Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-17
PAULINE'S
PENDANT
Observation-Disclosures

H.s7575751s15eS1s95
Father, it has Disappeared"
Sir Nevil Masterton and were sit.
ting in his study at Masterton Priory
after breakfast when his only daught-
er, Pauline, rushed in with a white
face.
my dear little girl, what has disap-
peared?" 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 any
thing so exciting as buglaries here"
But, father, here is the empty case,
which l found in the drawer where
locked it up yesterday morning with
the pendant safe inside"
Sir Nevil looked grave. "That
sounds odd," he said slowly. "Tell us
all about it, little girl"
The little girl" was fine, tall
young woman of two and twenty. Ter
mother had died when she was child,
and Sir Nevil's eldest sister, Miss Pris-
ella 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.
A few months ago the household
had received a shock-the announce
ment of Sir Nevil MYSTERIOUS 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 Theater, where
her lovely face and matchless figure
brought her admiration and a hand
some salary; while her strong com.
nonsense 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 locking
her jewelry in a certain drawer, and
then hiding the keys in the corner 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 intimately ac'
quainted with its owners habits.
Her father, tried to comfort her, and
added: Leave me to talk it over with
Mr.. Carter, here. If your pendant has
really been stolen he is more likely to
get it back for you than any one else!"
ton as sort of amateur Sherlock
Holmes involves one occasionally in
awkward responsibilities; bat I has
tened to reassure her as far as pos
sible.
"Yod are in for it now, Carterp'
said Sir Nevil, grimly.
That's all right" said. Just
tell me little about the history of
the pendant before we go any fur
Their"
We'll, you see." he began, I'VE have
a good many family jewels, which
Pauline had come to look upon as her
own particular property. So that when
! brought my wife here, month or
two ago, Pauline did not altogether
like parting with what she considered
her treasures.
at was to make up for this" con-
tinued Sir Nevil, that I bought her
a pendant, diamond crown with two
fine pear shaped pearls hanging down
on little platinum chains. And it is
this pendant that has now disap.
peared."
81 see," 1 said, thoughtfn,ly. "What
about your servants, N.sterton?"
"They have all been with me for
years." he said warmly. 81 should
never suspect any of theml"
What about Lady MYSTERIOUS
maid?"
ooh, yes-Rayner! 1 forgot about
her. She is a girl whom my wife has
known for long time and in whom
she has every confidence
l began to perceive that | was go
ing to have rather unpleasant time
At lanch every one was talking abou
the pendant, and Lady Masterton il
particular seemed much concerned a
her stepdaughter's loss.
1t was difficult to see what posi-
BILE motive Lady Masterton could have
had for being concerned In the mys
FERROUS disappearance of ner 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 tt
part with any of her own jewelry
for fear of being discovered. Person
ally, however, was much PROPOSES
sed in Lady MYSTERIOUS favor.
Then another wild conjecture came
into my mind Had Pauline herself
simply hidden the jewel to bring dis
credit upon her newly acquired step.
mother?
was sitting alone in Sid Nevil's
study after lunch, when the door was
softly opened. l was good deal sur.
prised to see Miss Priscilla, or Aunt
Prissy.' as she was always called.
Mr.. Carter" she began, in mys.
terious whisper, Il want to speak to
you about the loss of Paulines pen.
dant!" Miss Masterton sighed. ~
am afraid, Mr.. Carter. that the in.
formation l have to give you is of a
distressing character!"
Nothing can be more distressing
than the present uncertainty" l de.
clared.
Il felt it was my duty to tell
you" she said, awkwardly.
uDo,ylira,e