The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1908-02-01

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in and out without any one knowiEg OF
even noticing them"
True enough !" 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 preSupposes a confederate"
Aileen said thoughtfully. "Can you trust
all your s~ervants?'
my dear young lady, they have all
baby" the old gentleman replied testify,
IF they had wanted to steal my dia
monds they had 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 W 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 end looking across at Vera standing
near her father. why are you pulling
such hideous faces, Geraldine? 1t does
not add to your good looks"
Delda hung her head, and the Rector,
glancipg at Vera, caught her in the act
of nodGing 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
Geraldine?"
When her father spoke in that tone
Delda knew she must be obeyed.
Its nothing!' Gerry said scornfully.
Girls are muffs."
Hold your tongue, Gerald !" his fathei
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 l sleep in the same room, and
sometimes, especially lately, she talks
dreadfully IN her sleep, and one night
she talked a lot about the diamonds and
how she liked them, and said suddenly
quite loudly, 1t is a good place, but !
should think the fire would spoil them
So of course Vera and / guessed they
must be near a fire, and we thought per.
haps you put them under the CRATE or W
the chimney-that's ALL"
II told you so !'~Gerry said. Girls
gre soft! Fancy making such a fuss
about that!
The elders looked at each other q little
blankly. 1t was Moyra who spoke Hrpt.
II am quite sure that Bride nevos
consciously spoke Of the hiding place. ]
hope you will believe that, Mr.. Fsnton
she is very childish, but she is the soul
Of honor"
IL am certain of that" he replied nj
once. 81 do not doubt Bride in the least
poor dear chic. But the little girls
Delda bridled at Tie epithet-'are quite
right in their superstition. The diamonds
are-were kept near the Ere. As Q mat
ter of fact, the safe was Yet in behind
one of the cheeks of the mantelpiece in
my dressing room, the cheek forming the
door, so to speak. 1t was an Ingenious
idea of which l was very proud. / must
show you the construction now that 1t has
betrayed its trust
He went back to the big house, taking
the Rector with him, when the sight OF
a hired cab coming down the avenue
warned them Of the approach of the
Caterham detectives. 1t happened that
Moyra was left alone with "the insep-
arables,' as Vera and Delda had been
,ioEpo onJ Thu two haron IN wbionAp
20 each other, and Vera presently said
rather quaveringly
"Is it quite true that the detectives
always find out everything, Moyrar
Sometimes Moyra answered absent
mindedly, looking for a paper she wanted.
II hope they will" She paused alb
ruptly a series of piercing shrieks, un-
mistakably Lulu's, came from upstairs.
Instantly Moyra few UP the staircase,
calling out as she sped, Eyes, yes-I'm
coming. Don't be frightened. I'm COM
ing
At the foot of the upper staircase Lulu
few into her arms, sobbing piteously:
Bride, Bride! ~ she sobbed- She's
dead! Brides dead!"
Moyra gazed at her unbelievinxly, and
then flew upstairs to Brides room. She
bent over the girl, still lying on the bed,
and sank down beside her in a revulsion
of feeling that nearly caused her to fol-
low Brides example.
"Oh, Lulu, bow could you brighten me
500" she gasped, her face as colorles Is
Brides, as Aileen and the other girls en-
tered. Some one get some salts. She
has only tainted"
well, l was just talking to her and
telling her about Mr.. Fenton's diamonds
being stolen. and she groaned and fell
down fat. And she never said a word
| was frightened" said Lulu.
$50 ] should think, you little noodle ~
exclaimed Terry, who had joined the 9th