The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-13

her what II was forFF
mo. She did not ask.
Il will thank you 10 apply the clever
ness you seem TO possess 10 the undoins
OF the harm you have so lighi-hearteoIy
caused"
How can II am ordered 10 leave to-
night, when I did so wish TO stay and see
the diamond deRoUement-"
You are not going tonight. ] shall
! sneak 20 the Princess about IL * that
| should be necessary. Your merton OF
| the diamonds reminds me that my re-
| spected father-in-laW. Mr. Brigss, In
| forms me that celebrated detective,
whom 1t seems he has ensaged-Lad6ury
| Taylor. think. the name is-wiH De mere
| tomorrow 10 explain the diamond mys-
/ tery. so you see you have competitor
'Oh. is Cadbury cOmingi That Is TOO
| jolly for anything. I simply must stay
| and hear his explanation. for he Is very
| famous detective, and the conclusions ne
| has arrived at must be most interesting
| In the morning the diamonds arrived
! per special messenger. who first took a
| formal receipt for them and then most
| obseau!ously took his departure. BY the
same train came Mr.. Cadbury Taylor.
| as modest as ever. but giving some indi-
cation In his bearing Of the Importance
OF the discovery his wonderful system
| had aided him in making. He blandly
! evaded the curiosity OF Mr.. Briggs. and
| said II would perhaps be better to reveal
| the secret in the presence OF the Prince
| and Princess.
Just what I suspected" muttered Mr..
Briggs, who had LONG been convinced that
! the Prince had stolen the stones
The important gathering took place In
| the library, the Prince, with the diamonds
| in his coat pocket. seated az the head o:
| the long table, while the Princess sat al
| the foot. as far from her husband as she
| could conveniently get without attracting
notice. Miss Baxter stood near win
| dow reading an important letter from
| London which had reached her that
| morning The tall, thin detective ard the
| portly Mr.. Briggs came in together. the
| London man bowling gravely 10 the Prince
| and Princess. 2dr. Briggs took seat at
| the side OF the table. but the detective
| remained standing looking questioningly
at Miss Baxter, but evidently not recOg-
| nizing her as the lady who mad come in
upon him and his friend when they had
| entered the train.
Il beg the pardon OF your highness, but
| what / have to say had better be said
| with as few hearers as possible. l should
| be much obliged if this young person
| would read her correspondence in another
| room."
THE young woman" said the Prince,
| cOldly lis secretary TO her hiShness, and
| is entirely in her confidence
The detective. apparently unrufhed by
| the discourtesy he met, bowed profound
| " toward the Prince, cleared his throat,
| and began:
| May l ask your highness," he said,
| addressing himself TO the Princess. how
much money you possessed just before
| you left Vienna
The lady looked up at him in surprise,
| but did not answer.
| I'm heavens name, what has that TO
| do with the loss of the diamonds" rap
ped out the Prince, his hot temper get
| ting once more the better of him.
| Cadbury Taylor spread out his hands
| ana shrugged his shoulders in protest
at the interruption. He spoke with def
erence. but nevertheless with a touch Of
reproach in his tone.
II am accustomed 10 be listened to
with patience and am generally allowed
! to tell my story my own way, your high
| ness
| What / complain OF is that you are
not telling any story at all. but are ask
| ing instead a very impertinent question -
| Questions which seem 10 you irrele-
want may be 10 a trained mind most"
| "Boshl Trained donkeys, Do you know
| where the diamonds are?''
| "Yes. l do, answered Cadbury Taylor,
still imperturbable, i nspite of the provo
cation he was receiving.
| We'll, where are they?'
| They are in the vaults Of your bank
in Vienna"
Il don't believe 1t. Who stole them,
then?"
| They were put there by her highness
the Princess Won Steinheimer. doubtless
in security for money
| WHAT roared the Prince, springing
| to his feet, his stentorian voice ringing
10 the ceiling "Do you mean to insin-
uate, you villain, that my wife stole her
| own dismonds?'
| If your highness would allow me to
| proceed in my own"
| Enough of this fooIing. There are
the diamonds" cried the Prince. Jerking
the box from his pocket and Ringing IL
| on the table
| Ihsre? shouted old man Briggs. bring
ing his clenched fist down on the oak
| "hat did l tell you? l knew II all
along. The Prince stole the diamonds
ana IN his excitement yanks them ont
OF MS pocket and proves it. | said 50
from the first" -
| on' father, father.'' moaned the
| fflhcess' speaking for the first time
| Row can you say such a thing2 Nv
| husband couldn't do a mean action If he
tied. The idea of his stealing the flia-
monds! Not If they were worth a thor-
sand millions and detection Impossible"
| Come, come" cried Miss Jeanie PAY
| Ter. stepping energetically forward ~
imagine everybody has had enough Of this
Clear out, Mr.. Briggs, and take Mr. Tsv.
lor with you. l am sure he has not had
any breakfast yet, and he certainly looks
hungry. If you hire detectives Nr
Brlsss, you must take care Of them. ON,
you go. The dlning-room is ever so much
| more inviting just now than the library
and II yol don't see what you want ring
for it,
she drove the two speechless mer OIL,
before her and, closing the door. said IA
the Prince, who was still standing be.
| wildered at having his hand forced in
| this manner:
| Therei Two fools from four leave two
| Now, my dears-Tm not going 10 high.
| ness either OF you-yOu are simply two
| lone people who like each other InI1e1se,
| ~ yet who are drifting apart through
| FOOLISH nisunderstandines that a fsu
| words would put right ii either Of vor
| mad sense enough TO speak them. which
you haven't, and that's why Pm here ~
| speak them for you. Now, madame
| am ready 10 swear that the Prince bee
| never said anything 10 me that did no,
! show his deep love for you, and II vou
mad overheard US you would not need rne
| 10 tell you 20. He thinks SchauIofere-
not that | ever saw the poor man hut
| he is bound 10 be an idiot or the Prime
| wouldn't be jealous of him. As nohody
| has stolen the diamonds after all this
fuss, so no one has stolen the affection n,
| either OF you from the other | can sae
by the way you look at each other tha,
! ] won't need TO apologize for leaving Voa
| alone together while / run upstairs n
] pack"
oh. but you are not going TO leave usr
| cried the Princess.
Il should be delighted 20 stay. but there
is no rest for The wicked. and / must gel
| back 70 London"
With that the girl ran 20 her room and
| there Teread the letter she had received
| IL ran:
Dear Mss Baxter; We are In q very cousias,sbI
dilemma krs. 50 ] write 70 ssk you To return I,
London without delay. going back 20 the TyrsI late
| On 70 nnIsk The iuyestigzrion Of the diamond ar.
| ferr- Ira Tu-keEE cf GffEsIFurer IT,.