Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-10-30
THE LOST NECKLACE.

EEuuGs. sdiu 1dpt, 1OyHtZ. lie knew
that Mrs. Lascelles was smarting under
the lash of unrequited love. and it was
this knowledge which he wished to use
CONVEY has behaved like anything
but a gentleman, she said, slowly.
Il am not surprised he murmured.
"Cowley is contemplate"
'sAs he is my guest" continued Mrs.
Lascelles. Il cannot send him away
"Of course not" interposed Poyntz.
Il don't wonder that you feel uncom-
Portable about it, he ventured, keep
ing to generalities. Its a marvel TO
me that you can speak to him civilly, or
even tolerate his presence"
Capt. Poyntz watched her narrowly
II can scarcely expect you to believe
it, but Cowley has behaved even more
abominably than you think. He related
the whole affair to us in the billiard
room half an hour ago"
''Whatr almost screamed Mrs. Las
celles. You don't mean that he is dis
cussing this affair openly in my house
Ito my guestsr'
Capt. Poyntz saw that his hostess was
ripe for revenge
1--WE might combine to give him a
lesson" he suggested tentatively.
Poyntz let his eyes wander over the
tessellated floor: then he raised them
you remember how he admired
Mrs. Desterre's necklet the other night
the aqua-marine one?"
''Yes-why z"
You do not know, perhaps, that he is
hard up"
-but-surely you don't mean
could it not be found in his lug
gageY asked Poyntz, avoiding his host
ess' eyes.
Mrs, Lascelles gasped, clenched her
hands. hesitated.
The rustic of silken skirt, the sound
of soft football passing behind the
palms at their back, caused them to
turn suddenly.
Laura Fenmore.' calculated Mrs
Lascelles, recovering her speech. do
you think she heard, or was her exit ac-
cidentally aproposF
81 don't think she could have heard, =
returned the captain, pulling his mus
tache nervously.
How are we to set about it?' she
asked. little uncomfortably. "Will
you, or win l."
I'm afraid You must" broke in the
captain smiling.
i win do it, she said,' bitterly.
The discovery that Mrs. Desterre had
lost her necklet caused considerable
eommotion that night.
"Oh. it's sure to be in the house, =
said Mrs. Lascelles, reassuringly.
'sWhy not let us make systematic
search" suggested Capt Poyntz.
That's an excellent idea" said Mrs
Lascelles.
The little party fled out of the dining
room into the large hall and up the
wide stairway just as Ashton Cowley
strolled in from the garden. He had
been to the village for some tobacco,
and had met Laura Kenmore on the
high road some little distance from the
house In a few words she explained
the situation. Cowley laughed outright;
the thought of Mrs. Lascelles' plan of
revenge was irresistibly aroii. Without
hesitating he entered the house pass
ing unobserved through the drawing
room. by way of the kitchen and back
stairs he threaded his way through un-
familiar corridors, and reached his room.
A hasty search revealed the missing
necklet in his pormanteau Pocketing it
he hurried back as he had come, just
escaping. at a turn of the landing. the
main hall he allowed few moments to
elapse and then marched boldly up the
wide staircase and arrived in the c0rri-
dor in the rear of the searchers. They
were Just entering Harry Mason's room
as Cowley crossed rapidly and passed
into Mrs. Lascelles' room.
Almost the last room the explorers
visited was Cowley's. Mrs. Lascelles
glanced blankly at Capt. Poyntz as the
portmanteau was opened, without. result.
Batfied, she turned to her followers with
an uneasy smile.
1T really does seem to be gone" she
said, with gesture of upturned palms.
ia,,t shnI
good humoredly, I'VE haven't been TO
your room yet. We can't let you off. :
A roar of boisterous mirth greeted
this, and Mason, encouraged added:
I'VE must be thorough, you know.
We've all disclosed our toilet secrets and
inoffeusive little skeletons. We must have
complete satisfaction"
Here it isl"
Mrs. Lascelles half turned and laid
her hand on Capt. Poyntz's arm.
"Hurrahr' cried Poyntz. Il knew we
should find it. A ripping game. What
on earth made you think of it2''
He glanced over his shoulder at Mrs.
Lascelles.
What a surprise for us all. Pom my
soul, | never suspected it was a joke
Mrs. Lascelles smiled feebly and
crossed to Mrs. Desterfe.
viii forgive mel thought it would be
little sensation-we were getting 50
bored You didn't really think it was
| lost, did your
Mrs Desterre took her hostess hand
and slapped it playfully,
We'll, | confess l was rather-wel
rather afraid" she said you did il
SO well-it really seemed MS if you
thought someone had taken itl'
THAT was part of the game, of
course" replied Mrs. Lascelles.
She led the way to the stairs as she
spoke. Half way up they met Cowlcy;
he was smiling pleasantly, and seemed
in the best of spirits.
Whats this l hear" he questioned
addressing his hostess. Sensational bur
glary-lady's valuable necklet stolen,
Whose was it?'
Mine" said Mrs. Desterre, holding
up the glittering stones.
What The one | admired - much
the other night? / hope you didn't sus-
pect me-Tm very hard mp just now?'