The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-09-23
CHAPTER

oelWccu lue TODDeTy anu tne alaIlll
would not have permitted the swiftest
to force the box, rush to the shrubbery,
%sccrete 1t, and return to the corridor
in answer to Geoffrey's call.
All the men-servants sleeping In the
house had answered to Geoffrey's cry
Tor help, as we'll as the male members
Of the household, With one exception.
to that n exception as the individual
who had concealed the box, suggested
Itself to all.
The discovery OF the box was painful
20 all, because of the thoughts it
prompted; and neither the family nor
the visitor referred to it. Nor did
they even allow their eyes to meet, lest
words committing them to belief or
statements: For n and all of them,
It was a time of nervous strain, anxi-
ETY. and heavy depression.
Eut meanwhile search for the miss
ing jewels "a continued with an en-
s.rgy stimulated by the high reward Of
Tered by Godfrey for their recovery.
His birthday gift of the diamond and
sapphire bracelet, valued at about
G4O0, was as. nothing beside the royal
necklace of Oriental rubies-the his
;oric heirloom of centuries.
Everything was done to recover them.
chat imagination could conceive. in
iAdit 9d5SSSl VI ptllcIlCc COulu &c.
:omplish. but all in vain; for beyond
the finding Of the box, no trace Of them
was to be had.
The defiant sulkiness and u%nconvinc-
ing indifference displayed by Max
were never relaxed. His loud voice
sontrasted with the subdued tones into
which the others had unconsciously
made efforts to appear cheerful. but
they were spasmodic. and left her ex-
aausted and downcast. Dunstan. who
was absent-minded and gloomy, sell
dom spoke, save when addressed. and
then answered as briefly as possible.
Godfrey Bysshe had been obliged to
return to the city, but he left the de-
tectives behind him. From the first,
Inspector Foundes greatly feared that
the jewels might be conveyed to town.
II the thief had an accomplice watt
ing to receive them, they We're certain
ly lost to the owner forever; but his
was scarcely possible, as it was not
and Lady Bysshe. that the former had
brought them with him, until he had
shown them, a couple Of hours before
their disappearance.
Very soon Max and Dunstan, as we'll
as the servants, grew aware that their
movements out of doors were carefully
watched. In the solitarineSs of the park,
-. SoAs AZ Wv III WI.
lagos. wherever they went, they We're
sure to meet a detective in the dis
guise of a tramp, a laborer, a retired
soldier In distress. q groom or game
keeper.
Dunstan submitted to this %surveil-
against it, the servants dared not COM
plain. And yet the searching and
~shadowing brought no result.
Some eight days later than Godfrey
Bysshe's departure for town, he was
followed by Dunstan, who felt certain
he was escorted by a number of the
detective force.
On the inquiring of his son one
morning when he was expected to re-
sumo his hospital work, Max answered
that he was not going back for an in
definite period. On being asked why,
he replied: You may as we'll know,
father, tina / am being watched by the
police"
"You?" the count cried out, indigna-
ton and fear struggling in him.
Yes; there's no use shutting ones
eyes to the fact that they think 1 have
stolen the jewels, because my being
out Of the house when the alarm was
given. l we'll see enough what Foundes
and others think, though l say nothing.
l must submit to be Swallowed, no mat
ter where | go, though l long to knock
down h fellows that steal after me,
and pop up in front of me, turn where
1 will"
MY poor boy!" replied his father.
Whose face expressed a look of pain
n grief thai touched Max indescrib-
ably.
Perhaps I ought not to have told
you," he said.
Yes, yes; it is better that I should
know you were subjected to such in
famous treatment. 1t must be stopped
u don't see how you can stop it,
Max remarked. "If you complained
as II l feared them. n it would not
prevent them from having me watched
all the same And I am not afraid OF
them"
1t was evident this conversation adj
ded 10 the counts depression; but he
became more detected, When, just be-
fore leaving the dinner table that even
n Edith had made up their minds
TO visit Eastbourne for Il few weeks.
The fact was, that the gloom which had
settled over the house, together with
the nervouse fears produced by the
mystery surrounding the crimes COM
mitted or attempted within it's walls,
made them DESTROYS Of leaving it for
a while.
You have only been back a few
weeks" the oun demonstrated. Must
you leave me again SO soon?"
why not come with us. papa? The
change would do you good" his step
daughter suggested.
You know l dislike going to strange
places, where l cannot get about for
myself, as l do here" he answered
querulously. Besides, 1 think We or
at least l shall remain here until the
mystery is discovered"
Il begin to despair of anything ever
being found out" remarked Lady Bys-
She.
"One never knows" remarked the
count, when light may be thrown on
the mystery, or from what point it may
come"
While he spoke the door opened and
the butler hurried forward with an air
of suppressed excitement, seeing which.
Max Immediately asked what was the
matter.
IF you please, sir, Inspector Foundes
wishes to see the cunt"
Wants to see me?"
HE said it was important, sir"
The count rose %anxiously, then in
hesitation clutched the back
of his chair, into which he dropped
again.
will o see him here?" Lady Bys-
she asked.
uAo wa, plo,eoV +la 49, $500