The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-06-11
his cheeks and ttnged the .dusky

and mind and soul-a man who has
deceived you only that he might be
near you, to touch your hand and look
into your eyes-a man who has fol-
lowed you from Tex 49,.
Harriet, Harriet" came a cry Of
shrill distress from the front veranda
Harriet. the diamonds! They are
goney' .. -.-. s-- II 49,
Mrs. Renwyck chung limp and d.
sheveled to the railing, while Mr.. CORR
gan strove to hold her up and at the
same time murmur words of comfort
in her ear, task in which he was
greatly handicapped by shortness Of
stature and disproportionate rotundity.
"Gone?" cried Harriet, whitening to
the lips. "Gone where?"
Mrs. Renwyck Immediately forgot
family traditions, etiquette and every
thing else beside the crushing loss and
her rising Irish blood.
Don't be fool!' she shrilled. "How
do l know where they've gone? Do
you think I've got 'em in my pocket?
Police! Fire"
With this dramatic finish Mrs. Rem
wyck promptly tainted, sinking down
into huddled heap and dragging little
Uncle Michael with her.
The household was already in an
uproar. With Richards assistance
Mrs. Renwyck was laid upon a sofa,
and smelling salts were administered
in such generous quantities that she
returned to consciousness with gasp
ing protests and gusts of rage. Miss
Schermerly offered consolation in the
form of various questions and was so
offended by the answers she received
that she retired to her room in right
eous Indignation. Miss Chittendon
crept close to the edge Of the circle of
excitement and listened as one in
| frozen trance. Both she and Miss Har-
riet, to say nothing of Richard himself,
had worked out solution Of the prob
lem by the simple process of deduction,
and three hearts sank to the utmost
depths of dependency. Uncle Michael
added to the depression by a cheerful
statement which gave at least a clew
to the robbery.
I'm not bit surprised at this" he
said, "and it's all Jacobs fault for
being so puffed up and bullet headed"
which was truly an Irish mixture of
adjectives.
"What do you mean?" demanded
Mrs. Renwyck, instantly taking the
side Of her abused husband.
"Why, simply this" said the little
lawyer coolly. '"There was cock eyed
vagrant nosing around the place sew
eral days ago, and warned Jacob to
place a detective in the house while
the diamonds were in this toy safe of
his, but he wouldn't do it,
| Harriet flushed and bit her lips. Imo-
gene gave evidence Of approaching
hysteria, and Richard listened, while
ice cold shivers frolicked up and down
his spine. The Texan could place the
''cock eyed vagrant," and also feared
he could place the confederate who had
evidently helped himself to the con-
tents Of the safe while Mr.. Roderick
Fizgeorge engaged the ladies in the
billiard room: TWAS all so simple, so,
pitifully simple! The diamonds were
gone, and so was Woolsey Bills. : I
| Richards trip to New York was now
out Of the question. He must stay
and face the music, though the price
he must pay the fiddler was a question
he dared not dwell upon. he could
only hope Miss Sempton would not ap-
pear until it was all over He was
now burning to get hold Of Harriet
and confess everything and then to
shout out the truth from the very
| housetop.
While not personally responsible for
the loss Of the diamonds, the Texan
was morally responsible in view Of the
fact that he had allowed Lord Croy-
lands valet to remain under the Rem
| Wyck roof when he knew in advance
| that the man was not character to
be trusted. The real master had want
ed him discharged for theft, and while
it never dawned on Richard that Bills
| might fitch from any one except his
master-the lawful prey of many of
his kind-still it was his duty to have
discharged the rascal without delay.
Truly, the humor Of the situation was
in much the same condition as the
missing gems.
With very solemn face, but with
good deal of inward pleasure, Uncle
Michael telephoned to Mr.. Renwyck.
he had given sound advice, and Jacob
had derided him, hooted at him, laugh
| ed him to scorn and had finally sug-
gested that he look under the bed for
burglar. Mr.. Corrigan by all Chris
tan precepts should have been sorry
for his brother-in-law, but the plump
little Irishman was not. On the con-
trary, he was glad with a gladness
which filed him with delirious chuc-
kles when no one was looking. He
was even with Jacob at last! He
meant to be more even before the day
was out. ..
+"Helloy' he called. over the WIRE
"9es, want Mr.. Renwyck! Hello,
Jake! Good morning! Villages, Cor
rigan! Me! Don't you know my mu-