Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-06-10

Su0 was deeply interested, IOr she
read and reread the letter several
times. Then she united the handker-
chief, disclosing large diamond ring,
and tried it on several fingers.
"Cracky! A diamond" cried Evans,
entering suddenly from the cellar
Charlotte hastily returned the ring to
her pocket
cts my own" she declared, cit was
given to me by dear old lady who
has just died.
stuff and nonsense" broke in the
man roughly. tits the diamond some
one stole from the missus-I heard all
about it through the stovepipe. The
detective is looking for it now-he's
going to search the house,"
but it's mine, say"
"Ah, your game is up, my girl. Give
me the ring and / won't tell. Say
you'll marry mel can sell the dia-
mond-"
LET me go-you hurt me. Help!
Let me co.
Perhaps you'll be good enough to
oblige the lady," said Mortimer, strid-
ing down to Evans and giving him
twist on the collar. BE off with
you"
Evans withdrew to one side, angrily.
I'm going to tell the detective" he
cried roughly. "Then we'll see whose
turn it will 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.
my god! where did you get that
ring?" cried Mortimer, land he says
you stole it? Quick-give it to me be-
fore the detective comes. I'll say
took it."
But it's numerically"
Then what does he mean? 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 if l can help you,
only say the word"
Evans entered few minutes later
at an unfortunate moment He was
decidedly gloomy.
Fine joke, you people may call this,
making game of man." he muttered.
crossing to the cellar door
THE detective-you told him?' Gag
erly asked Mortimer.
Yes, | told him. l goes upstairs
and tells the missus and the detective,
just as he is about to leave, that her
maid says as she stole the diamond
ring and is waiting in the kitchen to
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 to me and says Evans, the
detective found my ring under the
hall rug, where it had fallen All
right, ma'am, says 1, backing out,
for | saw something was wrong.
While on the subject, Evans con-
tinued the missus, perhaps you will
explain just how you learned l had
lost a diamond ring. l never told
you And SO l 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 fix that furnace pipe"
And he gloomily plunged into the
cellar.
so you really believe I had stolen
the ring?" said Charlotte.
mot once. / was prepared to swear
had stolen it, because l love you"
A terrific crash from the cellar in
terrupted them again at a critical
moment.
Whats that?" cried Charlotte.
Il think the furnace pipe must have
fallen on Evans" answered Morti-
mer, cheerily, taking her in his
arms
Poor Evans" murmured Char
lotte. "And we'll use my diamond
ring as an engagement ring. We must
save money now, you know