The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-21


she gone against my wishes. Twice my
boy has asked her to marry him, for he
+ loves her devOtedly, but each time she
has refused him think that II any
one could have drawn him into the
+ right path it would have been she, and
/ that his marriage might have changed
/ his whole life; but now, alas! it is too
i late-fOr ever too latet
Now, Mr.. Holmes you know the
/ people who live under my roof, and I
shall continue with my miserable
story.
when we We're taking coffee in the
! drawing room that night after dinner,
i told Arthur and Mary my experience
/ and of the precious treasure which we
/ had under our roof, suppressing only
/ the name of my client IIIIcy Parr, who
/ had brought in the coffee, had,
I am sure. left the room; but
cannot swear that the door was closed.
Mary and Arthur were much interest
/ ed and wished to see the famous coro-
net but 1 thought it better not to dis
turb it.
Where have you put it?' asked
Arthur.
g In my own bureau
g Well, I hope to goodness the house
won't be burglarized during the night,
said ne.
1t is locked up [ answered.
Oh, any old key viii fit that bu-
reau- When I was Il youngster 1 have
| opened it myself with the key of the
/ bedroom cupboard.
1T OllGu uaQ a WIG way OF ldlk-
/ ing. so that 1 thought little of what he
said He followed me to my room.
however, that night with very grave
Look here, dad said he, with his
/ eyes cast down, can you let me have
f200?'
No, I cannotl' I answered, sharply.
l have been far too generous with you
+ IN money matters
on have been very kind said he;
/ but I must have this money or else I
| again
:" And very good thing, too I
Yes. but you would not have me
/ leave it a dishonOred man. said he. I
could not bear the disgrace. I must
raise the money in some way, and if
you viii not let me have it then must
1 try other means
Il was very angry. for this was the
/ third demand during the month. You
shall not have a farthing from me- L
cried; on which he bowed and left the
/ room without another word.
When he was gone L unlocked my
! bureau, made sure that my treasure
! was safe and locked it again. Then I
started to go round the house to see
/ that all was secure-a duty which I
usually leave to Mary, but which I
+ thought it well to perform myself that
night. As I came down the stairs I
/ saw Mary herself al the side window of
tened as L approached.
Tell me dad she said. looking, I
! thought, little disturbed, did you
give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out
! tonight?'
:. Certainly not
a" She came in just now. by the back
/ door. 1 have no doubt that she has
only been to the side gate to see some
one; but 1 think that it is hardly safe
and should be stopped
lou must speak to her in the
/ morning, or 1 will, if you prefer it.
Are you sure that everything is fas-
/ tened2'
Quite sure, dad
g Then, goodnight I kissed her
and went UP to my bedroom again,
where 1 was soon asleep.
4 am endeavoring to tell you every
thing Mr. Holmes, which may have
any bearing upon the case, but L beg
/ that you viii question me upon any
point which 1 do not make clear
sOn the contrary, your statement is
singularly lucid"
4 come to part of my story now
/ in which / should wish to be particu-
/ larly So l am not a very heavy
sleeper, and the anxiety in my mind
i tended, no doubt, to make me even
less so than usual. About in the
morning, then, I was awakened by
some sound in the house. It had
ceased ere I was wide awake, but it
/ had left an impression behind it as
! though a window had gently closed
somewhere. I lay listening with all my
4 ears. Suddenly, to my horror. there
was a distinct sound of footsteps NOV
I ing softly in the next room. I slipped
out of bed, all palpitating with fear,
and peeped around the corner of my
+ dressing-rOOm door.
." Arthur" screamed. you viIlainl
you theft How dare you touch that
coronet?'
1.-THE gas was half up, as had left
it. and my unhappy boy, dressed only
-I7f7 r
/ beside the light holding the coronet
in his hands. He appeared to be
wrenching at it, or bending it with all
/ his strength. At my cry he dropped it
from his grasp and turned as pale as
4 death. I snatched it up and examined
it. One of the gold corners, with three
of the beryls in it, was missing.
6 y on blackguard!' I shouted, be-
side myself with rage. You have de-
4 stroyed it, You have dishonored me
for ever! Where are the jewels which
you have stolen?
'' 'Stolen!' he cried.
4" Yes. you theft I roared, shaking
him by the shoulder.
There are none missing. There
cannot be any missing said he.
" There are three missing. And you
know where they are. Must I call you
a liar as well as thief? Did I not
see you trying to tear off another
piece?
- You have called me names
= enough. said he; I Will not stand it
any longer. I shall not say another
word about this business since you
have chosen to insult me. I viii leave
your house in the morning and make
my own way in the world
- You shall leave it in the hands of
the policey 7 cried half mad with grief
and rage. I shall have this matter
: probed to the bottom.
You shall learn nothing from me,
said he. with a passion such as I
should not have thought was in his
nature If you choose to call the DO
; lice, let the police find what they can
by this time the whole house was
astir. for I had raised my voice in my