The Springfield herald., 1912-05-10

quite disregarding his last request.
$50 did. so did; but man can
take his own back again, can't he?
Well, when saw them at the house,
concluded 1t was ridiculous to give
a boy like that such treasures, and
So
you spoke to him?"
"Hem-that is, of course, man.
Pshaw! You're too inquisitive for a
jeweler; you ought to have been a
ladys maid"
"Have you brought them with you
now?"
What should 1 be here for IL 1
hadn't?"
He laid upon my table green vel
vet case, of the exact size. color, and
shape of that which had contained
the links; but when / opened 1t
gave start. and put it down quickly.
The case held crescent of pearls,
turquoises and diamonds, which ans
wered exactly to the description of
the one stolen from Lord Varnley's
house on the day of his daughters
wedding.
| There's some mistake here" said
/, you've evidently left the links at
home," with which remark I put the
| jewels under his very nose for him to
see. He looked at them for moment,
the whole of his flabby face wrinkling
and reddening; then he seemed almost
to choke, and the veins in his fore
head swelled until they were as blue
threads upon an ashen and colorless
| countenance.
Good God!" he ejuculated, "I've
taken the wrong case"
"Your nephew gave 1t you. no doubt.
but he must have forgotten 1t, for
he's advertised the loss Of this cres-
cent at Scotland Yard, and there are
cautioned not to purchase It," I said
with laugh.
The effect Of these words upon him
was SO curious that for some moments
thought he had spasm of the heart.
| Starting up in the chair. with wild
| eyes, and hands clutching at the arms
| to rest Upon them, he made several at
tempts to speak, but not word came
from his lips. endeavored to help
him with his difficulty, but 1t was to
little purpose.
at seems to me. Lord Harningham,"
| suggested. that you have only to
write a line Of explanation to your
| nephew-and there's an end of the
matter"
You think so?" he cried eagerly.
why not" said /. "since he re-
turned the jewels to you?"
But he didn't" he Interrupted,
cringing in the chair at his confession
l rf 10 ha ho'H
cute me; he hates me, and this is his
opportunity. dye see?"
do you mean to say" exclaimed.
beginning to understand the situation,
that you took the case without his
permission?"
"Yes, yes." he mumbled, they were
SO beautiful, such work! You know
what work they were. 1 saw them at
the wedding. and was sure that
should not have parted with them.
meant to send him check against
them-and when no one was looking
put what l thought was the case
into my pocket. but 1t was the wrong
one. God help me, Sutton, what shall
do?"
Now 1t seemed to me that this was
one of the most delightful comedies
I had ever assisted at. Technically,
Lord Harningham was thief, and un-
doubtedly BERTHE Watts could have
prosecuted him had he chosen, though
the probability of his getting a con-
viction was small. But 1t was very
evident to me that here was the boys
opportunity. and that in the interest
| of his pretty wife I should make the
80 Dc fr%a MIA
my first card with necessary boldness.
Undoubtedly the case is very SER
ious for you," said I. apparently with
sympathy, "and it is made the more
serious from the strange relations ex-
listing between your nephew and your
self. You know the law, doubt not,
as we'll as I do; and that once a
prosecution has been initiated at Scot
land Yard it Is impossible to with
draw without trial. Mr.. Watts
| might get into serious trouble for COM
pounding felony. and 1 might suffer
with him as one in the conspiracy.
But I tell you what 1 will do; I'll
write to him tonight and sound him.
Meanwhile, let me advise you to keep
out of the way, for 1 can't disguise
the fact that you might be arrested"
He gave a great scream at this, and
| the perspiration rolled from him, fall
ing in great drops upon the carpet.
"Oh, Lord!" he kept muttering, "oh,
that I should have been such a con-
| summate fool!-oh. heaven help me!
To think of it-and what 1t will cost,
I could cry. Sutton,-cry like child"
I Gained him down with difficulty,
| and led him down the back stairs to
cab with a positive assurance that
I would not communicate with Scot
land Yard Then l wrote to Folke-
stone a letter, the precise contents
of which are immaterial, but the re-
sponse to which was in the form of
telegram as follows:-
Am inexpressibly shocked and
pained, but the law must take its
course"
I put this into my pocket without
any delay and went over to Harning-
hams house in Park Lane. He had
been up all night, they told me, and
the doctor had Just left him; but
found him suffering only from an
enervating fear, and white as the