The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-10-03

tried the experiment. The expert had
gone away on business-nobody knew
where.
The newspaper came as usual on Friday
morning. To Mrs. Bellbridge's amaze
ment it set the question OF the theft at
rest, on the highest authority. An article
appeared in { conspicuous position, thus
expressed:
Another Of the many proofs that truth
Is stranger than fiction has just occurred
at Liverpool A highly respected firm Of .
ship owners in that city received a
strange letter at the beginning Of the
present week Promising that he had
some remarkable circumstances to com :
municate the writer OF the letter entered
abruptly on the narrative which follows. I
A friend Of his connected with literature
had. it appeared, noticed "A lady's visiting
card left on his desk, and had been re-
minded by it OF a criminal case which had
excited considerable public interest at the
time-the trial Of Captain Westerheld for
willfully casting away a ship under his
command Never having heard OF the
trial. the writer, at his friends suggestion,
consulted a file of ewspapers-discovered
( the report-and became aware for the first
1 time that a collection Of Brazilian dia
monds, consigned to the Liverpool firm,
was missing from the wrecked vessel,
when she had been boarded by the salvage
party, and had not been found since.
\ Events which it was impossible for him
to mention had revealed to his knowledge
a hiding place in which these same dia-
mOnds-in all probability-were concealed.
This circumstance had left him no alter
native, as an honest man, but to be be
fOrehand with the persons, who cOntem-
plated stealing the precious stones. He
had accordingly taken them under his
protection until they were identified and
claimed by the rightful owners. In now
appealing TO these gentlemen, he stipa-
lated that the claim should be set forth
in writing. addressed to him under initials
at postofice in London. If the lost prop
erty was identified to his satisfaction he
would meet-at specified place, and on
certain day and hOur-a person accredited
by the firm, and would personally restore
the diamonds, without claiming a reward
The conditions being complied with, this
remarkable interview took place; the writ
er Of the letter, described as an infrm old
man very poorly dressed, fulfilled his en-
gagement, took his receipt, and walked
away without even waiting TO be thanked.
1t is only an act of justice TO add that the
diamonds were afterward counted, and
not one of them was missing"
Miserable, deservedly miserable, mar
ried pairl The stolen fortune, on which
they had counted. had slipped through
their fingers. The berths in the steamer
for New York had been taken and paid
for. James had married a woman. with
nothing besides herself to bestOw on him.
except an incumbrance in the shape OF a
boy.
r BY a refinement of cruelty, not one word
had been said 10 prepare little sgd for the
dreary change that was now close at hand
in her young life. The poor child had seen
. the preparations for departure. and tried
to initiate her mother in packing up. She
had collected her few morsels OF darned
and ragged clothing. and had gone up
o stairs to put them into one Of the dilapi-
dated old trunks in the great playground
when the servant was sent to bring her
, back to the sitting room. There, enthron-
r ed in an easy chair, sat strange lady
ard there, hiding behind the chair in un
disguised dislike OF the visitor, was hel
T. little brother Roderick sgd looked timid
D.. ly at her mother and her mother said.
: Here is your aunt
. Make your courtesy, child" said Mis-
Wigger. Nature had so toned her voice
q as to make it worthy of the terrors Of he
= face. But for her petticoats. it woul,
have been certainly taken for the voice o
\ a man.
Y The child obeyed trembling.
You are to go away with me-" tn
n school mistress proceeded. "and to b
1 taught TO make yourself useful under m.
! roof
C. Ga soor,o5 e, L., ;-o,,,.t,I, - 49,
- standing the fate that was in store 70
% her. She sheltered herself behind he
% merciless mother. I'm going away wit
you. mamma" she said-''with you an
10 Rick"
IS Her mother took her by the shoulder
70 and pushed her across the room to he
aunt.
- You belong to me" said Miss Wiggel
''and have come to take You away" A
those dreadful words, terror shook littl
sgd from head to foot. She fell ON he
10 knees with a cry of misery that Nigh
have melted the heart of savage. "Ol
no mamma, mamma. don't leave me behinC
- What have l done to deserve it, Oh
pray, pray. pray have some pity on mew
no Her mother was as selfish and as crul
ed a woman as ever lived. But even be
tn hard heart felt family the influence Of Ii
er most intimate and most sacred of all hl
man relationships Her horid cheel
ic- turned pale. She hesitated.
ay Miss Wigger marked that moment
ds maternal indecision-and saw that it W.
he time to assert her experience as an il
&c structress of youth.
Leave it to me- she said to her siste
at ''YOu never did know, and you never vi
lie, know. how to manage children"
DIS She advanced. The child threw herse
shrieking on the floor. Miss Wigger's 10,
arms caught her upheld her-shoOk he
BE quiet. you impr' 1t was needless
tell her to be quiet. Syd's little cur