The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-10-16
HER DIAMONDS.


instant-a fatal. never forgotten In
slant. Perhaps alone knew that IL was
madame's unexpected deposit of $780,
900 which not SO long before had saved
the collapse of our private concern by
the most thrilling margin. And madame
herself was-well, the most impressive
and fascinating woman that had ever
swept through the bank doorway.
"Close the doorl" she whispered
quickly, then leaned across "Dear Mr..
Henry. had such vital reason for in
truding SO late. There, take them r.
She whisked battered morocco case
from her seal muff and sank back with
an Undesirable relief
tThank heaven, now can dare to
breathel I trust you, and-well, you
may have guessed by this that am not
SO sure Of my husband. Deeds? No;
they're part of the family jewels Ny
aunt is dead, you know, and they only
came into my hands today. came here
like the wind. Look for yourself. Lock
them away, and-mind them up
to no one save myself in person. The
key-here. Mr.. Henry, aren't they
maddeningly superbP"
My lips parted simultaneously with
the lid. stared down with sort Of
sick feeling that had certainly never
experienced at sight of treble the value
of coin. There were few oPals and a
little packet of seed pearls-but it was
the diamonds. a necklet and tiara Of
them. I snapped the lid and looked
across at madame incredulously. Did
she mean it?
"Not here-why, noP she exclaimed,
guessing. ''To be lodged at the bank,
in the safe, you understand. Mr.. Hen
ry, if my husband had the barest idea,
he would come flying back from his
shooting in Scotland at once, SO place
them with you In case Of anything.
Poor Otterburnl" she sighed. "It is his
temperament, but he would realize upon
himself, if he couldp
ITO be given up to no one save your
self? Very good, you will lock 1t and
retain the key, please. Till morning
yes, for the time being they ought to
be safe enough in this cabinet One
moment, madame You must have re-
ceipt.'
was conscious all the evening of a
vague uneasiness-12 O'Clock. My wife
had retired-the servants also. 1t was
the queerest coincidence that decided
to smoke another cigar in solitude, and
that the weed burned for nearly an
hour, for just at the end of that time
the strangest thing happened.
The hall bell gave an uncertain tinkie.
So down I went, turned on the electric
switch there, opened the door-and
there stood
mime. Otterburnp' said just above
my breath.
"MeP Looking past me, she said 1t
in dull, mumbling voice. ~ have
come for my jewels. Let me have them,
please. +"
Her oarriage-where was it2 And
madame herself, as she stepped past me
into the hall. seemed somehow differ
ent person Howl could not sum 1t
up till afterward, but the richness was
missing from her voice, she was strange
ly white and haggard, and she stared
ahead as if some nameless trouble had
overtaken her in that six hour interval.
Gould it be-no, it was madame herself
my jewels, pleasel'' she repeated,
Just a break in her dull voice. HE
says-he says am to bring them back.
or something will happen. / must.
She followed me into the library.
"There, madame, just as you left them, !"
and handed her the case
"Thank you, thank you" AS she
said it l noticed striking fact: Her
teeth were gone-the two white rows I
had often admired. False, then. That
explained the alteration in her voice.
But she was moving off without an
other word.
MadameP' l gasped. Her hand was
actually upon the door catch. Really,
I must insist upon seeing you safely
home in the circumstances. If you will
wait one second"-
ran up the stairs for hat and boots.
But { had barely reached my room
when heard the door below click and
close.
And it was not until had got back
to the smoking room that l recollected
I had actually omitted to ask her for
the return of that receipt.
A week passed. had heard nothing
Of madame or her jewels. Another
week. When at last she was announced
one morning, felt positively nervous
for the moment Then in she swept,
her teeth as white, her step as stately,
her smile as fascinating as ever. Dear
Mr.. Henry About those troublesome
mining shares-should she sell or hold?
Hold, by all means" sat back,
with smile of relief "Er-I see /
need not ask as to whether you reached
home safely with your treasure. Do
you happen to have that receipt with
you, madame, or did you destroy its
For the jewels, | mean.
"Jewels? Destroy it?" Not in dozen
years shall l forget my sensations as
madame repeated that, her smile fading
into a fixed stare. "Mr. Henryl What
ever do-wby, you have my jewels In
the bank herei''
"W-whatP Was she really madf
How long we sat gazing at each other !
do not know. "IndeedP I got out at
length. "You surely-Mme. Otterburn,
1 cannot appreciate jokes of this order |"
"JokesP'' She had swayed to her feet.
"Jokesp" she whispered again. Mr..
Henry put them into your own hands
in your own house. ="
"Certainly you did. And you called
at my house an hour after midnight, on
the same day, and took them away
again.
~ called at your house again and
Mr.. Henry, explain yourself, dol l was
never at your house but the once In my
life. gave you the case and took your
own receipt Really, this is too RI
diculousr
"Mme. Otterburn, think It was
about o'clock. You rang the bell
twice. You seemed to be in trouble
your husband, you simply said, had told
you to get back the jewels. Igave them
| to you, and you left the house before
could get my hat. You don't remember
-thatf''
"I've been robbedl" She put out q
shaking hand. "Mr. Henry, as heaven
hears me, have not touched that case
since put it into your hands. die
have words with my husband that night
when he came home, but for you to say
II 90 straight to the police. Please al
low me to pass"
Madame, one moment" l wal
gathering my wits ] must not let hel
20 off impetuously like that "Will yor
wait-just three days9 If in three day
nothing transpires, I'll call In the frs
detective in London at our own expense
Madame, you must. II there ia any