Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-05

thoroughly endorsed the professors views.
although not regarding them from
Aileen's lofty standpoint. Moyra's con-
illusions were reached practically, Aliens
philosophically.
HE was quite right" Moyra said. ITO
marry without love is wicked Besides,
when there is-some one else"
Aileen went very red and pretended
she did not hear.
After all" she said loftily, he would
always have been more famous and clev-
erer than /. AS it is. l can shine alone
now, and my little candle need borrow no
light. But he is good man, Moyra.
| don't think | ever realized before that
he was man"-with little laugh. i
wish he would marry Bride. But things
always go by contraries in this world
disregarding Moyra's quick protest a
is madly in love with B.. who looks only
at c., who prefers A."
But Billy's in love with YOU" Moyra
said, seeing only her own reading of
Aliens parable.
And / am not in love with Billy"
AiIeen retorted, with such an angry fash
ing glance that Moyra. utterly confused,
could only say, Il thought you were an
excuse that by no means relieved the
strain.
But before Aileen could make fitting
and scathing reply that would at once
pulverize any such theories a diversion
came. Their approach had been seen and
three figures appeared at the hall door.
1.-The school room crew has gone crazy,
Aieen murmured, as a howl of dismay
arose from the girls when they saw Gerry
vault over the ratings that separated
the circle and the field that bordered the
avenue, thereby effecting a short cut 70
the newcomers. Vera and Delda, with no
thought of dignity, at once engaged in
a desperate race, ending in dead heat,
with the runners unable to do more than
gasp inarticulately. 1t was Lulu, the
tortoise toiling in the rear, who shrieked
the news triumphantly in her thin treble.
such a thing You'll never guess.
There's been robber and he's taken
away all Mr.. Fenton's-"
Diamonds" came from four threats
in simultaneous shout.
EVERY blessed stone has gone" Gerry
added. Thirty thousand pounds worth,
Billy says, and they haven't a clue"
And there's policemen there" Lulu
cried. Selling Moyra's hands, and jogging
them up and down to attract attention to
herself. Never had there been such ex-
element. Moyra and Aileen could not
believe their ears. Moyra was at first
inclined to believe it was a practical joke
got up by Gerry, but the sight of her
fathers and Mr.. Fenton's grave faces,
as she entered the hall, soon told her it
was the truth.
"Yes. unfortunately it is quite true, "
Mr.. Fenton said I'VE only discovered
cur loss about an hour or so ago, when
Mrs. Fenton's maid returned the jewels
my wife wore last night. / went TO re-
turn them to the safe; it looked all right,
and the spring worked as usual, but the
safe was empty. Every one had gone"
The listeners exclaimed and sympa-
thized they all had their own theory !;
but after all there was little that could
be told. The thieves seemed to have left
no trace behind them. Billy had at once
wired to Caterham detectives, and had
also put the matter in the hands of the
local police bat it was mere than proba-
Die tnat the thieves were idI away, nav
ing had such a start.
And there we're so many strangers
about the place last night" Terry put in.
What with walters and guests, and the
continual stream of footmen and coach
men, a dozen strangers could have got
in and out without any one knowing or
even noticing them"
True enough 70 Mr.. Fenton assented.
That's what Billy said at once. But he
thinks the robbery occurred during sup
per, when every one was in the one room,
and all the house servants, who might
have noticed any stranger hanging about,
were occupied there. But then it must
have been cleverly planned, and they must
have had accurate knowledge of our do
ings."
And that pre-supposes a confederate
Aileen said thoughtfully. Can you trust
all your servants"
my dear young lady, they have all
been in my service since Billy was a
baby" the old gentleman replied testify.
IF they had wanted to steal my dia-
monds they lad far better opportunities
when we were In our old house. Besides,
there were only Mrs. Fenton and myself
oh. and Bride of course who knew
the hiding place, as l believed"
when two people know a secret every
one knows it." the Rector said he did
not like Brides name mentioned in this
connection. He spoke rather sharply to
Delda, who was forming words with her
lips and looking across at Vera standing
near her father. why are you pulling
such hideous faces. Geraldine? 1t does
not add to your good looks"
peida hung her head and the Rector,
glancing at Vera, caught her in the act
of nodding her head TO her snubbed
friend. She colored guiltily under his
glance and seemed anxious to hide behind
Terry.
"You two children are concealing some
thing" he said sharply. What is it.
GeraldineT'
When her father spoke in that tone
Delda knew she must be obeyed
Its nothing" Gerry said scornfully.
Girls are muhs."
Hold your tongue, Gerald :" his father
commanded. Now, Geraldine ~
1T isn't anything" Delda mumbled.
Its only that Mr.. Fenton said nobody
knew about the hiding place except him
self and Mrs. Fenton and Bride. But
Bride and | sleep in the same room. and
sometimes, especially lately. she talks
dreadfully in her sleep, and one night
she talked lot about the diamonds and
how she liked thcm. and said suddenly
quite loudly. it is good place. but
should think the fire would spoil them.
So OF course Vera and | guessed they
must be near a Ere. and we thought per
haps you put them under the CRATE or up
the chimney-thst's ALL
II told you !" Gerry said. Girls
are soft Fancy making such fuss
about thstr'
The elders looked az each other little
blankly. 1t was Moyra who spoke first.
II am quite sure that Bride never
consciously spoke of the hiding place /
hope you viii believe that. Mr.. Fenton !;
she is very childish. but she is the soul
OF honor"
Il am certain Of that" he replied at
i. 81 L.