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

Martin. Now, have told you that the
house was really an oid-fashioned one,
and the cellar underneath the roadway,
which have mentioned as used by the
boys as play rooEl and workshop, is
proof of it. This could be entered
either by the cellar flap or from tho
door, which was easily reached by drop
ping over from the ratings above. This
was the point which Pemberton imag-
med would-be intruder would choose.
HE was not mistaken. About four in
the morning he was startled from a
| light doze by loud report, which shook
the foundations of the house and broke
a dozen windows. Rushing to the spot.
he saw that the cellar was wrecked.
when the gas had been blown out
in the house the two jets in the cellar
had been extinguished also. They were
overlooked in the relighting-the place
had been filling for six hours with gas
some one had entered the cellar, had
struck a match and wrecked the place.
"By the light of lantern Pember-
ton saw the burned and bruised and
senseless body of man, with small
black mask over his eyes-and by hia
side the diamond pendant.
II live but 100 yards away from the
Homestead" continued Neale. II heard
the explosion, and, hurriedly dressing,
rushed down stairs. Opening the front
door, and preparing to rush off, l met
Pemberton, carrying in his arms bur-
den. His burden was Gus DARRELL"
'Impossible!"
eyes. gentlemen, the truth is told at
last! Gus Darrell stole the pendant.
Gus Darrell has left sacred charge
with me that / tell the truth to every
man who says word against Pember-
ton. Read here his letter from Aus
tralia, whittier he has gone assisted by
his generous rival. TO any man doubt
ing the goodness of Horace V. Pember-
ton
az, 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.
al 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 in 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 eX-
tinction of the gas, l had safely sent
the Jewels down the pipe. When en-
tered the cellar in the middle OF the
night my excitement completely upset
my nerves, or / should have detected
that the place was full of gas. / struck
match and remember no more till l
awoke with Mr.. Pemberton and Mr.,
Neale standing over me.
"'Gus DARRELL"
~ shall go at once and apologize to
Pemberton," cried impulsive Douglas.
81 fear | have not cured your rash
thoughtlessness yet, young man, how
ever much l may have increased your
stock of charitable feelings. Do you
forget that this story is in the strictest
confidence? Mrs. Darrell, Mrs. Ross
and Mrs. H. V. Pemberon implicitly be-
lieve 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
tragedy. Good night. Anyone coming
my way ?"-Pearson's Weekly.