Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-04-13

NO" she said, quickly. 1T was evil
dent that Lady Masterton had chosen
her time carefully"
'But what possible motive could Lady
Masterton have for taking her step
daughters pendant?' l asked.
you must be aware, Mr.. Carter" she
| said, that my sister-in -law is a person
of very obscure origin. What more like
ly than that she may have poor rela-
lions in pecuniary difficulties whom she
| has chosen to relieve in this dishonest
| fashion,"
I was startled to find my informant
| furnishing evidence of the correctness of
theory that I had already formulated
and then dismissed. Meanwhile | an
| sweTed:
Il should be very sorry to think that
Lady Masterton was cal able of stoop-
ing to a crime of this kind; but the case
certainly looks suspicious. May / ask
| you, however, not to say a word of this
| to any one else?"
| Aunt Prissy rose. THE subject is so
extremely painful, Mr. Carter, that You
may be quite sure | shall not breathe a
word to a soul. Meanwhile | sincerely
hope that you will be able to prove Lady
| Masterton innocent after ALI"
Old maids are often charming people,
and Miss Priscilla was described by her
niece as "a DEAR" but | could not help
feeling that she had not yet forgiven her
brother for marrying again; while her
views of ladies connected with the stage
were old fashioned and out-of- date.
| At dinner that evening Pauline was
anxious to know whether / had made
any discoveries.
Like Scotland Yard" I replied, light
| ", Il have a clue. But propose to pre-
serve the strictest secrecy until l put
my hand on the culprit and produce the
| pendants"
And when will that be?" asked Paul
inc, eagerly.
Probably tomorrow morning" 1 an
swered. Possibly tonight"
Then you know who took the dia-
| monds?" exclaimed Pauline, excitedly.
Yes" | said Il know who took the
diamonds"
| did not look at Miss Priscilla, but
could not fail TO be conscious of the tri-
umph in her eye
There Is nothing Carter loves like a
mystery" said Sir Nevii, sarcastically
Garter, if you really know who took the
pendant, tell us, and have done with it,"
Il can't quite do that" / said. But,
If you will all be in the drawing room at
10 o'clock this evening, l shall probably
elucidate the mystery"
Immediately after dinner l returned to
my room; but at 10 o'clock punctually
entered the drawing room. where / found
Masterton, with his wife, sister, and
daughter playing bridge.
do come in, Mr.. Carter!" said Lady
Ipct n,.&o l..
to know"
Very we'll, Lady Masterton. But first
| want an absolute promise that l shall
not be interrupted until l have finished
my story, however startling or outrage
Gus my statements may seem. Do you
all give me that promise
They all answered lightly in the If
frmative. Whereupon l added:
/ Il warn you, Masterton, that you will
find it very hard to keep your word as
soon as / have begun"
go ahead. Carter! If Want 10 break
your head, l promise yo1I'll save it up
till you've finished your yarn!"
"All right" l said. "The day before
yesterday, in the middle of the afternoon,
some one was seen coming out of Miss
Pauline's bedroom; and the same person
packet to a mysterious looking man in
the shrubbery. 1.-The person in question
was-Lady Masterton!'
Sir Nevil started from his chair. But
I reminded him of his promise and he
sat down again, glaring fiercely.
THE mysterious looking man in the
shrubbery was a ne'er-d we'll brother of
Lady Masterton's who is leaving for
Australia in a few days to make fresh
start in life"
Here Lady Masterton was on the point
of interrupting.
appearances all pointed TO the fact
that the packet haifAd by Lady Master
ton to her brother contained the missing
diamonds"
Miss Priscilla looked discreetly tri-
umphant.
But" l added, appearances were en-
tirely misleading The purpose that took
Lady Masterton to Miss Pauline's bed
room was to get book she had lent her
the day before. and the packet she hand
ed to her brother was a sum of money
she had arranged to give him, with her
husbands knowledge and consent"
Sir NevifN-srrang from his chair once
more. Look here, Carter" he said
sire to punch your head But what the
deuce has all this got to dc with Paul
ines diamonds :"
ASK Miss Priscilla" / said, quietly.
what on earth do you mean?' he in
quired, blankly.
The pendant is locked up in the top
left hand drawer OF her wardrobe"
answered. And if you ask her, she will
~, ond fetch If "
rs this true?" demanded Sir Nevil
tiercely.
Yes" she answered. meekly, as she
went to the door. And in a few minutes
she came back carrying the diamond or
nament wrapped up in a piece of tissue
paper.
Poor Aunt Prissy's fearful explanation
of how she took the pendant. in sudden
jealousy, to bring disgrace upon her new
sister-in law. who. she considered was
robbing her beloved niece OF her proper
rights. was extremely pathetic; but Sir
Nevil's chief thought was naturally fo7
his wife.