The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-05-19
III iseeltal,rnus
VERDICT NOT GUILTY.

The famous Llmbton diamond threw
back the light from its many facets and
strange, brilliant colors shot from its
depths. 1t was the finest stone l had
ever set III my life.
l was bout to take TIL ring to Mr..
Nugen; when Nell herself ran in. She
was my employers daughter, and his
house was unStalTs over the large show
room in Clifford street. 1t was against
all custom tor Nell to come down to
my work shop, Tor her father disap-
proved our engagement. But today
she lad not ben able to resist the
temptation of having 4 peep at the
Lambton diamond.
Just as she had slipped il on her
finger, and was dancing about twisting
her hand, that the marvellous stone
might catch the light, the door opened
and Mr.. Nugent entered, | prepared
to defend Nell from a harsh reprimand,
but none cane. Her father appeared
preoccupied, merely took the ring from
her, examined it earnestly, and snap
ped the lid of the case upon it, placed
it in his pocket and walked away.
Next day was sitting at work when
| saw a hansoDe driC" up and Lord
Lambton jump out. He came hastily
into he show. room, which joined the
o where l was sitting, and where
Mr.. Nugent was.
"Scoundrel" heard him say, and
could scarcely believe my ears. You
thought to fool HE easily b. false
stone; but ! am as good judge of
jewels as you are. YoG are a thief,
sir! What have you done with the
diamond | Entrusted to your
| sat still. l understood very we'll
tina. Lord Lambton had deliberately
accused my employer Of trying to palm
off upon him an initiated diamond yet
| know that | had set the true stone
and delivered it to Mr.. Nugent only
yesterday.
My employer himself was skilled
workman though not il good designer
and in the time that had elapsed be-
tween my handing him the ring and
his transferring it to the owner he
could have removed the stone and re-
placed it by another.
As thus specul2 ted on the astound-
ing accusation, Mr.. Nugent himself
ened the door of the work room.
He looked keenly at me, rs if wonder
ing if it would be safe 70 trust me.
Did you hear anything of what
passed i'll the next room ?" he ques-
toned.
admitted that | had.
''Of course, shall be triumphantly
acquitted" he announced, clearing his
threat huskily as he spoke, IS ill Lord
able. And look here, Wade, | haven't
mi hit, but | can trust you. You'll be
an important witness. Do what you
can for me, for that girls sake"
| was given no time to answer, for
t that moment Lord Lambton return
ed with two Scotland Yardmen. My
employer was iven into custody and
| taken to the police station to be
| charged, the detectives remaining to
search the premises.
Mr.. Nugent being a widower with
| only one child the management of the
| business practically devolved on me,
and as the detectives ransacked the
| place, they put many questions to me
as to whe,e the stones were kept. The
safes were all pointed out to them, but
! they seemed disappointed with their
| operations.
| Late in the evening they came to me
| in the woriroom, and holding out the
ring that had made for Lord Lamb
| ton, one of them said
| This is your work. We understand.
| Is this the stone you set p
| glanced at it, but | only replied
Il don't call myself An expert in pre-.
| cious stone, and all ] can say is that
this one precisely resembles in size,
shape and appearance the one given
me to set"
| While this statement was practically
true, that one glance had been enough
! to show me that | was not looking at
| the Lambton diamond.
| | was about to lock up the place for
| the night, when Nell came in. 1t was
the first time she had let me see her
since had father had been taken away.
"There's something l must say to
you," she panted-'somethin I've
reen wild to say all day lest it should
be too late, but | dared not let any one
suspect. A month ago father confided
me that he had lost great deal OF
money-and he showed me how to
open a secret drawer in his Chippen-
dale bureau. "if ever anything hap.
pens to me-" he said, don't lose a mo-
lnent but look into this drawer; throw
away everything that you find in the
left-hand partition, and keep what
may be in the right"
Together we ransacked the old
bureau. and at length Nell touched
the spring which opened the secret
drawer. The light OF the candle which
] held struck out IL CLEAN from n pile
of exquisitely made false stones, which
lay in "a partition on left hand, while
on the right was the Lambton dia
mond.
My poor father" she moaned, as
neld her He is ruined forever-ant
|. too. The daughter of convicted
thief is ro fit wife for an honest man.
My darling You are II wife for ,
king, and as for your father, l swea
to you that will save him YETI
Even as | spoke an idea had flashed
into my head which startled Inc by it