The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-26

Seeing that my client was anxious
to leave, / said no more; but, calling
for my cashier, l ordered him to pay
over fifty E1.000 notes. When l was
alone once more, however, with the
precious case lying upon the table in
front of me, could not but think with
some misgivings of the immense re-
sponsibility which it entailed upon
me. There could be no doubt that, as
it was a national possession horrible
scandal would ensue if any misfortune
should occur to it. ! alreday regretted
having ever consented to take charge
of it. However, it was too late to
alter the matter now, so I locked 1t
up in my private safe, and turned once
more to my work.
When evening came I felt that 1t
would be an imprudence to leave so
precious a thing in the office behind
me. Bankers safes had been forced
before now, and why should not mine
be? If so, how terrible would be the
position in which | should find my
self I determined, therefore, that
for the next few days l would always
carry the case backward and forward
with me, so that it might never be
really out of my reach. With this in
tention, / called a cab, and drove out
to my house at Streatham, carrying
the jewel with me. l did not breathe
freely until had taken it upstairs and
locked it in the bureau of my dressing
room.
And now a word as to my house
hold, Mr.. Holmes, for / wish you to
thoroughly understand the situation.
My groom and my page sleep out OF
the house, and may be set aside alto
gether / have three maid-servants
who have been with me number of
| years, and whose absolute reliability
| is quite above suspicion. Another,
Lucy Parr, the second waiting-mald,
has only been in my service a few
| months. She came with an excellent
! character, however, and has always
given me satisfaction. She is very
pretty girl, and has attracted admirers
who have occasionally hung about the
place. That is the only drawback
which we have. found to her, but we
| believe her to be a thoroughly good
| girl in every way.
so much for the servants. My
family itself is so small that it will not
take me long to describe it. l am a
widower, and have an only son, Arth.
ur. He has been a disappointment to
me, Mr.. Holiness grevious disap'
| pointment. l have no doubt that | am
myself to blame. People tell me that
| have spoiled him. Very likely
have. When my dear wife died l felt
that he was all had to love. | could
not bear to see the smile fade even
for a moment from his face. | have
never denied him a wish. Perhaps il
would have been better for both of US
had l been sterner, but l meant it foI
the best.
1T was naturally my intention thai
he should succeed me in my business
: but he was not of a business turn. He
was wild, wayward, and, to speak the
truth, / could not trust him in the
handling of large sums of money
When he was young he became q
member of an aristocratic club, anC
there, having charming manners, hi
was soon the intimate of number o.
men with long purses and expensive
habits. He learned to play heavily a
| cards and to squander money on the
;. turf, until he had again and again Il
come to me and implore me to give
him an advance upon his allowance
that he might settle his debts of hon
or. He tried more than once to breal
!, away from the dangerous compan.
which he was keeping, but each time
the influence of his friend Sir Georgt
Burnwell was enough to draw hin
back again.
And indeed, could not wonde
that such a man as Sir George Burn
!, well should gain an influence owe
him, for he has frequently brough
him to my house, and l have fount
myself that l could hardly resist tn,
fascination of his manner. He is old
er than Arthur, man of the world Il
! his finger-tips, one who had been ev