Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-03-06


she was deeply interested. for she
read and reread the letter several
times Then she united the handler
chief, disclosing large diamond ring,
and tried it on several fingers.
@CracHyi A diamond" cried Evans.
entering suddenly from the cellar.
Charlotte hastily returned the ring to
her pocket
Its my own she declared, 1T was
given TO me BY dear old lady who
has Just died.
STUFF and nonsense" broke IN the
man roughly. Its the diamond some
one stole from the missus--I heard al
about It through the stovepipe. The
detective is looking for Il now-he'a
going to search the house.
But It's mine, / say"
All, your game is mp, my girl. Give
me the ring and | won't tell Say
you'll marry mel can sail the dia-
mond-s
Let me go-you hurt me. Helpl
Let me go"
Perhaps you'll be good enough to
oblige the lady" said Mortimer. strid-
ing down TO Evans and giving him a
twist on the collar. BE on with
you
Evans withdrew to one side. angrily.
I'm going to tell the detective" he
cried roughly. Then ven see whose
turn 1t viii be-"
The man rushed out of the kitchen
angrily. Charlotte flushed red. What
Is he going to tell the detective?" ask
ed Mortimer.
"He-he-thinks have stolen this
diamond" she answered. showing the
ring.
Ny god where did you get that
ring?s cried Mortimer. sand he says
you stole it? Quick-give It to me be-
fore the detective comes. III say l
took 1t"
But It's mine--reaily-s
Then what does he meant All,
know you wouldn't steal a ring, Miss
Charlotte-you wouldn't steal any
thing more than you've already stolen
my heart-but IL can help you.
only say the word
Evans entered a few minutes later
at an unfortunate moment He was
decidedly gloomy
Pine joke. you people may call this.
making game Of man. he mnttered.
crossing to the cellar door.
The detectiye--you told him. Gag
erly asked Mortimer.
Yes. I told him. ! goee upstairs
and tells the missus and the detective.
just as be is about to leave. that her
maid says as she stole the diamond
ring and Is waiting Ia the kitchen 10
be arrested. At that the detective and
the missus commence to laugh. and
the deteck he says: Guilty conscience,
my lady. Watch that maid Some
day she'll steal preserves And he
goes out laughing And then the missus
turns 10 me and says: Evans. the
detective found my ring under the
hall rug. where Il had fallen. All
right. ma'am. says !, backing out.
for ! saw something was wrong
While on the subject. Evans con
tinued the missus. perhaps you win
explain just how you learned ! had
lost diamond ring. never told
YOU And SO was caught and the
best ! could do was to say that one
of the furnace pipes was loose. and !
happened to be in the cellar BY acct
dent Now the missus has given me
orders to tx that furnace pipe"
And he gloomily plunged into the
cellar
$50 you really believe / had stolen
the ring?" said Charlotte.
Not once. was prepared TO swear
I had stolen It. because ] love you
A terrific crash from the cellar In
terrupted thera again at critical
moment.
What's that?" cried Charlotte
= think the furnace pipe msst have
fallen on Evans" answered Morti-
mer. cheerily, taking her II his
arms.
Poor Evans murmured Char
lotfe And we'll use my diamond
ring as an engagement ring. We must
save money now. yeu know"