The Ekalaka eagle., 1915-07-16

served the family for fifty years. Miss
Rachel had climbed upon my knees
ind pulled my whiskers many and
many a time when she was a child.
Miss Rachel, with all her faults, had
been, to my mind, the dearest and pref
tiest and best young mistress that ever
an old servant waited on and loved.
l begged Sergeant Cuffs pardon, but I
am afraid l did it with watery eyes
and not in very becoming way.
Don't distress yourself, Mr.. Better
edge" says the sergeant, with more
kindness than l had any right to ex-
pect from him. "In my line of life, If
we were quick at taking offense we
shouldn't be worth salt to our porridge.
If it's any comfort to you collar me
again. You don't in the least know
how to do it. but I'll overlook your
awkwardness in consideration of your
feelings"
He curled up at the corners of his
lips, and, in his own dreary way SEEM
ed to think he had delivered himself Of
very good Joke.
led him into my own little sitting
room and closed the door.
Tell me the truth. sergeant" said.
"What do you suspect? It's no kind
ness to hide it from me now"
II don't suspect" said Sergeant Cuff.
II know"
My unlucky temper began to get the
better Of me again.
"Do you mean to tell me in plain
English" said, "that Miss Rachel has
stolen her own diamond?'
"Yes,' says the sergeant, "that is
what 1 mean to tell you in so many
words. Miss Verinder has been in Sc
! cret possession of the moonstone from
first to last, and she has taken Rosan-
ma spearman into her confidence be-
| cause she has calculated on our sus-
| pectlng Rosanna Spearman Of the
theft There is the whole case in a
! nutshell. Collar me again, Mr.. Better
edge. If it's any vent to your feel
F; ings collar me again."
"Give me your reasons"' That was
| all could say to him.
| Aou lily IcdSOlS JO1nOr-
row." said the sergeant. "1f Miss We
| rinder refuses to put off her visit to
| her aunt, which you will find Miss We.
rinder will do, shall be obliged to lay
| the whole case before your mistress to-
morrow. And as 1 don't know what
may come Of it, l shall request you to
be present and to hear what passes on
| ok 1,o
night. There is your table spread for
supper. That's one Of the many hu.
man infirmities which l always treat
tenderly. If you will ring the bell I'll
say grace. For what we are going tc
receive'"-
II wish you a good appetite to it.
sergeant" said. "My appetite is
gone. I'll wait and see you served
and then I'll ask you to excuse me il
I go away and try to get the better OF
this by myself"
I saw him served with the best OF
everything. and I shouldn't have beer
sorry If the best Of everything haG
choked him. The head gardener, Mr.
Begbie, came in at the same time witt
his weekly account. The sergeant go,
on the subject of roses and the merits
of grass walks and gravel walks i'm
mediately. left the two together and
went out with heavy heart
Being restless and miserable an1
having no particular room to go to.
took turn on the terrace and thought
it over in peace and quietness by my
self. If Sergeant Cuff had been Solo
mon in all his glory and had told m.
that my young lady had mixed hersel
up in mean and guilty plot should
have had but one answer for Solomon
wise as he was, "You don't know her
and do.''
My meditations were interrupted b,
Samuel. He brought me a write,
message from my mistress.
The message from my lady Informed
me that the magistrate at Frizinghal
had written to remind her about tn,
three Indians. Early in the comm,
week the rogues must needs be releas
ed and left free to follow their ow,
devices. If we had any more uues
tions to ask them there was no tim,
to lose. Having forgotten to mentio.
this when she had last seen Sergean
Cuff my mistress now desired me t,
supply the omission.
found Sergeant Cuff and the gar
dener, with bottle of Scotch whisk,
between them. head over ears in al
argument on the growing of roses. Il
the temporary lull I laid my lady
written message on the table under tn
eyes of Sergeant Cuff.
II In half minute after he had rea,