Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-02-15
BY F. Stewart.


tie inside the instrument. Mrs.
Archer, who was standing by the
bridge table in the centre OF tho
room, exchanged significant glances
with her husband. Had she not
prophesied only last night that Cur
tbs would lose his nerve, and find
some way of returning the diamond?
Il can hear nothing" answered
Mary Sylvester, who had turned very
white. She struck a chord and the
keys answered perfectly.
mot so low down in the bass, or
so high up in the TREBLE" answered
Curtis, who was scarlet with excite
ment; "just about here" He struck
some chords at random in the middle
of the keyboard, and a perceptible
rattle was heard. cts the ring" he
exclaimed. Lets LOOKOUT how
could it have got in?''
This time Mrs. Archer smiled at
her husband A search promptly re-
suited in the recovery of the diamond.
1t flashed and sparkled in young Cur
It's hand. Thank Heaven. it's
found" he said, impulsively.
Its a very extraordinary thing, :"
said Sylvester, drily-he had come
into the room without being heard
for the piano was taken to pieces by
an expert the day after the ring was
lost" His tone was Enthusiastically
dry and unpleasant.
We'll, so long as it is found" said
Archer, quickly. He was essentially
kindly man, and he was extremely
sorry for young Curtis. Innocent or
guilty. he was in an unpleasant posi-
ton. The young fellow seemed aware
of the antagonism expressed in Syl-
vester's attitude and WINGED. Yet,
unaccused, it was impossible to de-
fend himself.
II am as perplexed as you are"
he said, slowly; "and, personally, 1
do not think the matter should be al
lowed to drop here"
$50 long as it is found" said Mary
Sylvester, family. She looked white
and scared as she glanced from one
mans face to the others. An I'M
comfortable silence ensued, broken
by Mrs. Archer, who announced that
she was going to bed. She was hard
ly out of the room when she turned
on her husband: Now. perhaps you
will admit" she said, with a con-
demnatory sniff, that knew what l
was talking about when I said be-
lieved that young Curtis took that
diamond? Of course, he was fright
ened, and put it back
Mr.. Curtis begs me to make his
adieu to YOU" said Sylvester to his
wife about an hour later. HE is
leaving by the first train tomorrow,
and will breakfast early"
''You have insulted him." said his
wife, in low, strained voice.
mo-" answered her husband,
drily; "but he is pleased - take ex-
ception to my manner
Il shall make point of saying
goodby to him before he goes" she
said, obstinately.
Her husband looked at her, and
her eyes dropped before his. Believe
me- he said, with a sombre smile.
you had better do what I tell you.
and take better care of your jewelry
in the future. That diamond would
be very useful thing on which to
raise money if one was over in a tight
| place. And who knows?" he sighed.
DO you really think Mr.. Curtis
stole the ring?" she asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. "The
evidence is purely circumstances"
he said. What do you think?
Swear to me that you think him inno-
cent, and will hold him so. Other
visa momentary yielding to a
mad impulse. These things happen;
although, to my mind, it is difficult
to imagine a man so low cur as to
steal from the woman he processes to
love. Do you think him innocent %
But Mary was silent, and Curtis left
in the morning without seeing her.
. . .
Curtis found himself gradually
banned. He was not cut, but he was
no longer in request. From being
one of the most popular young men
in London, he became person who
was asked incidentally by good ma
tured people who did not like to
drop him all at once. He began to
md life unbearable. 1t was impossi-
bic to clear himself, and he left
London. At this time Mrs. Sylvester
was at her zenith. She was the pref
test woman in London, and her hus-
band had apparently tired o. endeav-
oring to check any of her desires.
They lived as millionGires. and if
here and there somebody croaked
and wondered how long 1t would
last, the majority helped them spend
without care for the morrow.
Specializing was now frequently
mentioned in connection with Syl-
vester's name. He was phenomenally
lucky, and men followed his lead and
made fortunes. But there came a
turn. Rumors were rife that Sylves-
ter couldn't last. He looked as If he
was enduring severe strain. Every
one noticed it except his wife, who
was immersed in her gayeties. There
were times when he longed for a little
sympathy; when he felt that it would
be an unutterable relief to share his
troubles with her. He often won
dered if she was capable of caring
for anyone. Yet at one time he had
believed that she returned Curtis
passion. Honestly, he had believed
that he had been guilty. Possibly
the baseness of the theft had killed
her love.
A report had reached him that the
unfortunate young man had gone ut
terly to the bad and had blown his
brains out at Monte Carlo. AS he
walked slowly home he wondered if
his wife would care-or had she quite
forgotten? He walked slowly home
ward. Things had come to a crisis,
and he could no longer keep the truth
from her. She was dressing for a
hall whpu hnr huchoud 1r1o1~o5 -