The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-02-06

not wishing TO commit myself.
ut was that young lady who put you
on to me. It's wonderful how these
women can know things"
well, are you ready to confessr'
"Win gain anything by confession7"
Certainly. I'll see to that"
swell, lost the money on the stock
exchange"
This was a surprise, but l kept my
c0untenance.
'Then 1t Is all goneT
Every cent. I can't gain anything
by restoration"
The plot was thickening. In look
ing for the owner of the property 1
held, had stumbled on a criminal
did not propose to mix myself up in
this second affair. one was enough. so
/ said:
my friend, you have made a mis-
take. I'm no Scotland Yard man, and
have no interest In your crime. Why
have you been staring at meT
why have you been staring at me-?
he asked, with great apparent relief
l did not satisfy him. He had a
guilty conscience, which Miss Stone
man had observed, SO the moment we
looked at him curiously he took 1t
for granted he had been spotted.
told him would not give him away,
for which he thanked me- didn't
think it prudent to intrust Miss Stone
man with his secret, SO told her that
had discovered that he was the
wrong man.
Our last day Of the voyage came,
and was at loss to know what to
do with the laces and the diamonds.
spoke to my confidante about my prop
erty, and she suggested that so long
as had nothing to fear from the
customs officers l might carry the
package about as 1t was. After doing
so the rightful owner might claim 1t,
and then it would be time enough to
decide what action to take. replied
that the rug would probably be un-
rolled and examined by the customs
officers, whereupon she onered to take
the lace and diamonds ashore herself.
Since she seemed inclined to this
plan / reluctantly consented to it, yet
fearing that If she got into trouble ]
would be blamed. Her object seemed
to be to serve me, though l fancied
she supposed in case the property re-
manned with me she would fall heir
to part Of it for getting it through
free Of duty. l handed it over to her.
and she must have concealed it well.
for she took it through without being
discovered.
for a Scotland Yard man did not fare
so well. Officers who had been cabled
that he was on the steamer took him
In charge as he left the vessel
When / parted from the Stonemans
the mother gave me pressing invita-
tion to call upon them in New York
before they departed for home. which
they expected to do in few days aft
er landing. l called on them at their
hotel and was graciously received.
Since my attentions to Miss Stone
man on the steamer had been noticed.
presently the others one by one ex-
cused themselves and left us alone to
gether.
"Well." said the young lady, ''have
you discovered the owner of the prop
erty?
mo one has applied for it"
Probably not, since it is mine"
"Yours?"
Eyes"
looked at her aghast. you have
no need to smuggle"
ITS the fascination of It. | was
bound to get those things through free
Of duty. When we went aboard the
ship l got a fright. | saw the man
pointed out to you looking at me while
I was carrying my rug. dropped it
and failed to fnd 1t again. That's ali
I knew about it till you told US it had
found its way into your stateroom.
"There were two of you" ! said
laughing. with a guilty conscience
though one was thief. the other only
q smuggler, which seems to be quite
fashionable among the upper classes
just now"
$50 it seems"
There Is nothing more to the story
except that In time | married the girl
who had fooled me. She has been
foolin9 me ever since.