The Washington times., 1903-11-15

Cecil placed the morocco box on the
table and lifted the lid. In the lamp
/ light glory streamed from the twenty
four gems. Even the two women. well
! accustomed to the sight. could not re
strain a little cry Of delighted surprise.
Newall drew a long breath and gazed
steadfastly at the glitter before him.
The stones. but slightly set and cor
nected. flashed circle of sunbeams.
"A kings ransom." ne said. and turn
ed away as if to shut out the too fas-
cinating sight They amused themselves
/ with the necklace for some time and
then closed the box It was left on the
table Shortly afterward the ladies re-
tired to bed, and Newan went up to the
J smolzing-room with Dreuxheld. Hardly
were they outside the drawing room
door when Cecil uttered an ejaculation
4 OF annoyance.
What a fool I ann said he, Il quite
forgot the necklace. You know where
the smoking room is. NewaH Just go
to it while I replace the diamonds in
| the strong room.
Newan assented and moved away.
while Dreuxfeld went back for the
necklace. The box was still on the
7 table. and u glance inside assured him
that the Jewels were safe. Blaming HIM
self for his incorceivable rashness in
! leaving the treasure even for a moment,
/ he went to the strong room. 1t was on
the ground floor. and approached by a
lcng and somewhat dark passage. With
the case under his arm. Dreuxheld
| fumbled at the lock OF the door. when
suddenly an arm was thrown round his
neck, choking the cry on his lips. A
/ cloth saturated with chloroform was
elapped over his mouth, and he heard
/ the morocco box clatter to the floor as
he lost his senses.
/ Mrs. Dreuxheld in her dressing room
! chattered with Kate about the curate,
and pIayfulIy bantered her on her
! chances of becoming a clergyman's wife.
Then Kate retired, and Mrs. Dreuxfield
! prepared for bed. Somewhat astonished
at the unusual absence OF her husband,
she was about to seek the smoking room
and reprove him when she heard a loud
cry. In a few minutes she was down
stairs. and found Newan in the hall
bending over the unconscious body of
/ Cecil.
What is the matter2 she cried,
/ alarmed by this spectacle.
I don't know" gaspeu NewaH. with
a remarkably pale face; "he left me to
| put away the jewels. waited his re-
turn in the smoking room. He did not
appear. and I went in search of him.
He was lying unconscious by the strong
! room door"
/ BY the time this breathless excIama-
hold thrcnged the hall. Last OF all the
major, followed by his valet Jenkins,
stumped down the stairs. loudly e1cus-
| irg himself for so late an arrival
Jenkins took my ivory leg to his
room to Clean" he explained II came
down the instant it was strapped on.
Now what is all this?"
Explanations were made. a doctor 'ap-
peared on the scene. and Cecil sat up
confusedly to give his. version of the
I episode.
"Chloroform!' exclaimed the doctor.
The diamonds!" said DreuxheId 'I
have been srobbed."
This explanation did not mend mat
! tars The y,,ov,eD+ t,os1,-o .t.-
been concerned for the safety Of their
master; now each and all wondered
what was the penalty for robbery. Pale
/ servants looked askance at one another.
and the female domesucs shrieked them
| selves into Mysteries. Kate kept her
head and bore Mrs. Dreuxheld to t.er
1 room, leaving the men TO deal with
/ the matter. Unfortunately, at so late
an hour. little could be done. so there
was nothing left for it but to wait till
/ dawn opened the telegraph office.
/ NewaH, finding himself useless in ad-
vising and doing, went home in com
+ pany with the doctor. Cecil and the
/ major retired to bed. but not to sleep.
! Few eyes were closed at Dreuxheld Han
/ that night and the air was char
I with terror and suspicion. The diamond
] necklace was gone, but no one, least Of
all it's owner, knew who had thieved it
| 81 dexterously.
/ The next morning Dreuxfield wired for
/ detectives and called IN the IOcai police
Cwho tell the story was deputed to
| look after the case, and on arriving at
Malvern l was put in possession of the
! facts. From such statements 1 could
not guess who was the thief. and pro-
! ceeded to examine the servants. The
result was unsatisfactory. and tackled
/ the gentry. Dreuxheld. his wife. and
/ sister could tell me nothing. and alto
/ gether the loss Of that necklace was as
/ deep a mystery as ever l had 70 do
with.
II rather added to my perpIexity
when 1 found that Major Onslow and
his valet had that morning gone TO
London He had explained that he knew
a map who would elucidate any mys-
terry better than professional detec-