The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-04-22

| don't call myself an expert IN precious
stones and all can say is that thi~ one
prec sely resembles in SIZE, shape and APP
pearance the one given me to set
While this statement was practically
true, that one glance had been enough to
show me that was not loo ing at tn,
Lambton diamond.
| was about to lock up the place for the
night when Nell came in. 1t was the urs'
time she had let me see her since her father
had been taken away.
"There' 8 something | must say to you, -
she painted SO something I've been wild t.
say all day lest 1t should be too late. bat
dared not let any one suspect A month
ago father contided to me that he had lost
a great deal If money-anj he showed me
how 10 open secret drawer in his Cnip,
pendale bureau. II ever anything hap.
pens to me, he said, don't lose monent,
but look into this dawer; throw away
everything mat You viii find III the LETT.
hand partition, aud keep what may be Ii.
the right ~
Together we rams sacked the old bureau,
and at length Nell TOUCHED the spnu.
which opened the secret drawer The light
Of the cIndie whi III | held struck out il
CLEAN from pile of eXquisitely made tAs
stones, which lay in a partition on the ,ett
hand, while on the right was the Lamhton
| diamond.
"My poor father she moaned as held
her. ''He is ruined forever and I, too.
The daughter OF convicted thief is no fl
wife for an honesg man "
My darling! You are wife for king
and as for Your father | swear to you thar
| win save aim yet"
Even as spoke an idea bad flashed into
my head which startled me by its audacity.
In moment had thought out every de-
tail.
made up the stones, Lambton diamond
and all, into packet, carefclly closing the
secret drawer, and contrving to get away
without being sean, aud went straight to
my brothers house in Kent, managing to
avoid the service OF subpoena. Thus |
was not present at the police court pro
ceedings.
Mr.. Nugent was committed for trial, and
meanwhile stayed in the country work =
ing each night in my locked room with the
tools hid brought with me- until the gray
dawn filtered under nv closed shutters
When saw my old employer in the
dock at the trial | was shocked at thu
gha SLY change which had come over him
The evidence as first went steadily
against him. Lord Lamhton sHore that
the stone in the ring delivered to him by
| Mr.. Magenta own hand was not his dia-
mond One expert testified that not only
was the stone he now saw not the Lamb
ton diamond, but not genuine j'wel at
all, hut marvellous imitation. Another
was not 50 positive. Indeed, he was not
prepared to swear that it was false.
Then went into the box. | was very
cool now, for the game had determined
on bad COST me many q qualm of con
scienle. Bat | had no intention of cheat
| ing Lord Lambton. swearing falsely or
furnishing my personal honor.
The preliminary question Of the prose-
eating counsel brought out the fact that
had designed the ring setting and done
all the work upon it.
"What sort OF stone was it your en-
| plOyer gave y0u to set?" was the next
question.
"An extremely valuable white dia-
mond,' replied.
''Dn yon swear that you set the genuine
stone, and delivered the ring when finished
to the prisoner
~ DO
''Do you consider it possible that that
stone nngut have been taken out and an
imitation one su7stltuted:'
Certainly. Bnt could tell whether
the ring mad been tempered with since it
lett my hands
Take this, then, examine it, and inform
the court it that IS the stone you set
The ring was handed to me and hush
fell upon the court. The kind Of luil