The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14

from her Illness, had fallen asleep: 1 had
taken the key, stolen the necklace. thinking
1t would not be missed for long time,
and quietly put pack the key The fact of
my having asked for a days holiday at
the end of the week was made much OF.
suppose they thought ] meant to get
away and sell II.
For the next few days I was seldom out
OF sight of the detective. He would sit
down beside when 1 was sewing and
appear to take great interest in my work.
He would join me I'm the garden il 1 went
for a stroll. Even my favorite retreat.
the summer house, was not free from his
intrusion. / could see that the very serv
ants knew on whom suspicion rested. but
/ could not attempt TO leave, for I knew
that my doing so would be construed into
an acknowledgment of guilt. and that Lady
Alicia would not have hesitated to have me
arrested
For some time 1 could not understand
so suave, so insnuating? Suddenly an
expression in his eyes, accompanied by
some familiar phrase. showed me his mean
ing. The man had the insolence to be at
tempting to make love to me!
He saw that 1 had OWNED his intention,
and broke out:
MY dear young lady, I see that you
have read my secret as I have discovered
yours! Yes-your beauty, your helpless
ness, have made the deepest impression on
my heart. Even detectives have hearts,
strange as 1t may seem to you'll ! offer
you the protection of my love. Marry me,
my sweetest one. and you shall never
again hear a whisper of this suspicion"
''Mr Duckworth! / rose, trembling
with Indignation.
"Calm yourself" he said, looking around.
do not expose yourself 80 observation.
My dear, do you not see that I know all?
Your fate is in my hands. Accept my pro-
posal, and you are a free woman. Refuse
it, and you will be arrested before week
is out"
"And you," cried in scorn, "you would
marry a woman you believe to be a thief"
He answered with an odious smile.
mot any such woman"
I am not by nature a passionate woman,
but the insolence Of the mans manner, and
his calm assumption of my guilt, reused
my temper beyond control. and 1 threat
ened to go at once to Lady Alicia and ex-
pose him.
He smiled contemptuously.
Dor he cried. "And hear what her
ladyship will say. Everybody sees how
fond she is of you-she will take all you
say for gospel! 1 fancy I can hear her
The clever little mink, thinking to turn the
detective from his duty by a glance Of her
dark eyes, etc. Oh, yes, Miss Marshall, 1t
will be quite your browning success to GO
with such a story to Lady Alicia!'
1t was too true. 1 was no coward, but
| knew that he was right.
"You know that am as innocent of this
| thing as you are yourself" 1 cried.
He shrugged his shoulders.
st might have said so day or two ago,
| he said, meaningly. and I remembered that
| he had come out to me in the garden the
| day before with look of elation and cum
ming that made him ten times more un
| pleasant than he had been before.
"You prefer to take your fate in youl
own hands. then?" he said, drawing nearer
Remember, / arm willing, nay, anxious, t
| relieve you from the unpleasantness o.
| your position. Trust me, put yourself int
| my hands by accepting me as your affiancet
| husband
| / drew back in horror as he put out hi
hands to me. and seeing the loathing in m.
eyes, he broke off:
VERY well, you have chosen. Hencefortl
I am your enemy, not your friend ant
ally"
/ went away and took refuge in my bed
room for the rest of the day. Lady Alicia
now herself again, had gone to a garden
party and had left Duckworth to keel
| guard over me.
Next morning the detective, after a lonl
conference with Lady Alicia, went out.
saw him being driven away in the dog-car
and feeling thankful for some hours o
freedom from this unceasing watchfulness
betook myself to the summer house, &C
companied by Commas.
No sooner had we entered our refuge thai
the dog became greatly excited. The en-
of an Egyptian cigarette was lying on tn
floor, and at first thought it was this tina
had excited Commas, for Mr.. Duckwort
smoked these cigarettes, and the dog ha
always shown marked antipathy for tn
detective. But 1t was not the cigarette, 70
Commas began to sniff at the floor tn
other side of the summer house at plac
where the wooden casing that formed
sort Of wainscoting was broken away FEY
inches above the floor, and. showing hi
paws as far as he could get them unde
the woodwork, he whined and growled a
he might have done if he had smelt a RAJ
thought for moment that this was tn
cause of his excitement, and. stoopin
down, saw a small object lying beyond m
reach. Suddenly wild thought struck m,
Could there. by any undreamt-of chanc,
could there be here any clew to the mys
terry of the necklace? 1 remembered ho'
Max had made the dog smell the box.
looked out into the garden. and there
saw the vicar on his way from the hous
where he had been for the last hour wit
! Lady Alicia. In my excitement 1 ran up I
him and told him Of my thought
He came with me into the summerhous
and said he thought the object 1 pointe
out might prove to be the sandal-wood DO,
eff it should be that, 1t would be advi
, able to have Lady Alicia present at it's fint
ing" he said, and he went without my asl
ing him, out of the kindness of his hear
to bring her himself.
She came, looking very incredulous, b,
the vicar, STOPPING down, pushed the hookt
, end of his stick into the recess, and brougl
out the box. He put 1T into Lady Alicia
hands, and 1 watched her eagerly as 81
| he hoy he did Sh brol