The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-06-11

IHE
.acquit you gladly. It's up to you. Mr..
Renwyck- Fire away!'
''Well. by Jover' exclaimed Sir Rod
ney, actually letting his monocle fall
In his excitement.
"How dare you, you villain?" cried
Mrs. Renwyck.
"Come, come; we'd better git this
foolin' over an take along our man."
said the detective sergeant.
"And he was going to teach me about
English aristocracy!' shifted Miss
Schermerly scornfully. suppressing
with difficulty a hysterical desire to
scream.
"Where is the real Lord Croyland,
want to know?" asked Mr.. Parker,
taking advantage Of the general dis
turbance to find voice again.
The old Spectator was 80 handi-
capped by anger at the impudent as
surance Of the real culprit that CO.
herent utterance was out Of the Ques-
ton. He gagged and spluttered in 4
most discriminating manner. which
gave certain color to Richards other
wise unthinkable charge. Beyond
doubt a stormy scene would have fol-
lowed had not Mr.. Corrigan at last
come forward to take hand.
STEADY, Jake!' he cautioned. while
Mrs. Renwyck, appalled, at the term
after the strain Of hearing her husband
~f CT h,,r ;,,@>
tears, requiring the combined ministra-
tons Of Miss Schermerly and the three
girls. Jake" declined positively to
be steady, SO the little lawyer de.
termined to bring matters to a close.
"Loolz here!' he shouted. 'Tt seems
all Of you have had your share Of talk
ing. I want to do some Of it myself"
he turned to the company. LAS for
my brother-in-law, I feel that l must
take his side and declare his innocence
Of theft. AS for this young gentle
man, he is equally innocent, though |
must admit that he has taking ways"
Uncle Michael paused to smile in ap-
probation Of his own humor and con-
ttnued, GAS for me, haven't the least
doubt that any Of you hot headed peo-
pie would slap me in Jail at once for
the simple reason that I have those
diamonds in my pocket"
"You" cried a dozen people in
breath. "Youv
EYES," he laughed. "Here they are!"
He pulled several jewel cases from
his pocket, opened them and held them
for all to see.
$50 you're the robber, are you?" said
Richard coolly, glad Of a chance to
pay back some of Uncle Michael's
gibes. ''Well, I'd never have believed
it If you hadn't confessed it,
"You score one, Dick, but watt" re-
turned Uncle Michael.
IF this is a joke, Michael" began
Mr.. Renwyclz, frowning heavily, II
must say
cts no joke, as you'll find, Jacob,
and if you had followed my advice in
the beginning you wouldn't have laid
yourself wide open to this awkward
libel case"
For moment there was silence. 1t
was difficult to say who was the most
dumfounded-Mr. Renwyck, who saw
at once what blunder he had made;
Miss Harriet, who knew that the dia-
monds had been taken by Mr.. Fitz-
georges pal and who wondered how
her Uncle Michael had got them, and
1mogene, who was confident that her
secret would now be disclosed to every
one, or Richard, who had locked up
poor, innocent Woolsey Bills for
theft which evidently he had not CON-
mitted. So his ecclesiastical valet had
told the truth, after all! CONSERVATION
reigned, and everybody began to talk
at once, but Mr.. Corrigan raised his
hand for silence and continued his
most effective address.
"You are no doubt wondering" he
laughed, chow happened to come by
this valuable property, and I, in spite
of our brazen young friends sugges-
ton, hasten to assure you that l got
1t honestly. My worthy brother-in-law,
who never would listen to any one
except himself, declined to heed me