Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-08-13

added to the depression by cheerful
statement which gave at least clew
to the robbery.
I'm not a bit surprised at this" he
said. land It's all Jacobs fault for
being SO pulled up and bullet headed, y
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 I 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
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 question
he dared not dwell. upon. He could
only hope Miss Sempton would not APP
pear until ii was ali 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 bad 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
II never dawned on Richard that Bills
might filch from any one except his
master-the lawful prey of many Of
his kind-still 1t 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 a
good deal of inward pleasure. Uncle
Michael telephoned to Mr.. Renwyck.
He had given sound advice. and Jacob
had derided him. booted 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 freshman was not. On the con-
trary, he was glad with gladness
which filed him with delirious chuc-
kles when no one was looking. He
was even with Jacob at lasti He
meant to be more even before the day
was out.
"Hellor' 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 a cast
I'm 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 with
his insides. Then he took up his joy
full narrative 81 looked under the
bed for him last night, but he wasn't
there. Do you know why? He slept
in your little toy safe. got up early
and took your diamonds with him.
No! Honestly. it isn't joke. I'm
telling you the whole miserable,
wretched truth. Your safe has been
robbed. Cockeye made clean sweep.
What? What? oh, Jacob. Jacob. You
shouldn't talk like thatl It's against
the rules of the Telephone Exchange"
The rest of the conversation was
more serious. Mr. Corrigan advised
ton of affairs and offered to do any
thing In his power to help matters
along Mr.. Renwyck. while very much
engaged over his harbor scheme. con
Guided to drop business for the morn
ing aud hasten out to Irvington with
two experienced detectives.
"Goodr' applauded Uncle Michael.
"The more the merrier. ! believe
can furnish these gentlemen with sew
era valuable clews. | hate to say
Told you sor Jake. but If you had
listened to me you-what? No, won't!
It's hot enough out here. Goodby."
When Mr.. Corrigan left the telephone
he found that Harriet and Imogene
had gone upstairs. The latter young
lady had been unable TO restrain her
emotions longer. and In the seclusion
Of her chamber she gave vent to every
species Of pyrotechnic despair to which
the tender age OF nineteen Is subject.
Miss Renwyck was the busiest Samari-
tan on record. and her ministrations to
the stricken one made word With
Richard out OF the question for the
present.
Mr.. Van der Awe perceived that his
inamorata was profoundly agitated,
but why he could not imagine. There
fore he paced solemnly up and down
the hall. looking more like a funeral
director than ever. Richard sat on the
front porch. smoking one cigarette aft
er another furiousIy, when Mr.. CORR.
gan came out and accosted him.
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