Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-07-03
[CoNTINUED.l


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 a
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 a bit surprised at this" he
said. "and it's all Jacobs fault for
being so pulled up and bullet headed"
which was truly an Irish mixture of
adjectives.
What do you meanT' demanded
Mrs. Renwyck, instantly taking the
side of her abused husband
"Why, simply this" said the little
lawyer coolly. "There was a cock eyed
vagrant nOsing around the place sew
eral days ago, and l 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, limo
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
Fitzgeorge engaged the ladies in the
billiard ROOM, 1t was all so simple, SO
pitifully simple! The diamonds were
gone. and so was Woolsey Bills.
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
| -1I- H. ~ Cd
that the man was not character to
be trusted. The real master had want
ed him discharged for theft, and while
| 1t 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 a very solemn face, but with a
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
a burglar. Mr.. Corrigan by all Chris
tian 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 filled 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
Hello" he called over the wire
Eyes, | want Mr.. Renwyck! Hello
Jake, Good morning! Wha-yes, Cor
rigan! Me. Don't you know my mu'
steal voice? Yes yes, of course
know you are busy! But say! I've
got something interesting to tell you
You remember that fellow with cast
in his eye-the one you laughed at me
about? What? That's 1.-THE tramp
Here Mr.. Corrigan covered the mouth
piece with his hand and released the
merriment that was struggling will
his insides. Then he took up his Joy
full narrative. IT looked under the
bed for him last night but he wasn''
there Do you know whyf He slep
in your little toy safe. got up early
and took your diamonds with him
: No! Honestly. it isn't a joke. I'm
telling you the whole miserable
wretched truth. Your safe has beer
robbed. Cockeye made n clean sweep
What? What? Oh, Jacob. Jacob. yo'
/ shouldn't talk like that! It's agains
! the rules Of the Telephone Exchange"
The rest of the conversation wa
more serious, Mr.. Co,rigan advised
his Drother-in-law OF the true condi
1 ton of Rffairs and offered to do any
thing n ais power to help natter
along. Mr.. Renwyck, while very mucl
engaged over his harbor scheme, con
Guided to drop business for the morn
ing and hasten out to Irvington wit
two experienced detectives.
III "Good!' appIauded Uncle Aichsel