Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-24
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS: THURSDAY. MAY "a. 1900

ten times the amount of money you are
paying.
"Did he2"
"Be assured he did. If you don't be-
lieve me, ask him. told him he was "A
fool but. alas, We live in a cynical age,
and few men believe all they hear, so |
fear my expression Of opinion made lit
tie impression on him.
81 shall not keep You longer from his
highness, said the princess, with freez-
ing dignity.
THANK yOu so much | am just dv-
ing TO meet him, for | know he has
something most interesting to tell me.
Don't you think yourself, princess, that
a man acts rather like fool when he is
deeply in loveT"
To this there was no reply, and the
princess left the room Miss Jennie
jumped to her feet and almost ran to
the library. She found the prince walk
ing up and down the long room with a
telegraph message in his hand.
You are most wonderful young
woman" he said ''read that"
81 have been told SO by more observ-
ing men than you, Prince Won Stcinhei-
mer, said the girl, taking the tele.
gram. 1t was from the manager of the
bank in Vienna, and it ran especial
messenger leaves with package by the
Meran express tonight
"Just as thought. " said Miss Jcn-
ME. THE diamonds never LETT the bank.
] suppose those idiots of servants which
the princess has round her didn't know
what they took away from Vienna and
what they left. Then, when the dia-
monds were missing, they completely
lost their hcads-not that any one in
the castle has much wits TO spare.
never saw such an incompetent lot. "
The prince laughed
''Gou think, perhaps have not wits
enough to see that my wife cares for
me l. that it? Is that why you gave
me my own lettcrsY'
"Oh, you are we'll mated The prin-
cess now does me the honor of being
jealous of me Think of that As if it
were possible that ! should take any i'm
tcrest in you, for have seen real men
in my time
The prince regarded her with his most
severe expression.
Are YOU not fattcring yourself
somewhat, roung ladyT'
"Oh, dear, no. | take il as the reverse
of fattering to he supposed that | have
( any liking for such n ninnv as Won are
Flattering indeed And she has haughti-
ly dismissed me, il YOU please "
The princess has? What have you
been saying to her.
"Oh, | made the most innocent ro-
mark, and it was the truth too which
shows that honesty is not always tha
best policy | merely told her that Won
had offered me ten times the amount Of
money She is paying mo. Non needn t
jump as if somebody had shot off gun
at your ear. You know you did make
such an offer.
lyon COMPOUNDED little mischief
maker" cried the prince in anger.
did you tell her what it was for
mo. She did not ask
81 will thank you to apply the clev-
ernes7 you seem to possess to the undo
ing of the harm you have so light
heartedlv caused.
"How can /? | am ordered to leave
tonight. when did so wish to stay an(
see the diamo al denouement
"You are not going tonight. | shall
speak Ito the princess about il if tha
should he necessary. Your mention o
the diamonds reminds me that my re
spccted father-in-law, Mr.. Briggs. in
forms me that celebrated detective
whom it seems he has engage Cad
bury Taylor, think the name is-wil
be here tomorrow to explain the dia
mond mystery, 50 You see you have {
competitor
"Oh, is Cadhury coming? That i
too jolly for anything. | simply mus
stay and hear his explanation, for he i
very famous detective, and the con
illusions he has arrived at must be mos
interesting.
In the morning the diamonds arrived
per special messenger vino first took
formal receipt for them and then mos
ohsequiouslv took his departure. BY thu
same train came Mr. Cadbury Taylor
" modest a. ever hut giving some in
dicatinn in his bearing of the impor
lance of the discovery his wonderful syS
tenn had aided him in making III
blandly evaded the curiosity of Mr.
Erigg, and said it would perhaps b
better to reveal the secret in the pres
ence of the prince and princess.
".Iust what | suspected, muttere,
Mr.. Briggs, who had long be.n con
WINGED that the prince had stolen tn
stones.
The important gathering took plac
in the library. the prince, with the dia
monds in his coat pocket seated at tn
head of the long table, while the prin
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