The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-02-28

Charlotte. left alone, reached for hcr
pocket of Der apron. Evidently she
was deeply interested for she rea
and reread the letter several times
Then she united tho handkerchief, dis
closed a large diamond ring and trie,
It on several fingers
"Cracky, A diamondm cried Evans
entering suddenly from the cellar
Charlotte hastily returned the ring to
aer pocket
ITS my own" she declared at
was given to me 10y "A dear old lady
who has lust died"
stuff and nonsense" broke in the
man roughly. It's the diamond some
one stole from the mssus. | heard all
about il through the stove pipe Tie
detective is looking for it now. Hes
going to search the house"
But it's mine, say
All your game is up. my girl Give
me the ring aud won't tell Say
you'll marry me. l can sell the dia=
nond'-
Let me -. You hurt me Help.
Let me GO"
"Perhaps you'll be good enough To
obligc the lady said Mortimer strid
Ing down to Evans and giving him IL
twist on the collar. Re off with
you"
Evans withdrew to one side angrlly.
I'm going 10 tell the detective" he
cried roughly. Then We'll see whose
turn it will be"
The man rushed out Of the kitchen
angrily. Charlotte flushed red. What
is he going to tell the detectiyef9 asked
Mortimer
"Hc-he= thinks | have stolen this
diamond" she answered showing the
ring.
My God, Where did you get that
ring" cried Mortimer And he says
you stole III Quick give ii to me be
fore the detective comes I'll say |
took it,"
But it's mine-really"-
Then what does he mean? All |
know you wouldn't steal a ring, Miss
more than you've already stolen my
heart-but if can help you only say
the word"
Evans entered few minutes later
at an unfortunate moment. He was
decidedly gloomy.
Fine joke, You people may call this,
making game Of man." he muttercd,
crossing to the cellar door
The detectiye-you told him." eager
ly asked Mortimer.
Yes. told him. | goes upstairs and
tells the missus and the detective Just
as he is about to leave that her maid
says as how she stole the diamond
, ring and is waiting in the kitchen to
be arrested At that the detective
and the miSsus commence To laugh
and the deteck he says: Guilty con
science. my lady. Watch that maid
Some day she'll steal preserves And
he goes out laughing. And then the
mlssus turns to me and says, Evans
the detective found my ring under the
hall rug, where it had fallen. All
right, ma am, says |. backing out, for
saw something was wrong.
"fWhle on the subject, Evans. con
tinued the missus, perhaps you will
| explain just how you learned had lost
a diamond ring, | never told you!
And so | was caught, and the best
could do was TO say that one of the
! furnace pipes was loose and that
happened to he in the cellar by acct
dent. Now the missus has given me
orders 10 fix that furnace pipe"
And he gloomily plunged into the
cellar.
$50 you really believed l had stoleu
the ringE' said Charlotte.
Not once. l was prepared to sweat
had stolen it, because l love YOU"
a terrific crash from the cellar in
terrupted them again at a critical mo
ment.
whats that cried Charlotte
Il think the furnace pipe must have
| fallen on Evans answered Mortimer
cheerily. taking her In his arms.
poor Evans" murmured Charlotte
And we'll nse my diamond ring as an
engagement ring. We must save
money now, You know"