The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-09-09

Ross an excellent partner at whist in
the evening against Muriel and Horace.
Packed off TO bed again grumbieG
bedroom.
Its a beastly shame. asserted
Bert. They are going to have dancing.
too, tonight
Bert. I've 4 lovely reveng" for YOU.
/ should die laughing to see i. but We
mustn't. Sh'.' and he Whispered his
Plan.
after they had turned out every
light they could find in the house M
cept in the Kitchen. where the three
servants were, and III the drawing-rOom
to which, OF curse. they had nc ac-
cess-the young con~spirators entered
their room.
Mrs. Ross. turning Il deaf ear to
Murici's entrcaties for a quiet evening.
had persuaded every caller, invited or
unlimited, to stay. \ set of ~lanccrs was
in full swing. Never mind if you are
not in evening dress said the hostess.
You can dance just rs well surely with
out. | shall lose Muriel soon, and then
l shall be lonely enough
"Pembertou was Muriel's partner.
Her white neck showed off to perfection
his gift. which she to please him.
Darrell presided at the piano. They
whirled past him Just as Martin. the
new maj servant-who was butler. foot
man or waiter as occasion demanded
was trying to dodge by with a cup of
coffee for Mr.. Ross.
Suddenly all was darkness-the gas
had gone out,
"Pemberton 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
side, Has no one Il Match shouted
some timid lady.
Thus adjured. the startled gentle
men recollected they were in the habit;
of carrying such useful articles. Half
a-dozen were offered at once. and the
gas. which was discovered to be still in
full force, was r%elighted.
1T 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 Pcmberton.
The turning of the key in The lock.
the sound of retreating scamporing on
the stairs. and Il burst of explosive
laughter confirmed his theory. The
two lads had tasted revenge by romoy-
ing The burner from the gas-brackct il
their bedroom. and blowing Gown the
pipe with ali their l~ung-rower :ilI the
other lights IN the house went OH.
"MurieI's laughter at the boys monk
cry turned to a wall as She caught sight
of herself in the mirror. Horace. dear.
She said. Look, My diamonds are
gone,
"'Gone.' he cried, impossible. You
must have dropped them. They are IL
the oom sCmewhere-they must be
saw them myself as we were dancing,
~ quarter of an hours search re
vcai,d nothing. The carpet WAS turned
back. The piano diSsrciod. every article
of furniture removed from lis place. and
Yet all in vain.
"Gus Darrell whispered some query
10 Martin. who nodded empiaticalIy in
response.
Mrs. Ross. Muriel, ladies and gen
tlemeu. he SAID, i am sure we are all
deeply sorry for the uEtOward incident
of which we are unwilling spectators.
A lovely diamond pendant has been lost
in this room within the last 20 minutes.
No one has entered-ro one has left the
rocm. The windows are closed - the
FIRE is burning in The CRATE: therefore.
the pendant HIS not left til" room either
by door. window or lire CRATE. and
there ar" no cupboarGS III The ro0n. On
behalf Of the guests and II" ouC scrv-
ant present | propose that NJ. FcmEcr-
ton search the gentlemen and Mrs. i;os>
the ladies. | am. myself. willing to lie
The first searched
~ murmur Of aSson; went round the
room. Iii were searched. Nothing WIS
found that threw any light CT the fate
or the missing pendant.
~ am deeply obliged to yCl&ll-asI
am sure Mrs. Toss and h"r daughter are
aiSo-for the readiness with wiich yea
have submitted TO this unpleasant or
deal said Pemb crton. We must smile
IA the whole affair now and write it
down as an irscrutablc mystery. Dia-
monds are easily replaced. and. ROW
that every one OF the company can feel
that no suspicion can possibly attach it
self to them. | think the matter had
better rest there
Nov. my boys, I am getting dry.
Another whisky and soda. please. be-
fore | finish the warm" said Neale. as
he relit his cigar.
Douglas Clipped in with: I'll finish
it for you if you are dry. | see it all:
Pcmbcrton took the pendant himself.
after bribing the lads to blow the gas
out. lie was not searched. you will OBJ
serve. gentlemen. | suppose he did it
to pretend he had money enough 10 re-
place il with ease. Fau-h, ! hate such
snobbish ways"
douglas. my lad. f! am glad TO be
forced to tell you this story tonight.
II | had heard such Il story when | was
your age | should never have earned my
tytIe of cynic. Now I'll finish. please.
"Pemberton stayed the night at the
Homestead. He had his reasons he
said. Darrell begged hard to be allowed
to keep him company. but Mrs. Ross