The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-08-13
Pauline'S Pendant
D So~o~oSc~o~oNr
"Father, It has disanpeared ;"

Father, 1t has disappeared"
Sir Neyil Masterton and l were sit
ting in his study at Masterton Priory
after breakfast when his only daugh-
ter, Pauline, rushed in with a white
face.
MY dear little girl, what has dis
appeared?" inquired her father in a
soothing tone.
MY pearl and diamond pendant!
The one you gave me Just before the
wedding! oh, father, who can have
taken it,"
Sir Nevil smiled. "You have mis-
laid it, that's all! We don't have
anything so exciting as burglaries
here"
"Rut, father, here is the empty
case, which 1 found in the drawer
where locked 1t up yesterday morn
Ing with the pendant safe inside"
Sir Novil looked grave. THAT
sounds odd" he said, slowly. Tell
US all about it, little girl"
The little girl" was a fine, tall
young woman of two-and-twenty.
Her mother had died when she was a
child, and Sir Nevil's eldest sister.
Miss Priscilla Masterton, had played
hostess at the priory while Pauline
was growing up. She adored her
niece, and Pauline could always get
her own way so far as Aunt Prissy
was concerned.
few months ago the little house
hold had received a shock-the an
nouncement Of Sir Nevil Masterton's
second marriage. Every one had
come to look upon him as a confirmed
widower.
The new Lady Masterton was the
famous stage beauty, Miss Lydia
Beaugarde. She was principal show
girl at the Majestic Theatre, where
her lovely face and matchless figure
brought her admiration and a hand
some salary, while her strong COM
mon sense and excellent capacity for
looking after herself had kept all ad-
mirers at respectful distance until
Nevil Masterton placed his baronetcy
and his rent roll at her feet.
Pauline tearfully explained to her
father the exact circumstances of her
loss. She was in the habit OF lock-
Ing her Jewelry in = certain drawer,
and then hiding the keys in the cor
ner of another drawer. The fact that
the keys and the case of the pendant
were both in their proper places
seemed evidence that the pendant
had been removed by some one init
mately acquainted with its owners
habits.
Her father tried to comfort her.
and added: Leave me to talk it over
with Mr.. Carter, here. If your pen
dant has really been stolen he is
more likely to get it back for you
than any one else!"
realized that to possess a reputa-
ton as a sort of amateur Sherlock
Holmes involves ono occasionally in
awkward responsibilities; but l hast
ened to reassuTe her as far as posi-
BILE.
you are in for 1t now, Carter!"
said Sir Nevil grimly.
That's all right" / said, quietly.
Just tell me a little about the his
tory Of the pendant before we go any
further"
We'll, you see" he began, I'VE
have n good many family Jewels.
which Pauline had come to look upon
as hor own Particular property. So
that when / brought my wife here, a
month or two ago, Pauline did not al
together like parting with what she
considered her treasures.
1T was to make up for this" con-
tinued Sir Nevll, that 1 bought her
pendant, diamond crown with two
fine pear-shaped pearls hanging down
on little platinum chains. And it is
this pendant that has now disap-
pearcd."
Il see" said, thoughtfully.
What about your servants, Master
ton?"
They have all been with me for
years" he said, warmly. II should
never suspect any OF them"
What about Lady Masterton's
maid2"
"Oh. yos-Rayner. 7 forget about
her. She is girl whom my wife has
known for a long time and in whom
she has every confidence"
/ began to perceive that ! was go
Ing TO have a rather unpleasant time
At lunch every one was talking about
the pendant, and Lady Masterton in
particular seemed much concerned
1T her stepdaughter's loss.
1t was difficult to SEQ what possible
motive Lady Masterton could have
had for being concerned I'm tho mys-
terious Disappearance OF her step
daughters ornaments.
/ found myself wondering whether
this brilliant beauty might not have
some poor relation in desperate need
Of money, for whom she might have
committed the theft, not daring to
part with any of her own 1ewelry for
fear OF being discovered. Person
ally, however, was much prepos-
sessed in Lady Masterton'a favor.
Then another wild conjecture came
into my mind. Had Pauline herself
simply hidden the jewel to bring dis