past him just as Martin, the
new man servant-who was butler, foot
man or waiter as occasion demanded
was trying to dodge by with a cup of
coffee for Mr.. Ross.
suddenly all was darkness-the gas
had gone out!
"Pemberton and his partner capsized
the pianist, who, in turn, upset poor
Martin, coffee and all. Guests ran to
the door, to find it locked on the out
side! Has no one a match" shouted
some timid lady.
''Thus adjured, the startled gentle
men recolletted they were in the habit
of carrying such useful articles. Half
as,lozen were offered at once, and the
gas, which was discovered to be still in
full force, was relighted.
at is evident from the two facts of
the locked door and the gas being still
in supply that the cause must be sought
outside, said Pemberton.
THE turning of the key in the lock,
the sound Of retreating scampering on
the stairs, and n burst of explosive
laughter confirmed his theory. The
two lads had tasted xevenge by remov-
ing the burner from the gas-bracket in
their bedroom, and blowing down the
pipe with all their lung-power till the
other lights in the house went out.
"Muriel's laughter at the boys monk
cry turned TO wall as she caught sight
of herself in the mirror. Horace, dear,
she said. Look! My diamonds are
gone!'
"'Gone!' he cried, impossible! You
must have dropped them. They are in
the room somewhere-they must bel
saw them myself as we were dancing!'
"a quarter of an hours search re-
vealed nothing. The carpet was turned
back, the piano dissected, every article
of furniture removed from its place, and
yet all in vain.
Gus Darrell whispered some query
to Martin, who nodded emphatically in
response.
"'Mrs. Ross, Muriel, ladies and gen
tlemen,' he said, 1 am sure we are all
deeply sorry for the untoward incident
of which we are unwilling spectators.
A lovely diamond pendant has been lost
in this room within the last 20 minutes.
No one has entered-no one has left the
room. The windows are closed - the
fire is burning in the CRATE; therefore,
the pendant has not left the room either
| by door, window or fire CRATE, and
| there are no cupboards in the room. On
behalf of the guests and the one serv-
ant present propose that Mr.. Pember-
ton search the gentlemen and Mrs. Ross
the ladies. l am, myself, willing to be
the first searched
"a murmur of assent went round the
room. All were searched. Nothing was
found that threw any light on the fate
of the missing pendant.
I am deeply obliged to you alias |
am sure Mrs. Ross and her daughter are
also-for the readiness with which YOU
have submitted to this unpleasant or
deal said Pemberton. we must smile
at the whole affair now and write il
down as an inscrutable mystery. Dia-
monds are easily replaced, and, now
that every one of the company can feel
that no suspicion can possibly attach IL
self to them, l think the matter had
better rest there
Nov, my boys, I am getting dry
Another whisky and soda, please. be-
fore finish the yarn" said Neale, as
he relit his cigar.
Douglas Clipped in with: "I'll finish
it for you, if you are dry. l see it all;
Pemberton took the pendant himself
after bribing the lads to blow the gas