The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-27

Arthur! l screamed, you VllidlH.
you thief. How dare you touch that
coronet?'
it, and my unhappy boy, dressed only
in his shirt and trousers, was standing
beside the light, holding the coronet
in his hands. He appeared to be
wrenching at it, or bending it with all
his strength. At my cry he dropped
it from his grasp, and turned as pale
as death. l snatched it up and ex-
amined it. One of the gold corners,
with three of the beryls in it, was
missing.
"'You blackguard.' / shouted, be-
side myself with rage. You have de-
stroyed it! You have dishonored me
for everi Where are the jewels
which you have stolen?'
'Stolen!' he cried.
Eyes, you theft l roared. shaking
him by the shoulder.
There are none missing. There
cannot be any missing said he.
| There are three missing. And
| you know where they are. Must l call
you a liar as well as a thief? Did !
not see you trying to tear off another
piece?'
"'You have called me names
enough said he, 4 will not stand il
any longer. | shall not say another
word about this business since you
have chosen to insult me. l will leave
your house in the morning and make
my own way in the world
"'You shall leave it in the hands OF
the police!' I cried, half-mad with
grief and rage. I shall have this mat
ter probed to the bottom' p
"'You shall learn nothing from me,
said he, with passion such as
should not have thought was in his
nature. If you choose to call the pc
lice, let the police find what they can.
by this time the whole house wa:
astir, for l had raised my voice in my
anger. Mary was the first to rusf
into my room, and at the sight of tn,
cornet and of Arthur's face, she reaC
. the whole story, and, with a scream
fell down senseless on the ground
sent the housemaid for the police, ant
put the investigation into their hands
at once. When the inspector and /;
constable entered the house, Arthur
who had stood sullenly with his arm
folded. asked me whether it was m,
Intention to charge him with theft.
answered that it had ceased to be
private matter, but had become a pub
/, lie one, since the ruined coronet wa
. national property. l was determine,
that the law should have its way il
, everything.
: AT least said he, you will no
have me arrested at once. 1t woul
/; be to your advantage as well as min
, if l might leave the house for fiv
minutes
: THAT you may get away, or pei
maps that you may conceal what yo
have stolen said l. And then reali,
!, Ing the dreadful position in which
was placed, implored him to remen
: Der that not only my honor, but tina
: OF one who was far greater than l wa
:. at stake; and that he threatened {
, raise a scandal which would convuls
;, the nation. He might avert 1t all
!; he would but tell me what he had don
: with the three missing stones.
!; You may as we'll face the matter
!. said |; you have been caught in til
! act, and no confession could make you
guilt more heinous. If you but max
!; such reparation as is in your powe
: by telling us where the beryls are, a
J; shall be forgiven and forgotten
}; Keep your forgiveness for thos
l. who ask for it, he answered, turnir
!; away from me, with a sheer. | sa
J; that he was too hardened for ar
!! words of mine to influence him. The
); was but one way for it. | called
7, the inspector, and gave him into GU
y tody. A search was made at ono
1t not only of his person, but of h
: room, and of every portion of Il
Is house where he could possibly ha,
concealed the gems; but no trace
them could be found, nor would Il
wretched boy open his mouth for &
our persuasions and our threats. TIL
{, morning he was removed to a cell, al
!, after going through all the poll
formalities, have hurried round to yo
to implore you to use your skill in u
ravelling the matter. The police ha'
openly confessed that they can
present make nothing of it. You m;
go to any expense which you thil
Q. necessary. l have already offered
y reward of $1,000. My God. VIII
shall do, | have lost my honor. 4
gems, and my son in one night. Q
what shall | do"
: He put a hand on either side of