Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-16

one. Therefore he told all he knew.
In an experience extending over
ten years." said Manton, "this is the
most extraordinary affair have ever
come across"
Taking his brown brief bag, he
opened it and extracted flat, oblong
leather case. Raising the lid he dis
played to Conyers's astonished eyes q
collection of gems of the finest water.
Really, he confounded the latter when
he remarked that they were the iden-
tical stones concerning which the story
had first been told.
''But wherever in the world have
you got them from?" cried Conyers.
kindly give me your attention and
| will briefly relate to you an interest
ing episode. News to you is the fact
that when O'Neil and Sir Patrick
were in the formers office arranging
about the transfer of the stones their
conversation was overheard by the
cashier, one Jonathan Clark, who hap
pened to be behind an exceedingly
thin partition. That night, by cum
ming device, he managed to be left
last in the office. What concerns US
most is that he also managed to ex-
tract-this case from the escritoire. A
train ran at midnight to Liverpool -
this he took. Now, don'tyou see, the
building took fire las in many cases,
from some cause unknown) after the
valuables had been stolen. OF course,
Clark, knowing nothing of this, but
imagining justice to be hot on his
heels, got on a boat bound for Africa
without delay. Hearken how retribu-
tion awaited him. He was stricken
down with fever. He was told that
there was no hope of recovery. There
fore he sought to purchase peace in
his dying moments by restoring his
lll-gotten wealth to its owner. He
) had got rather friendly with sailor
! during the passage, to him he intrust-
J ed the case, together with confess
: sion OF his crime, bidding the fellow
} swear by the most solemn oaths that
l lips could utter that he would deliver
them up to Gray & Helmsley, O'Neil's
solicitors. The fellow proved faithful
that is why 1 am here to-day"
Z 'What shall you do?" asked Con-
r yers, eagerly.
s II don't know. If, as You say, Mr..
: O'Neil is lunatic, what will be the
4 good of giving him the jewels? He
S certainly will not recognize them.
t Can't you suggest something?"
: "They do say that when a man has
r been robbed of reason by sudden
y shock, a sudden shock will also re-
;, store it, Come, let us test the truth
: of that theory"
Manson assented eagerly, so to-
S gether they proceeded to O'Neills
n abode. They were courteously re-
d ceived by Mrs O'Neil and her daugh-
?, ter. Manton told his story. The
l. ladies We're amazed, electrified.
e "Hou inspire hope undreamed
it of, " cried Mrs. O'Neil
@ Without another word she darted
e upstairs to her husband, and was fol
s lowed no less quickly by the others.
e O'Neil was found sitting in an arm.
= chair gazing into space. When, how
Is ever Manton offered him the iewe
? case he took it readily enough. He
e turned it over gravely, opened it, ant
l. then, alas looked at the Jewels will
Is lack-luster eyes. They might have
p been pebbles.
ie Mrs. O'Neil sank into chair witt
l. piteous moan. Had this momentary
lie brightness come to make her more
" miserable than ever? But her daugh
ID ter had approached Conyers, and wa
putting her hand upon his arm. [
p gave him Joy to think that in the tim
rs of crisis she turned to him.
10 "Can you do anything, Mr.. Con
d yers, she asked, earnestly.
l. eyes. / have plan. I will mes
Of merze your father, if you will lie
IN me-" he said, quietly.
For all his endeavor he could no
n prevent tremor from creeping int
s. his voice. Mrs. O'Neil sprang from
y her chair aghast; Manton stared q
il, him with his mouth open. Conyer
T. had not time to think of them.
in 1T is a great risk" he continued
es but is not this n desperate case whic
demands such?"
to "But how can you do what yo
n say?" asked Mrs. O'Neil.
81 studied it in Paris along wit
r. art. was very successful with e1
1t, periments which L tried upon m
fellow students"
III '.'You certainly can't be successfu
re with Mr.. O'Neil," protested Mantor
"His mind is deranged."
in GAIL the BETTER" explained Conyeri