Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-04-07
NOT GUILTY.

The famous Lambton diamond threw
back the light from its many facets
and strange. brilliant colors shot from
its depths. 1t was the finest stone
had ever set in my life,
The ring, now that II was finished.
was ut even to adorn the hand Of Lady
Gwendolen Forrest. the beauty and
heiress OF the season. But | did not
envy young Lord Lambton his fiancee;
and rs pretty AS any in the land.
l was about to take the ring to Mr..
Nugent when Nell herself ran In. She
was my employers daughter, and his
house was upstairs over the large
showroom in Clifford street. 1t was
In my own Nell | had girl al good
against all custom for Nell to come
down to my workshop. for her father
disapproved our engagement. But to-
day she had not been able to resist the
temptation OF having a peep at the
Lambton diamond.
Just as she had slipped It on her nm
ger, 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 harsh reprimand,
but none came. Her father appeared
oddly prooccupied. merely took the
ring from her. examined 1t earnestly.
and, swapping the lid OF the case down
upon 1t. placed 1t In his pocket and
walked away
Next day | was sitting at work when
! saw hanson drive up and Lord
Lambton jump out lie came hastily
into the showroom, which adioined the
one where ! was sitting, and where
Mr.. Nugent was.
"Scoundrel!" | heard him say, and
could scarcely believe my ears. You
thought to fool me easily by Il false
stone; but | am as good Judge OF
jewels AZ you are. You ace a thief.
sir! What have you done with the
diamond intrusted to you?"
sat still. underalood very well
that Lord Lambton had deliberately
accused my employer of trying to palm
of upon him an imitation diamond.
yet knew that had set the true stone
and delivered 1t to Mr. Nugent only
yesterday
My employer himself was skilled
workman. though not a good designer.
and in the time that had elapsed be-
tween my handing him the ring and
his transferring II to the owner he
could have removed the stone and re-
placed II by another.
As | thus speculAed on the astound-
Ing accusation, Mr.. Nugent himself
opened the door OF the workroOm. lie
looked keenly at me. ns II wondering
II II would be safe to trust me.
Did you hear anything OF what
passed in the next ROOM" he question.
ed.
! admitted that I had.
"Of course. | shall be triumphAntly
acquitted" he announced, clearing his
throat husklY an he spoke. Still, Lord
Lambton can make things disagreea-
Bile. And look here, Wade, I haven't
always been as friendly to you as
might. but | can trust you. You'll be
an important witness. DO what you
can for me. for the girls sake"
I was given no time to answer, for at
that moment Lord Lambton returned
with two Scotland Yard men. My en-
taken to the police station TO be
the detectives remaining to
search the premises
Mr.. Nugsnt being n wldower, with
only one child. the management Of the
business practically devolved on me.
and as the detectives ransackcd the
place. they put many questions to me
as TO where the stones we're kept. The
safes were all pointed out to them, but
they seemed disappointed with their
operations.
Late in tho oventns they came to me
In the workroom. and holding out the
ring that | had made for LORD Lamb
ton, one OF them said:
This Is your work, We understand.
Is that tho stone yoI set ?"
I glanced at 1t. but only replied; Il
don't call myself an expert IN precious
stones. and all | can say Ii that this
one precisely resembles In size. shape
and appearance the one given me TO
set"
While this statement waB practically
true, that one glance had been enough
to show me that ! was not looking at
the Lambton diamond.
was about TO lock up tho place for
the night, whom Nen came In. II was
the first time she had let me see her
since her father had been taken away.
There's something must say to
you" she painted something I've
been wild 20 say all day lest II should
be too late. but I dared not let any
one suspect. A month ago father con
flded 10 mo that he had lost great deal
OF money-and he showed me how 10
open a secret drawer In his Chippen.
dale bureau. II svor anything happens
to mo- he said, don't lose a moment
but look into this drawer; throw away
everything that you will ind In the
left-hand partition, and keep what may
be In the right
Together we ranAacked the old bu-
rsau, and at length Nell touched the
spring which opened the secret drawer.
The Hight Of the candle which held
struck out a CLEAN from a pile Of OK
qnlstely made false stones, which lay
In a partition on the left hand, while on
the right was the Lambton diamond.
MY poor father" she moaned. Az |
held her. "Iie II ruined forever--and
l. 100 Tho daughter Of q convicted