The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-09-09

Martin. Now, 1 have told o that the
house was really an old-fashioned one.
and the cellar underneath the roadway,
| which | have mentioned as used by the
boys as IA play room and workshop, is
4 proof of it. This could be entered
either by the cellar flap or from the
door. which was easily reached by drop
ping over from the ratings above. This
was the point which Pemberton imag-
ined a would-be intruder would choose.
He was not mistaken. About four in
the morning he was startled from a
light doze by a loud report. which shook
the foundations of Che house and broke
a dozen windows. flushing to the spot,
he saw that the cellar was wrecked.
when the gas had been blown out
N the house the TWO jets in the cellar
had been cNtinguished also. They were
overlooked in the relighting-the place
had beer filling for six hours with gas
some one had entered the cellar, had
struck a match and wrecked the place.
by the light of a lantern Pember-
| ION saw the burned and bruised and
Senseless body of Il man, with Il small
black mask over his eyes-and by his
side the diamond pendant.
Il live but 100 yards away from the
Homestead" continued Neale. "Iheard
| the explosion, and, hurriedly dressing,
rushed down stairs. Opening h front
door. and preparing to rush off, | met
Pcmberton, CARRYING in his arms a bur-
| den. His burden was Gus DARRELL"
"Impossible!"
Yes, gentlemen, the truth is told at
last, Gus Darrell stole the pendant.
Gus Darrell has left a sacred charge
with me that | tell the truth to every
man who says IA word against Pember-
| ton. Read here his letter from Aus
tralia. whittier he has gone assisted by
| his generous rival. To any MAJ doubt
| ing the goodness of Horace V. Pember-
ton
IL. Augustus Darrell, hereby declare
| that stole the pendant from the neck
of Miss Muriel Ross in the drawing
room of the Homestead. With noble
generosity. Mr.. Pemberton has spared
me the pain of telling with my lips the
painful story.
- loved Miss Ross. hated Pember-
! ton. twas in debt. He was rich When
| the boys put the room in darkness Miss
Ross came quite close to me. In an in
slant the diamonds were i'll my hands.
Mrs. Ross had recently supplanted the
ordinary bell by electric bells. The
| lads and / had rugged up in the space
| occupied by the old bell handle near
the piano a speaking tube to our cellar
workshop.
Thus. within 30 seconds of the eN-
tinction of the gas. | had safely sent
the Jewels down the pipe. When | en-
tered the cellar in the middle OF the
| night nv excitement completely upset
| my nerves. or | should have detected
that The place was full OF gas. ! struck
a match and remember no more till
aNvoke with Mr.. Pemberton and Mr..
Ncale standing over me.
Gus Darrell"
Il shall 90 at once and apologize TO
Pcmberton.'' cried impulsive Douglas.
.! fear | have not cured your rash
thOughtlesSnesS yet, young man, how
ever much ! may have increased your
stock of charitable feelings. DO you
forget that this story is in the strictest
condolences? Mrs. Darrell. Mrs. Ross
and Mrs. II. V. Pemberon implicitly be
lirye that Gus was called away that
very night to fulfill a journalistic mis-
sion in Australia. and nothing will ever
| be known by them of the part he en-
acted in the play that was so nearly a
| tragedy. Good night. anyone coming
my way?"-Pcarson'S Weekly.