The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-08-02
Park Lane
Peccancy

y " v y "
Lord Stillington was haggard and
gray faced; Lady Stillington was in
tears. After returning from the state
ball, where her ladyship had worn
the famous Stillington diamonds, they
had just discovered that the world
renowned necklace-the most valued
item of the set-was missing. For two
centuries these jewels had been the
pride and glory of the Stillingtons, and
now the necklace had been lost by
the youngest Lady Stillington who had
lever worn it-a bride of only three
Months
he said she remembered feeling it
when they were coming away.
The was about to step into the
lfiage the horses had become res
ptive and she had drawn back for a
moment, putting up hand as she did
so to gather her cloak about her
throat. Her hand had touched the
necklace, safe in it's place then, and
that was the last she knew about it.
Directly they got home Lord Still
lington noticed it had disappeared.
The carriage was searched in case it
had dropped during their drive from
the palace, and Lady Stillington's
dress was carefully examined in the
hope that it might have caught some
where. But all to no purpose-the
necklace was not to be found.
"Oh! how could l have been so
Stupid" Lady Stillington sobbed. Can
you ever forgive me? know it will
never be found"
ooh! nonsense" said her husband.
sit will turn up all right. Go to bed
now and don't worry any more about
it."
But he spoke in troubled voice
and with harassed look that belied
the optimism of his words.
Next day search was made for the
necklace, but it could not be found.
Lord Stillington put the matter in the
hands of the police, and also employed
private detectives. He was much dis
tressed by the loss, and seemed deter
mined to leave no stone unturned to
effect its recovery. Yet, very strange
ly, he refused to advertise for it, and
Insisted that as little publicity as pos
sible should be given to the affair. He
made no excuse for this singular ca
price: simply allowing himself to be
considered eccentric.
Funny chap, his lordship," remark
ed Inspector Boggles, the Scotland
Yard man. you may call it eccen-
tricity, but 1 call 1t this" And he
topped his forehead with his finger.
Lady Stillington was so overcome
by the disaster that had befallen her
that she could only lie in bed in a
semi-hysterical state bemoaning her
misfortune. Her husband tried to CON-
fort her by assuring her the necklace
would soon be recovered, and that,
even if it was never found, it would
not matter.
But there was haunting look of
care on his face, and he was unac-
countably distract, which quite de-
stroyed any consoling effect his words
might have had.
Now, engaged in his case, was Wea.
sci, the private inquiry agent, whose
clientele was composed of those who
moved in the upper walks of life.
In the course of business he had
learned something of the inner life
of Lady Stillington, who before her
marriage was Estelle Manton, the
daughter of Col. Manton, of turf re-
nown.
He knew that, unable to extract sui.
ficient pin money from her generally
less money troubles.
He knew that to get out of these
troubles she had tried to fly kite"
and that Shadrach, the money lender,
had in his safe bill for 5000 signed
by her and purporting to be accepted
by her father, but on which she had
forged the paternal signature.
Shadrach had advanced her e100
on the bill, and now she was paying
him e30 a year to keep his mouth
shut pending her finding the sum of
$1,000, for which he would give her
back the bill.
Having this knowledge, Weasel con-
sidered it manifeatly the game to keep
an eye on Lady Stillington. Accord
ingly he contrived. by making love to
her maid, to be in the vicinity of heI
Iadyship's bedroom all day.
Late in the afternoon his vigilance