Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-08-24

the house. but knew Ralph was ai inc
lodge. 50 | could not 20 ami consult with
him rs should otherwise have done,
thought Of going 10 Middleton, whose
room WIS close 70 mine. but ON second
thoughts gave NJ the idea am glad
did. At last determined | would wait
till the house was quiet, and that then
would 20 down alone and watch IN
the library in the dark. lay down
on INV bed in my clothes 10
wait. AMI then-I hal been mp /
most of the night before with Denis,
was dead beat with acting and dancing /
by i'll luck | fell asleep. When woke |
up found tony horror that IL was close |
ON o'clock. | instantly slipped OIL my |
shoes and crept out Of my room and |
down the stairs. could not get TO the |
library from the hall, as the stage blocked |
the way, and had to 20 all the way |
round by the drawing room and morning |
room. As went l thought how easy II |
would be for Carr to force the locS OF |
the drawer. and 50 it flashed across me !
could /? Oh, Ralph" said Charles, 81
went down solely to look after your
property for YOU, but did think OF 1t.
| hope | should not have done 1t, but
suddenly remembered how hard pressed
was for money, and did think OF the
crescent and how you would hardly miss
IL and how-but what does 1t matter
now? When got to the library
found | was too late The lock OF the
drawer had been forced and il was emp
tv. There was nothing for it but TO 90
! back TO my room. | felt as certain that
| Carr had done il as that | am standing
| here: but | dared say nothing next
| morning, for fear of drawing an ever
ready parental suspicion on myself
which, however, Middleton did for me.
All could do was to keep Carr wei in
| sight until the theft was fonud ont, to
prevent any possibility of his escaping,
| and then to accuse him. THERE" said
Charles, that is the whole truth. Carr
did not take the jewels. That is abso-
lutely proved. and the sooner he Is let
out the better Who took them heaven
only knows! don't. But | know who
meant 10. and that was Carr. ~
Charles" said Ralph, with glisten-
ing eyes, ''if ever l get them back you
shall have the crescent"
"a very neat little story altogether
said Sir George, and the episode Of
temptation WY effectiyl ~ thrown in,
1t does you credit, my son, and is a great
relief to your old fathers mind"
THANK you, Charles" said Marsion,
getting up. Sir George it is close or
luncheon time and Carr must be let o"
at once. Now thai Charles has SO
pletely cleared himself don't sec that
anything moro can b. done for the mo-
ment. and Of one thing | an certain,
namely, that You are making yourself
much worse and must keep absolutely
quiet for the rest Of the day. If / may
advise, should suggest that Clrr should
be allowed to leave, rs he wishes to DO,
by the afternoon train. and should not
be pressed to stay. There il nothing
more to be got out of him, and consider
ing the circumstances | should say the
sooner he is out of the house the better.
as he has been wrongly suspected,
think the robbery had Iert2rnot b. men.
toned to any one. even the ladies in the
house, until after he has Lett
"Aurelia knows" said Ralph. "She
was with me in the library. left her
crying bitterly about them
Let her cry, if she viii only hold her
} tongue" said Sir George, making a last
3 effort to speak but evidently at the eX.
> tremo point of exhaustion. And you
Marston, you are right about Carr. Sec
that he goes tbs afternoon. There is
: nothing more to be done at present
} Charles, you will remain here, though
l | have no doubt you have an engage
ment in London. l cannot spare you
? just yet.
/ Charles bowed and he and MarstoT
went out. l remained a second behind
| with Ralph.
4 81 see it quite clearly, said Sir George
| 81 know Charles. He is sharp enough
He saw Carr meant mischief, and he wa;
i beforehand with him, and he took what
l. Carr meant to take. 1t was not badly
= imagined, but he should have made Ger
tain Carr was sleeping in the house. 1
$ all turned on that He never reckone(
| on the possibility of Carr being cleared.
5 Middleton is still here said Ralph
a significantly, who was pouring out some
e thing for his father.
: us he? | thought he was gone" sal,
n Sir George, so sharply that considered
0 it advisable to retire at once.
e Charles and Marston were talking to
gether earnestly in the passage.
| He does not believe word | say,
It said Charles, as | joined them: "anl
V what is more | could see he had toll
It Ralph he suspected me before we CAM
in. Did not you see how Ralph tried t.
# stop me when he thought, [ was com
d hitting myself by accusing Carr, VIII
It it seems was quite out Of the question
It | am glad you cut it short, MarstOn
= He was making himself worse ever,
o moment"
Come on with that key of yours an,
o let us go and let out Carr" replied Mars
n ton, patting Charles kindly on the back
Ii ''or he will be kicking all the paint OF
e the door"
|. mot he!" said Charles. "An homes
e man would have rung up the Who'll
"a household and nearly battered the doc
II down by this time, thinking it had bee
:, locked by mistake. Carr knows better.
d We had reached the smoking room b.
/, this time, just as the gong was beginning
l. to sound for luncheon, and under cove
IF Of the noise Charles fitted the key int
/ the keyhole and unlocked the door. II
n and Marston went slowly in, talking o
s. some Indifferent subject, and / followed
W TO BE CONTINUED.
is