The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-06-17


"Of course, shall be triumphantly
acquitted" he announced, clearing his
throat huskily as he spoke "Still,
Mr.. Champion can make things dis
agreeable. And. look here Wade, 1
haven't always been as friendly to
you as 1 might, but l can trust you.
You'll be an important witness. Do
what you can for me, for the girls
sake"
The words sounded strange, but 1
was given no time to answer, for at
that moment Mr.. Champion returned
with two Scotland Yard men. My en-
ployer was given into custody and
taken to the police station to he
charged, the detectives remaining to
search the premises.
Mr.. Nugent being a widower with
only one child, the management of the
business practically devolved on me,
and as the detectives ransacked the
place they put many question to me
as to where the stones were kept.
The safes were all pointed out to them,
but they seemed disappointed with
their operations.
Late in the evening they came to
me in the workroom, and, holding out
the ring that 1 had made for Mr..
Champion, one of them said:
This is your work, we understand
Is that the stone 20 uset?''
1 glanced at it, but l only replied:
81 don't call myself an expert in pre-
ofnt1c OF oil L. ktok
this one precisely resembles in size,
shape and appearance the one given
me to set"
While this statement was superficial
ly true, that one glance had been
enough to show me that 1 was not
looking at the Champion diamond.
The detectives left, saying that
would have to tell all l knew In the
witness box, and then, just as 1 was
about to lock up the place for the
night, Nell came in. 1t was the first
time she had let me see her since her
father had been taken away.
The face which l had thought the
sweetest on earth was marble white,
and there were dark shadows under
her lashes.
There's something / must say to
YOU" she painted, something I've been
wild to say all day lest it should be
too late, but l dared not let any one
suspect. a month ago father confid-
ed to me that he had lost a great deal
of money, and he showed me how to
open a secret drawer in his Chippen-
dale bureau. IF ever anything hap
pens to me- he said, don't lose a mo-
ment, but look into this drawer;
throw away everything that you will
find in the left-hand partition, and
keep what may be in the right"
Together we ransacked the old
bureau, and at length Nell touched the
spring which opened the secret drawer.
l drew in my breath sharply, for the
light of the candle which held
struck out a CLEAN from pile of ex.
quisitely made false stones which lay
in a partition on the left hand. while
on the right was the Champion dia-
mond.
Involuntary 1 betrayed the dread
full nature of the discovery by an ex-
clamation, for, left to herself. Nell
would not have understood. But she
was quick to comprehend. and, realiz-
ing the worst she swayed, staggering
backward.
MY poor fatherr' she moaned, as
l held her. HE is ruined forever
and l, tool The daughter of a con
victed thief is no fit wife for an hon
est man,
"My darlingi You are wife fol
a king, and as for your father, 1 swear
to you that will save him yet"
you? You cannotv
II tell you that l can and will" Fol
even as l spoke an idea flashed into