The true northerner., 1900-03-15

prison would put an END 10 all tnat. L
believe she will give Us the ring yet.
But IL would be wrong 10 keep her
here. She shall pack up today and
leave tomorrow morning"
And Susan got notice accordingly.
IL knew you wouldn't believe me-"
said the girl, gulping down sob.
"Then why did you tell me such a
thingY"
Because it's true"
Don't say any more. don't want
to hear IT, don't suppose you will
expect any wages"
Susan turned CHASTITY white. II must
have them." she gasped. MY mother
needs the money to pay her rent. IL
she doesn't get 1t. they will turn her
out into the street and she's not
strong"
"She doesn't intend TO try to sell the
ring-at least not yet" thought Mrs.
Robinson "If | give her her wages,
she won't need TO do 1t, and she'll send
IL back"
AS the old lady lay awake in the
middle of the night the door was eau
tiously pushed open. and Susan came
In silently.
Mrs. Robinson. are you awake?"
The question came in terrified
whisper. Susan's eyes were starting
out of her head. and her teeth were
chattering.
what is the matter, Susanw
master has gone up TO the gayret
hfY,I- 10,
thing wrong"
Mrs. Robinson came hastily over her
bed and followed Susan noiseless, !
along the passage. A glmmer OF light
shone through the banSters above.
Mrs. Robinson saw that her brother
was coming down stairs. staring
straight ahead with his eyes dilated.
He approached as stately as wax
figure and almost brushed against
them. The light of the candle fell full
on their white, upturned faces as he
passed. but he took no notice of them
Down the next flight of stairs he
went, his sister and Susan following,
for they wanted to see what he was
going TO do. They lost sight of him
at the foot Of the stairs. but soon heard
the door of the coal cellar creaking on
its hinges. Stealing toward it, they
peered through. He was inside working
a stone in the wall. which in n few
moments he dislodged and set down on
the floor
He next took an iron box out of the
hole he had made, applied a key to it,
raised the lid and took some small arti-
Gle out.
Then he replaced everything as il
had been before and, carefully obliter-
ating all traces of his operations, left
/ the cellar.
AS he passed his sister and Susan,
they saw that he carried the lost ring
between the forefinger and thumb of
his left hand.
He then made his way toward his
sisters room. into which he disappear
ed for a few seconds. Coming out
again. he mounted the stairs in the di
rection Of the garret.
Its no use following him." said
Mrs. Robinson. IL know the key he
used and can get 1t in the morning"
ret stairs again. and they both held
their breath in anxiety.
He came all right till he got abou,
half way down, and then whether one
of his heels interviewed tack or some
thing no one will ever know, but al
at once his legs shot out In front OF
him and he went sailing down the
! mi cfn
bump.
With the supernatural dexterity
which characteriZes the somnambulist
he managed to keep the candle In al
the time and now set 1t down In the
lobby with a clank right end up.
Mr. John rose with his face quite Sc
rious and. without rubbing himself OF
anything. went along the passage anC
disappeared into his own bedroom.
1T is evidently not the first time h,
has walked in his sleep" said the ole
lady. HE must have visited the bo,
before. That is how the ring came t
be found. 1t must have dropped OF
the floor To think that | never haC
the slightest suspicion! Susan, cal
you ever forgive meT'
"Yes'm."
There, you see the ring on the toile
table. just where | left Ii the night /
went a-missing," remarked Mrs. Rob
inson as they entered her bedroom
THE lost diamonds are In the bo,
which is hidden iri the wall. | saw
them. Get to bed, and well see then
In the morning"
And they did see them. and a won
derful set of diamonds they were;
beautiful, dazzling. shimmering neck
lace and bracelets and rings, all as sc
forth in the inventory.
ut was really you who found them.
said Mrs. Robinson to Susan. land IL
have them valued. and you'll get you
legal reward and more. I'll pay you
mothers rent as long as she lives
London Weekly Telegraph.