The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-27
TIE MINNEAPOLIS JoURNAL.

~ 3. 80 -4, - = X i = ~ i j. =. =
clubroom news that old Lord birmingham
had not relented-and, beyond what his
nephew called those twopenny -halfpen-
ny sleeve links had not given him a
penny. How then, said this same chart-
table world, will these silly children keep
up their position in town when they re-
turn from the second-rate hotel they are
now staying In at Folkestone?
Curiously enough was able myself to
answer that question in three days time
tho at the moment was as ignorant as
any of them. The matter came about in
this way. On the very morning that Lord
Varnley went to Paris, 1t was known thru
the daily papers that there had been a
robbery at his house in Cork street, OF a
green velvet case, containing q crescent
of pearls, turquoises and diamonds. This
was present from one of the embassies
to his daughter and must, said the re-
ports, have been distracted from the
house during the press and the confusion
of the reception. Later in the afternoon
received an advice from Scotland Yard
cautioning me against the purchase Of
such gem, and inviting immediate COM
munication If 1t were offered to me. The
theft Of wedding presents is so common
that gave little heed to the matter, and
was already immersed In other business
when Lord birmingham was announced.
He seemed rather fidgety in his manner,
I thought, and hummed and hawed cons
siderably before he would explain his
mission.
Its about those links gave my
nephew he said at last They're far
too good for him, Sutton-and they're too
pretty. I never saw better work In my
life, and must have been a fool when /
let them go out Of my possession-d'ye
seer"
''Well, but you can't get them back
now?" remarked with smile.
He took snuff vigorously at my reply,
and then said:
Man, you're wrong, I've got them in
my pocket"
I must have expressed my establishment
in my look, for he went on quickly:
Eyes, here in the green case as you
sold them. Do surprise you, Ell? Well,
I'm going to give Master BERTHE bit of
check an dto keep these things; but
one Of the stones IS off color-I noticed it
at the wedding-and I must have new
one in, dye see?"
IT thought that you had already handed
them over" I interrupted, quite disre-
garding his last request.
$50 did, so did; but a man can take
his own back again, can't he? Well, when
1 saw them at the house, concluded 1t
was ridiculous to give boy like that
such treasures, and So
''You spoke to him?"
''Hem-that Is, of course, man. Pshaw!
You're too inquisitive for a jewelers.; you
ought to have been a lady's maid.
"Have you brought them with you
now?"
What should I be here for If hadn't"
He laid upon my table green velvet
case, of the exact size, color and shape
of that which had contained the links;
but when I opened it I gave a start,
and put it down quickly. The case held
a crescent Of pearls turquoises and dia-
monds which answered exactly to the de-
scription Of the one stolen from Lord
Varnley's house on the day Of his daugh
ter's wedding.
"There's some mistake here. said I;
k'you've evidently left the links at home, ;"
with which remark I put the jewels un-
der his very nose for him to see. He
looked at them for moment, the whole
Of his f1abby face wrinkling and redden-
ing; then he seemed almost to choke,
and the veins in his forehead swelled un-
til they were blue threads upon an
ashen and colorless countenance.
Good Cod" he calculated, 1--WE taken
the wrong case"
your nephew gave it you, no doubt
advertised the loss Of this crescent at
Scotland Yard, and there are detectives
now trying to find it. 1 am cautioned not
to purchase it," said with a. laugh.
| The effect Of these words upon him
was so curious that for some moments I
thought he had spasm Of the heart. Start
ing up in the chair, with wild eyes, and
hand clutching at the arms to rest upon
them, he made several attempts to speak,
lbut not word came from his lips. I
endeavored to help him with his difficulty,
but it was to little purpose. i
1t seems to me, Lord birmingham, -
suggested, that you have only to write
a line Of explanation to your nepheW-arll
there's an end Of the matter
you think so?'' he cried eagerly.
why not said l., "since he returned
the jewels to your" ~
but he didn't, he interrupted, cringing
In the chair at this confession of a lie:
'he didn't, and he'd prosecute me; he
hates me. and this is his opportunity,
dye see?'
DO you mean to say I exclaimed.
beginning to understand the situation,
/ that you took the case without his per-
missiono"
Yes, yes he mumbled, ''they were so
beautiful; such work! You know what
work they We're. I saw them at the we'd
i ding, and was sure that I should not
1870 pe'A eCu WILL 1 meant to send
him check against them-and when No
one was looking I put what I thought
I was the case into my pocket but it was
the wrong one. God help me- Sutton
what shall do?"
Now it seemed to me that this wa
one Of the most delightful comedies
mad ever assisted at. Technically LORD
birmingham was thief, and undoubtedlx
Berthe Watts could have prosecuted hin
mad he chosen, tho the probability az his
getting conviction was small. But 4
was very evident to me that here was
the boys opportunity, and that in The
interest OF his pretty wife should make
the best Of it. With this intent, I nlava(
my first card with necessary holiness.
Undoubtedly the case IS very serio,,.
Tor YOU said I, apparently with svmna
tny and 1t Is made the more serjo1,
, rom I the strange relations existing be
tween your nephew and yourself 70,
know the law, doubt not. as well &c
, 40; and that once a prosecution has hoe,
initiated at Scotland Yard it is innossi
, pie 10 withdraw without a trial M
Watts might get into serious trouble -
, compoundtng a felony; and I might sI,ffe
:, with him as one in the conspiracv a.,
tell you what will do: I'll write to hin
tonight and sound him. Meanwhile 10
me advise you to keep out Of the war
for ]. can't disguise the fact that w.,
, might be arrested" ~
: He gave great scream at tb;x
ana the perspiration rolled fron
him, falling in great drops upo