Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-26

valuable lives than mine. But Moth
ing Of the sort happened. looked in
to an ordinary jewel box, made to hold
miscellaneous articles which had no
cases of their own. In a satin lined
tray were stuck large variety Of scarf
pins, such as some men are fond OF
using in their ties, and each one was
set with at least a single precious stone.
Lifting the tray, saw gold cigarette
case, with a diamond monogram SO in
tricate that it was well nigh impossi-
BILE to decipher; a bangle, encr,lsted
with rubies, and several rings, bril-
liant, sapphire and emerald, which
might be worn either by man or wo-
man.
1t was valuable collection, judged,
though knew little of the intrinsic
worth of such things. But as two or
three hundred pounds would, doubtless,
cover the cost, it hardly seemed posi-
BILE that so elaborate plot had been
concocted for the sole purpose OF GEL
ting these bits of jewels out Of England
and into Scotland.
| They would certainly suffice to make
| the landlord feel more than safe in
keeping an expensive room for me dur
| ing my absence, which was the reason
alleged for bringing them into the
game by Mr.. Smith. But what was
ultimately to become of them l found
myself at the last as unable to guess as
1 had been at first.
My journey to Glasgow was unevent-
full. The train was late, and it was
well on in the afternoon before we
reached our destination. / wrote and
sent a telegram to myself, as l had
been directed to do. and then drove
on to my hotel the cabman who took
me complaining bitterly of the weight
of my large box.
Everything else happened exactly as
arranged, even to the arrival OF the
telegram. which came while l was
dressing after a cold tub in the very
desirable room that l had taken.
l spread out such things as l chose
| to spare from the contents of the we'll
stocked bag (Which was to travel on
with me presently in picturesque con-
fusion on the dressing table, and felt
almost as healthy an appetite for my
luncheon as if l had not been dis
carded lover, a convicted cheat, cash
tered officer, and an unfortunate wretch
engaged in an adventure of strangely
dubious character.
My nerves were keyed to high ten
sion, and though, if l were to believe
my host of the dark house among the
trees, the most exciting part of my
mission had ended, l persisted in cher
! ishing the obstinate impression that, in
reality, it had only just begun.
| l had seen nothing more CT the man
in knickerbocllers after getting out OF
| the train, though l had not neglecred
to glance about in quest Of him at the
stsMo4 Bat in the coffec-room where
1 lunched an individual faced me at
another table whose clothes were less
familiar than his features.
| / could not have sworn that The men
were one and the same; The idea that
| this was so might have been a morbid
| trick OF my imagination. But though
the disguise, if disguise it were, was
clever and comprehensive, and the fell
| lows eyes were now hidden behind
pair of blue glasses, had a strong I'M
preston that l was still under surveil
lance.
Despite this fact I ate in a leisurely
manner, and sauntered afterwards to
the desk with as nonchalant an air as
| if | had not been conscious that every
one connected with the hotel, from the
manager to the cashier, was curiously
specializing upon the movements OF
Derek Napier, a ruined, dishonored
man, travelling, perhaps, on his spoils
as a gambler.
l delivered over the jewel-case, told
my story about the telegram just re-
ceived and the necessity for a nights
absence, all, apparently, to the salts
faction Of the manager, and then went
up to my room to prepare for my short
journey. Just before l reached the
stairs 1 passed the man whom l sus-
pected. He had now quite a scholarly
air in his black clothes and his blue
glasses. But though he appeared too
absent minded to notice me, absorbing
himself in placing marker between
the pages Of book he held, I fancied
that the eyes behind the ugly spectacles
were busy in another way.
l had had fire lighted in my room,
as I could now afford luxury, and the
day was biting cold for the time of
year, even in Scotland. Drawing I'D
big easy chair, l had begun to look
out times Of trains in a railway guide
l had obtained below when something
stirred, as 1 thought behind me-
looked round, expecting to find that
a chambermaid had opened the door
and entered so softly that 1 had not