The Ocala evening star., 1905-12-02
HER LADYSHIP'S
DIAMONDS
By G. B. uEMlS
By G. B. uMS
Coplrtuht, 1906. by p. c. Eaamens

hSI ldLs sup eAlrdNdSance was
subject Of general remark, but ii was
true that his lordship did not stint her
in money matters, and so what she
threw away was Dobody's business
after all. II was so for the first FIVE
years Of their married life, and then
his lordship began TO feel the pinch.
lie delayed saying anything to her of
the matter as long as possible, but
there came a day " - be- had to tell
her that retrencEMuIt must be the
watchword for several years TO come
lie had figured UP Eer bills and found
time than any other woman in the
kingdom. In q way he was proud OF
ii, but in another way he had to give
her word OF caution She could still
be extravagant and reduce her ex-
penSes one-half.
His lordship found out something too
late Give a wife rein for the first five
years, and she will take the bit in her
NCCN- -pA N-AN MAI ~ am Va CNO4l-
omy should come before instead OF
after. In addition TO gratifying her
own many WhimS and caprices her
ladyship had q brother in the navy and
another IN the army, both officers, of
course. and both living more or less
off her bounty. Only the day before
his lordship had asked for a private in
terview TO talk retrenchment she had
sent the naval officer a liberal check
to straighten up his debts OF honor and
been informed by letter that the other
one must have a much larger amount
or throw up his commission In dis
grace.
His lordship's news, therefore. came
like douche of cold water. If there
was any sort of scene ii was kept from
the servants and therefore from the
public. and things seemed 10 go on as
before. They didn't, however. Her lady
ship had her diamonds duplicated in
paste and raised large sum on the
real gems TO help others and herself
This w;-s done quietly and secretly and
was only part Of plan she had In her
mind
After the close of the London season
his lOrdship retired TO bis country cas-
tie and was soon followed by a score
Of invited guests. The astute English
rObber is always on the watch for these
house gatherings. Every woman guest
is certain TO bring at least a good part
Of hn- inT--nlG 70 NJ dfnnnr nj
there are always chances for q smart
thief TO get in his work. AS an Offset
the host employs detective 10 mix in
with the servants or even with the
guests for the time being and keep
watch over things.
1t was so in this case. Scotland Yard
had loaned him Inspector Mcdonald.
and there never had been a robbery in
a country house he was protecting.
The inspector, under another name,
mingled with the guests and made him
self at home, but he was given to pass
ing much Of his time wandering over
the estate and musing In the shade Of
its forests. One of bis musing fits
was one day interrupted In a rather
singular manner.
He was lying on the moss under a
spreading beech when the sound of
footballs disturbed him, and he rolled
over on his side. to discover her lady
ship making her furtive way through
the woods. At a dozen PAGES from him
she stopped and with stick dug a hole
in the ground at the foot Of a tree and
concealed something. When she had
run away the inspector scooped out the
dirt until he came to an oiled silk bag
containing her ladyship's diamonds
They were all there to her last ring,
and the inspector knew enough about
precious stones to know that these
were paste.
This happened at 8 O'Clock in the aft
ernoon- What her ladyship would do
without her diamonds at dinner time
the inspector could not determine. Her
secret burial of them meant to him
simply one thing-she was going to be
robbed" of them. She would have to
put up a claim Of loss by daylight, and
there would be sensation. Either that
/
time and not appear among her guests
during the evening.
Her ladyship proceeded at once to
business. An hour before dinner. and
after all tie guests, including the in
spector. had been indulging in games
on the lawn, she went to her room TO
discover that her diamonds were miss
ing There was a sensation at once.
No one had seen any stranger lurking
about and the robbery must have been
perpetrated by some Of the servants.
Including maids and Wallets, these num-
bered over sixty. and each one was
obliged TO come forward and be inves-
tgated- His fordship insisted on the
most rigorous examination. and this
led 10 proteStations and hard feelings
Within twenty-fOur hours the house
party was broken up and scattered
and Inspector Mcdonald had TO admit
that be hsd no clew. The only thing
bis lortship could do was 10 offer a re-