Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-20

MIR. Carter" she began, in mys-
terious whisper, II want to speak to
you about the loss of Pauline's pen
dant!" Miss Masterton sighed. Il
am afraid. Mr.. Carter, that the in
formation 1 have to give you is Of
distressing character"
Nothing can be more distressing
than the present uncertainty I de-
clared
Il felt it was my duty to tell
you," she said, awkwardly.
"Pauline's room is in the left wing
of the priory, next door to my own
room. Yesterday afternoon l was sur
prised to see Lady Masterton coming
out of Pauline's room when Pauline
herself was out riding with her father.
An hour later my sister-in-law went
out into the shrubbery with a little
packet in her hand, which she hand
ed to a rough looking man waiting
there, after which she returned quick
ly to the house"
did any one else witness either
of these incidents?" 1 inquired.
NO." she said, quickly. ut was
evident that Lady Masterton had
chosen her time carefully
But what possible motive could
Lady Masterton have for taking her
stepdaughter's pendant?" I asked.
you must be aware, Mr.. Carter
she said, that my sister-in-law is a
person of very obscure origin. What
more likely than that she may have
poor relations in pecuniary difficulties
whom she has chosen to relieve in
this dishonest fashion,"
| was startled to find my informant
furnishing evidence of the correct
ness of "a theory that 1 had already
formulated. and then dismissed. Mean
while l answered.:
'I should be very sorry to think that
Lady Masterton was capable of stoop-
ing to a crime of this kind; but the
case certainly looks suspicious. May
l ask you, however. not to say word
Of this to any one else?'
Aunt Prissy rose. "The subject IS
so extremely painful, Mr.. Carter, that
you may be quite sure l shall not
breathe a word to a soul. Meanwhile,
1 sincerely hope that you will De able
to prove Lady Masterton innocent, at
ter ALL"
Old maids are often charming peo-
pie. and Miss Priscilla was described
by her niece as "a dear" but could
not help feeling that she had not yet
forgiven her brother for marrying
again; while her views of ladies CON-
nected with the stage were old-fash-
toned and out of date.
At dinner that evening Pauline was
anxious to know whether 1 had made
any discoveries.
Like Scotland Yard" I replied,
lightly. ''I have clew. But propose
to preserve the strictest secrecy until
1 put my hand on the culprit and pro-
duce the pendant"
"And when will that be?" asked
Pauline, eagerly.
Probably tomorrow morning" an
swered. Possibly tonight"
"Then you know who took the dia-
monds?" exclaimed Pauline, excitedly.
EYES," said. 81 know who took
the diamonds"
I did not look at Miss Priscilla, but
1 could not fail to be conscious Of the
triumph in her eye.
There is nothing Carter loves like
a mystery" said Sir Nevil, sarcastical-
ly. Garter, if you really know who
took the pendant, tell us, and have
done with it,"
Il can't quite do that" 1 said. "But
if you will all be in the drawing room
at ten o'clock this evening, 1 shall
probably elucidate the mystery"
Immediately after dinner 1 returned
to my room; but at ten o'clock pune
tually I entered the drawing room,
where I found Masterton, with his
wife, sister and daughter playing
bridge.
do come in, Mr.. Carter!" said Lady
Masterton. I'VE are all simply dying
to know"
every we'll, Lady Masterton. But
first want an absolute promise that
I shall not be interrupted until have
finished my story, however startling
or outrageous my statements may
seem. Do you all give-me that prom
ise?"
They all answered lightly in the
affirmative. Whereupon 1 added:
81 warn you, Masterton, that you
will find it very hard to keep your
word as soon as l have begun"
eco ahead, Carter If 1 want to
break your head, I promise you I'll
save it up till you've finished your
yarn!"
"All right" l said. 1.-THE day be-
fore yesterday, in the middle Of the
afternoon, some one was seen COM
ing out of Miss Pauline's bedroom;
and the same person was afterward
seen to hand a small packet to mys-
terious looking man in the shrubbery.
The person in question was Lady Mas
terton!"
Sir NeviI started from his chair