The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-09-29

| lOO, lO-HlSul'
ebert, I've lovely revenge for you.
[ should die laughing to see it, but we
mustn't. Sh',' and he whispered his
plan.
"After they had turned out every
light they could find in the house ex-
sept in the kitchen, where the three
servants were, and in the drawing-room
Ito which, of course, they had no ac-
eess-the young eonspirators entered
their room.
"Mrs. Ross, turning deaf ear to
Muriel's entreaties for quiet evening,
had persuaded every caller, invited or
UNLIMITED, to stay. y set of lancers was
In full! swing. Never mind if you are
not in evening dress said the hostess.
You can dance just as we'll surely with
put. / shall lose Muriel soon, and then
[ shall be lonely enough
'Pemberton was Muriel's partner.
Her white neck showed off to perfection
his gift, which she wore to please him..
Darrell presided at the piano. They
whirled past him just as Martin, the
new man servant-who was butler, foot
man or waiter as occasion demanded
was trying to dodge by with cup of
coffee for Mr.. Ross.
Suddenly all was darkness-the gas
had gone out!
"I'emberton and his partner capsized
the pianist, who, in turn, upset poor
Martin, coffee and all. Guests ran to
the door, to find it locked on the out
Eide Has no one a match?' shouted
some timid lady.
Thus adjured, the startled gentle
men recollected they were in the habit
of carrying such useful articles. Half
n-doZen were offered at once, and the
gas, which was discovered to be still in
full force, was relighted.
"'lt is evident from the two facts of
the locked door and the gas being still
in supply that the cause must be sought
outside said Pemberton.
1.-The turning of the key in the lock,
the sound of retreating scampering on
the stairs, and a burst of explosive
laughter confirmed his theory. The
two lads had tasted revenge by remov-
ing the burner from the gas-bracket in
their bedroom, and blowing down the
pipe with all their lung-power till the
other lights in the house went out.
'Muriels laughter at the boys monk
cry turned to wall as she caught sight
of herself in the mirror. Horace, DEAR
she said. Look! My diamonds are
gone!'
"'Gone!' he cried, impossible. You
| hpua lronroI fi'ba, IN
the room somewhere-they must bel
saw them myself as we were dancing'
"a quarter of an hours search re-
yealed nothing. The carpet was turned
back, the piano dissected, every article
of furniture removed from its place, and
yet all in vain.
"Gus Darrell whispered some query
to Martin, who nodded emphatically in
response.
"'Mrs, Ross, Muriel, ladies and gen
tlemen,' he said, I am sure we are all
deeply sorry for the untoward incident
of which we are unwilling spectators.
A lovely diamond pendant has been lost
in this room within the last 90 minutes.
No one has entered-no one has left the
room. The windows are closed - the
fire is burning in the CRATE; therefore,
the pendant has not left the room either
by door, window or fire CRATE, and
there are no cupboards in the room. On
behalf of the guests and the one serv-
ant present propose that Mr., Pember-
ton search the gentlemen and Mrs, Ross
the ladies: l am, myself, willing to be
the first searched:'
"A murmur of assent went round the
room. All were searched, Nothing was
found that threw any light on the fate
Of the missing pendant,
" Il am deeply obliged to you alias
am sure Mrs. Ross and her daughter are
also-for the readiness with which you
have submitted to this unpleasant OF.
deal said Pemberton. we must smile
at the whole affair now and write it
down as an inscrutable mystery. Dia-
monds are easily replaced, and, now
that every one of the company can feel
that no suspicion can possibly attach it.
self to them, l think the matter had
better rest there,
"Now, my boys, I am getting dry.
Another whisky and soda, please, be-
fore l finish the yarn" said Neale, as
he relit his cigar.
Douglas Clipped in with: "I'll finish
1t for you, if you are dry. see it all;
Pemberton took the pendant himself,
after bribing the lads to blow the gas
out. He was not searched, you will OBJ
serve, gentlemen! 1 suppose he did it
to Dretend he had monev enourb 10 re
place it with ease. Fapghl hate sueI
snebbish ways!"
douglas, my lad, am glad to be
forced to tell you this story tonight,
Ii l had heard such a story when 1 was
your age l should never have earned my
tytle of cynic! Now I'll finish, please
''Pembcrton stayed the night at the
Homestead. lie had his reasons, he
said. Darrell begged hard to be allowed
to keep him company, but Mrs. Ross
listened to Pemberton and gently re-
fused him.
"The plan that her future .on-in-law
propounded seemed to her very FEAST
BILE. The only person we can now sus-
pect is Martini said he, apd l shall not
allaw him out of my sight till morning
If he has planted the jewels anywhere,
some confederate will be here for them
soon,'
at was arranged that the two men
should sleep on the ground floor. Penn
berton loaded his revolver, and lay
down on q bed where he could watch
Martin. Now, have told you that the