Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-19


her gasp for breath was that they were
not all hers. Indeed. the bulk of them
evidently belonged TO other guests.
Miss AshurSt perceived at once that
the situation was delicate. 1t was evi
dent to her that the young marquis
far from being satisfied 10 have his
guests know his fathers inhrmity.
would be dreadfully shocked at this
case OF wholesale thieyery. What aC-
ton should she take in the natter
She looked over the articles and
thought she could name the owners OF
nearly all of them. She decided To-
take them back to the house and en-
deavor TO replace them in the rooms
from which they had been taken. But
in doing this she must run the risk OF
being caught with the jewels in her
possession and placed in the position
OF thief.
One OF the house party, the Lady
Augusta Yrimmingham, was evidently
ambitious to be the Warehouses Of
Scarsdale and the future Duchess o.
Chpperton. Miss Ashurst had re-
stored all the jewels TO the different
rooms 10 which they belonged. except
some rings belonging to Lady Augusta.
"llupuI belHS ueitCieu. one WIS III
Lady Augusta's room in the act Of
placing the articles in her jewel case
when who should enter but their
owner
There was a triumphant look on the
latter's face when she saw that one
she had begun 10 fear as rival was
in her power. Maria AshurSt'S heart
sank within her. for she knew that
without accusing the real thief she
was disgraced But what at the mo
ment she feared most was that Lady
Augusta would make the matter So
public that the hosts would feel oblig-
ed to make an investigation. which.
though 1t might exonerate her. would
bring out the real culprit to their NOR
tification.
-. Miss Ashurst left the room without
excusing herself for being there, and
Lady Augusta spoke no word. but
later the former returned and said
"If I consent TO leave here at once
Will you promise to keep my being I'm
your room over your jewel box n Sc
cretT
II will make no promise" was the
cool reply.
Miss Ashurst straightway made her
preparations TO leave the grange, for
she knew that her stay there after
what had happened would be prac-
tically impossible. She told her hosts
that news from America would neces-
state her return to London before fin
fishing her visit, and she departed by
the next train. But before going she
knew that Lady Augusta had spread
The story OF her disgrace, for she found
herself cut by most of the other guests.
Had Lady Augusta Trimmingham
been content with driving Maria Ash
urst away without going any further
1t is quite probable that the MARQUIS
would never have known the sacrifice
the latter had made for him. He did
not get the story from Lady Augusta
direct She preferred to acquire cred
1t for not mentioning II, but she told
so many others that It could not fail
to reach him.
For the moment he was thunder
struck. Then he began to wonder
what it meant Miss Ashurst would
have no interest In stealing few jew
els, for she was rich in her own right
Something must be back OF it all. He
must see her at once.
called him to London, he took an aft
ernoon train, promising to return the
same night. Reaching the city, he re-
paired at once to Miss Ashursts resi-
dence.
what is the meaning of this az
fair?" he asked.
What AFFAIR.""
"Your being in Lady Augusta Trim
at means that ] was there"
For what purpose? You certainly
did not intend to steal her jewels"
Certainly | did not"
LAS one who has been your host 7
have a right TO an explanation"
And /. who have been your Edest.
have a right to demand that If I give
you an explanation you will believe
me"
Certainly I will believe you"
Then Maria told the story Of what
she had seen OF the duke. from his
first meeting with her to her finding her
jewels and those OF most Of his other
guests in the hollow tree.
The marquis did not keep his prom
Use to return that night. and the next
morning teIegraphed his mother that
matters OF Importance would prevent
his being at home for the rest OF the
term for which his guests had been
Invited He hoped that she would be
a bile to entertain them without his as
sistance
The story Of Maria Ashurst's dis
grace was circulated Ia London so
,iety. but owing 10 the Marquis ~
marked attention to her IT
lid not gain much credence. and when
his engagement with the American
girl was announced. much TO the AZ
constituent Of all who had been guests
It the grange with his fancee, the
natter Ctre4iIG.ed was voted the Inyen-
ion OF an enemy.