Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-02-16
| there hat yentnor found her seated in

When she saw him she arose with q
little frightened sob.
"Why-why are you here?' b de-
manded brokenly.
Am l SO distasteful to you" he
asked, stopping short you have not
led me to believe So"
Il did-you do not understand-what
has happened today-must always
stand between u.s."
He stared incredulously. boldly, at
her. you cannot possibly mean that
my rumored failure on the street has
affected your feeling toward me?" he
asked s%cornfully.
"No, oh, no! How could you believe
a little thing like that would make any
difference to me? l mean this!" Elsie
brought forth the pearl sleeve link
palm.
"You found this? 1t is mine. l thank
you" he said gravely, slipping the link
into his cuff and still holding her with
his questioning gaze.
ut was in my oom- the chair
WHClc IIy vi tSollIS DdS ldu DSCll. "
Bee"-she turned away her head so
that she might not see his face-'you
see, my emeralds were stolen tonight
from that very bag.."
"Ah!' There were anger and n
demnation in his rapid glance before
it turned to tender amusement. And
you have spoken to no one regarding
the matter?'
She turned eagerly. Not a soul. l
shall never breathe a word. Only |
hope I shall never see you again. How
could you?'
"YOu mean, how could l rob the girl
I loved best in the world?' he asked
gently.
Ventnor took her hands in his and
compelled her to return his straight
look. do you love me, Elsie?" he
asked.
Eyes" she said.
He released her hands and offered
his arm.
"My poor little detective. come with
me to Ormond. He has something to
show you"
In the h~ousekeeper's room a little
group Of people were conferred about
the table. There were Dick Ormond
and his wife. Louise: Katuru, the but
Ter, and a strange, heavy set mar with
keen eyes. They turned with one ac-
cord as Elsie entered with Ventnor.
"Miss Halliday" began Dick Or
mond soberly, this has been rather
an exciting evening for some of us
would have been for you only Mabel
insisted you should be kept in igno-
rance until after dinner. Your emer-
aids have been stoIen-and recover
ed!'
White and shaking. Elsie stretched
forth her hand and received the green
ripple of flame from Ormond. From
one end of the chain a stone was miss
ing.
II knew it," she said in a low tone.
Il discovered their loss before dinner.
I was going to tell you about it, only
p She hesitated.
"She discovered a clew," added Vent
nor calmly-"this." He laid the sleeve
INK on the table.
"And other clews,' said Elsie hur-
riedly, telling her story now without
reservation.
Then the short man spoke with au-
thority. Every easily explained, Miss
Halliday. Your maid had unpacked
your trunk, and the butler, here, in the
absence Of another servant was remov-
ing the trunk to the storeroom. A man
stepped through the open window. slit
open your dressing bag, extracted the
jewel case, from which he took the en-
eralds, replaced the case in the bag
and was escaping through the win
dow when your maid, returning, discov-
cred him, alarmed the butler and Mr..
Ventnor, who was passing through the
hall, and the three of them struggled
to hold him. He was a husky chap
and desperate, and they had a fight for
it, each n leaving some evidence of
the contest. Now, Mr.. Ormond. with
your permission I'll take my fine gen.
tleman along!"
He strobe to a door and threw it
open, revealing In a shallow closet the
sullen. downcast face of the Halliday
chauffeur.
Henry" Miss Halliday's lovely face
was a reflection of passing emotions
as she realized that the chauffeur had
followed in the wake of her journey
to rob her; that the valiant little
Louise, who was Henry's sweetheart,
had captured him for the sake of 10y
atty to her mistress and was even now
crying her pretty eyes out over his
degradation. Elsie swept all barriers
aside and knelt down beside her weep
ing maid.
Poor little Louise" she whispered
softly. "You are far drawer than l.
could have done what you have
today. Your reward will come later.
My father will investigate, and if it is
Henry's first offense it may be possible
for you to marry and start afresh
somewhere with the dot l shall pro
vide"
Thus comforted. Louise dried her