Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-12-17

old woman! Was it not dreadful? She
is in a state of hysterical collapse
this morning, and who can wonder?"
Robbed" l exclaimed, incredu--
louly.
Yes, robbed. It makes one very
uncomfortable, does 1t not? They say
it is the work of an expert, and have
put the matter into the hands of the
police, hoping to recover the jewels"
Whom do they suspect"
81 do not know" she hesitated a
moment, then resumed quietly: you
see, the hotel was crowded last night
with strangers storm-bound on the
island, and it will be difficult to form
an opinion. Mrs. Bundy was alarmed
at the storm, and spenS most of the
night in her daughters room. 1t is
probable the thief got in then, or
when she was at dinner"
But" objected Elizabeth, ct must
have been some one who knew she
had them. 1t could not have been
stranger"
"One can never tell" said Lady
Edith, thoughtfully. But ! confess it
has made me nervous. / did not Bring
many jewels, fortunately, but have
my mothers pearls and a few other
trinkets / would not care to lose, and
DO not know what to do with them,
since it appears unsafe to trust things
in ones room, even if they are Sc
curely put away. Mrs. Bundy insisted
that she locked up her emeralds with
her own hands, and had the key on a
ribbon around her neck"
81 am glad we left when we did," /
remarked as she paused. mot that
/ am burdened with jewels, but it
must be awfully unpleasant"
1T is" she agreed: "one is inclined
to look suspiciously at ones neighbors,
not to mention servants. AS for me,
have put my treasures in this box and
carried it with me everywhere this
morning. ! would not even trust my
maid, who has been with me for years.
/ do not know what in the world to de-
with them, and am more than half in
clined to dig a hole and bury them
deep and safe"
She gave vexed little laugh as she
spoke, and raised a box wrapped in
white paper which she held on her
lap, and which had appeared to con-
tain bonbons.
'I'll tell you," said Elizabeth, i'm
pulsively. Leave them here. There
is a little iron safe under the china
closet in the dining room. scan't
imagine why it was put there, for it
is not big enough to hold much silver.
even if we had anything but the most
obvious plate; but it possesses two
padlocks, and you could lock it and
keep the keys"
do you really mean it?" said Lady
Edith, incredulously.
"Yes-why not? I'm sure we won't
be pursued for our valuables, and, if
you win take alrresponsibility for leav-
ing them, you are more than welcome
to the exclusive use of the safe-isn't
she, girls?"
OF course we agreed willingly, and
were quite repaid by the look Of relief
in her big brown eyes and the pretty,
eager manner with which she endeav-
ored to express her gratitude.
Let us put them away at once and
get them off our Minds" suggested
Gabrielle, springing from the ham
mock and leading the way to the din
ing room.
So we opened the door-whlch
looked like an ordinary wooden panel
below the corner closet-and disclosed
the little iron safe with its two pad
locks-both so rusty from disuse that
it took all the strength | possessed to
turn the keys.
"There!" / remarked, handing them
to Lady Edith and closing the outer
wooden door. Now you can rest in
peace"
"You have removed an incubus from