Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-07-16

blue bloods among them-real tiptop-
pers who were going the pace-and
Lord Dale led this crowd. When sober,
he was snob and cad. When in his
cups, he was a thorough vulgarian and
would as soon carouse with cabman
as to drink with gentleman. He had
been introduced by a good friend Of
my masters, and, being lord, he was
allowed many liberties over a common
would have preferred his room to his
company after his first visit. I took a
strange dislike to him on first sight,
but of course that didn't count.
That Lord Dale had made ducks and
brakes of his inheritance and gone to
the money lenders was common report,
but no one knew just how hard up he
was. On his very first visit to my mas
ter two tradesmen would have waylaid
him at the door as he left had 1 not
sent them away ON false scent His
morning mail consisted mostly Of duns
and threats, and writ servers were aft
er him during the rest of the day.
Those things did not affect his general
reputation, however. AS a blue blood
a lord may do many things that would
bring disgrace upon a tradesman.
OF all the callers at our rooms no one
except Lord Dale would insist upon
entering when Informed that the cap
tain was out. Sometimes he would
find the captain at home, but engaged
with his letters or accounts or with
some old friend of bygone days. At
other times he would wait for him for
half an hour or more and then knock
things about and go away cursing. I
never could learn that any of his calls
had any pressing object In view. 1t
was rather his obstinate. bulldozing
way.
AS the captains man was response
BILE for all personal property, and /
may tell you that the rooms contained
many portable objects of value. There
were rare old vases, great and small;
valuable canoes. uncut gems from In
dla, ivory statuettes from Japan. /
had written list Of them, and once a
week / went through the rooms and
checked of.
One Friday Lord Dale made a call
when the captain had gone into the
country for the day. My word that he
was not at home simply resulted in
an insolent stare, and the caller passed
on to the sitting room. He waited for
an hour and then kicked over n chair,
upset screen and clattered down
stairs. Next day was my day for
checking of, and had scarcely begun
when I discovered that valuable In
dian cameo was missing. / knew that
cameo to have been in It's cabinet FRI
day morning. No one but Lord Dale
had called in the twenty-four hours.
The captain returned Saturday after
noon. and I reported the loss. He
looked at me for a moment with seri-
GUS face and then replied:
Stevens, you can't suspect Lord Dale
of taking that cameo awayY
81 don't say that do, sir, but 1t has
disappeared from the cabinet. II be
DIDN'T
Then took 1t down the country as
q present to my cousin. You must be
careful. my man, or you will get into
trouble"
knew that my master lied. knew
he lied to save Lord Dale's reputation.
That cameo was in the cabinet after
he left for the country. 1t was not for
me to assert or argue, however. said
not word more, but accepted the re-
buke in humble spirit and went about
my duties. After that / checked or
the property every day, taking the
hour between 0 and 10 In the forenoon,
when was at leisure.
1t wasn't many days before the lord
was back again, and master fortunate
ly was out. From hiding place pre-
pared in advance / saw the caller
pocket three ivory figures and jewel
handled dagger as coolly as IL he had |
been thieving all his life. More than
that followed him when he left the
house and was close at his heels when
be, entered the shop of dealer to dis I
pose of his loot. 1t was next morning
before ! had opportunity to speak to