The Washington herald., 1907-01-15
BELOW STAIRS.
BY WILL A. PAGE.

loose. and it opens right under where the
detective is sitting. I can hear every
word. And he disappeared into the cell
/ lar.
I'm afraid Mr.. Evans Is not troubled
( by scruples. Mr. Mortimer" said Char
lotte. turning to the gas stove again. II
always thought buffers q bad lot"
I'm glad YOU think So" began Nor
! timer
why, Mr.. Mortimer, what do you
mean?"
'Of course. one cant be jealous Of
butler. broke in Mortimer. dropping the
whip.
jealous wei, I Ike that" with
! toss Of the head.
Perhaps I shouldn't say Jealous" con
/ tinued Mortimer. abdshed But you see.
I 1 wanted to ask you
/ Weir
/ If you'd spend your next evening out
/ with me, unless you have some other en-
! |gagement.
Next week, or Thursday" said Char
/ lotte c0qUettishly No ! don't think I
/ have anything on nay card"
/ Then I'll put you down for next
/ Thursday, Miss Charlotte. Thanks"
/ Did YOU say 1t was for the grand
/ opera, Mr.. Mortimer"
NO, Miss Charlotte. For the coach
mems ball"
I 'The c0achmcu's baue'' repeated Char
/ lotte, enthusiastically. ''Oh. how Jolly.
/ Eve always wanted to go to a coachmen's
I ball Its-it's rather exclusive isn't it?"
i should say so, 30 answered Mortimer.
proudly. only those who drive for the
/ Wcz- End families are eligible
/ The sudden boiling over of the milk in
terTupted these pleasant anticgatlons Of
future happiness. and Mortimer was dis
patched post-hsste 20 the diring-room 20
secure some chocolate Charlotte left
alone reached for her handkerchief and
found letter i1 the pocket Of her apron.
Evidently she was deeply interested for
t she read and reread the letter several
times. Then She united the handkerchief
disclosed large diamond ring. and tried
lii on several fingers
/ "Cracky, A diamond 30 cried Evans. en-
1 tering suddenly from the cellar. Char
/ lotte hastily returned the ring 10 her
pocket.
IT'S my own" she declared: 1T was
given to me by "a dear old lady who has
I just died"
Stuff and nonsense" broke in the
I
/ one stole from the missus-T heard an
about Il through the stovepipe. The de-
/ tective is looking for IL n0w-he's going
! to search the house"
/ But it's mine I say
/ All, your game is up. my girl. Give
me the ring and I won't tell. Saw yor'U
marry mel can sell the diamond"
7 Let me go-you hurt ne. Help, Let
me go,'
Perhaps you'll be good enough to
oblige the LADY, said Mortimer. strdinC
down TO Evans and giving him a twist on
/ the collar. BE off with you,'
/ Evans withdrew TO one side. angriIv
/ I'm going TO tell the detective" ne cried
I roughly. Then we'll see whose turn ii
viii be-"
The man rushed out OF the kitchen an
/ grily. Charlotte flushed red. What is
/ he going to tell the detective?" asked
/ Mortimer
/ 'He-he-thinks I have stolen this dia-
mond. she answered. showing the ring
My God. where did you get that riag?~
cried Mortimer. aud he says you stole
/ it2 Quick-give il TO me before the de
/ tective comes. I'll say I took it,"
But it's mine-really-
/ Then what does he mean? All. know
! You wouldn't seal a ring. Miss Charlotte
/ you wouldn't steal anything more than
( you've already stolea-my heart-but If
/ can help YOU only say the word
Evans entered few moments later at
/ an unfortunate moment. He was de-
/ cidedly gloomy.
Fine joke, you people may call this
1 making game OF a man." he muttered
/ crossing TO the cellar door.
The detective-you told him?" eagerly
esked Mortimer.
Yes. / told him. I goes upstairs and
/ tells the missUs and the detective. lust as
fhe rs about TO leave. that her maid saws
/ IS now she stole the diamond ring and
/ IS waiting in the kitchen to be arrested
/ At that the detective and the nnissus COM
/ mence 10 laugh, and the detec he saws.
/ Guilty conscience, my lady. Watch that
/ maid. Some day she'll steal preserves .
/ And he goes out laughing And then the
/ missus turns 10 me and says: Evans. the
/ detective found my ring under the hall
rug. where il had fallen All right
/ ma am says I, backing out. Tor l saw
/ something was wrong.
While on the subject. Evans contin-
/ ued the nlissus. perhaps you will explain
I just how you learned I had lost a dfa-
mond ring. I never told you. Ard SO 7
was caught. and the best I could do was
/ TO say that one Of the furnace pipes was
! loose. and that / happened to be in the
/ cellar by accident Now the missas has
I given me orders 90 fix that furnace pine
/ And he gioomily plunged into the cellar
/ 50 you really believed I had stolen the
T Ting?' said Charlotte.
Not once. ] was prepared to swear I
/ had stolen it, because love you"
/ a terrific crash from the cellar inter
/ rupted them again al a critical moment.
/ What's that?' cried Charlotte.
1 think the furnace pipe must have
T iallen On Evans answered Mortimer
cheerily, taking her in his arms
Poor Evans murmured Charlotte
I And well use my diamond ring as an
/ enga cement ring. We must save money.
] now, you know
(CcHrght, 1907. by C. H. sutcliae)
( FILES CURED IN TO u NAYS