The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-07-30

subject vi Sucn d proposal as CnlS SLuIS |
my mistress into speaking angrily for
the first time.
"Considcr your proposal declined, in
every particular" she said. "And go
on to your other way of bringing the
inquiry to an end"
My other way" said the sergeant,
going on as easy as ever, 'is to try
that bold experiment to which I have
alluded. In plain English 1 want to
tell Miss Verinder, without a word of
warning, of Rosanna's death, on the
chance that her own better feelings
breast of it. Does your ladyship ac-
cept that alternatives"
My mistress %astonished me beyond
all power of expression. She answer
ed him on the instant:
Yes; l do"
THE pony chaise is ready" said the
sergeant. II wish your ladyship good
morning.
My lady held up her hand and stop
ped him at the door.
MY daughters better feelings shall
be appealed to, as you purpose she
said. but l claim the right as her
mother of putting her to the test my
self. You will remain here, if you
please, and l will 60 to Frizinghall."
For once in his life the great Cuff
stood speeches. with amazement, like
an ordinary man.
NV ,,,ictrocc =, t1,n 1o11 and orH1r-
ed her waterproof things. 1t was still
pouring with rain, Inc the close car
riage had gone, as you know, with
Miss Rachel to %Frizinghall. l tried to
dissuade her ladyship from facing the
severity of the weather. Quite use
less! l asked leave to go with her and
hold the umbrella. She wouldn't hear
Of it. The pony chaise came round,
with the groom in charge. "You may
rely on two things" she said to Ser
geant Cuff in the hall: II will try the
experiment on Miss Verinder as boldly
as you could try it yourself. And l
will inform you Of the result, either
personally or by letter. before the last
train leaves for London tonight"
With that she stepped into the chaise
and, taking the reins herself, drove off
to F%rizlngllall.
My mistress having left us, I had
leisure to think of Sergeant Cuff. l
found him sitting in a snug corner of
the hall consulting his memorandum
book and curling up viciously at the
corners of his lips.
''Making notes Of the case?" I asked.
mo" said the sergeant. Looking to
see what my next professional engage
ment is"
"Oh," 1 said. You think it's all over,
then. here:'
Il think" answered Sergeant Cuff,
that Lady Verinder is one of the clev-
crest women in England. l also think a
rose much better worth looking at than
a diamond. Where is the gardener, Mr..
Betteredge:"
The pony chaise returned a good half
hour before l had ventured to expect
it. My lady had decided to remain for
the present at her sisters house. The
groom brought two letters from his
mistress. one addressed to Mr.. Frank
lin and the other to me
Mr.. Franklin's letter / sent to him in
the library-into which refuge his
driftings had now taken him for the
second time. My own letter l read in
my own room. \ check which dropped
out when l opened it informed me (be-
fore l had mastered the contents) that
Sergeant Cuffs dismissal from the in
curry after the Moonstone was now a
settled thing.
/ sent to the conservatory to say that
wished to speak to the sergeant di-
rectly. He appeared with his mind full
of the gardener and the dog rose, de-
claring that the equal of Mr.. Begbie
for obstinacy never had existed yet and
never would exist again. l requested
him to dismiss such wretched triling
as this from II conversation and to
give his best attention to a really seri-
Gus matter. Upon that he eXerted him
self sufficiently to notice the letter in
my hand. "Ah," he said in a weary
way, you have heard from her lady
ship. Have l anything to do with 1t,
Mr.. R~etteredge:"
"You shall judge for yourself, ser
geant." l t%hereupon read him the let
ter with my best emphasis and discre-
tom, in the following words:
My Good Gabriel request you will in
form Sergeant Cuff that l have perform
ed the promise l made to him with this
result, SO far as R%osanna Spearman is
concerned: Miss Verinder solemnly de-
clares that she has never spoken a word
in private to Rosanna since that unhappy
woman first entered my house. They
never met, even accidentally, on the night
when the diamond was lost, and no COM
munication OF any sort whatever took
place between them from the Thursday
morning when the alarm was first raised
in the house to this present Saturday
afternoon, when Miss Nerinder left US.
After telling my daughter-suddenly and
in so many words-of Rosanna Spear
mans suicide this is what came of 1t.
Having reached that point l looked
up and asked Sergeant Cuff what he