Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-18
TODAY,S INSTALMENT.

ARTHUR l screamed, you villain
YOU theft How dare you touch that
coronet?'
THE gas was half up, as ] had
left 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 1t with oil
his strength. At cry he dropped 1t from
his grasp, and turned as pale as death. l
snatched it UP and examined it. One
of the gold corners with three of the
beryls in it, was missing:
"You blackguardp | shouted, be-
side myself with rage. You have
DESTROYED i'll You have dishonored
me for everl Where are the jewels
which YOU have stolen?'
'Stolenr he cried.
Eyes, YOU theft I 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 !
call YOU a liar as we'll as thief? Did
not see you trying to tear off another
piece?'
You have called me names enough
said he. I will not stand it any longer: |
shall not saw another word about this
business since YOU have chosen to insult
me. will leave your house in the morn
ing and make my own way in the world.
"'You shall leave it in the hands
of the policep | cried, half-mad with
grief and rage. 4 shall have this matter
probed TO the bottom
You shall learn nothing from me,
eaid he, with passion such as should
not have thought was in his nature.
If YOU choose to call tho police, let
the police find what they can:
by this time the whole house was
sstir, for had raised my voice in my
anger. Mary was the first to rush into
my room, and, at the sight OF the
coronet and of Arthur's face, she read
the whole story, and, with scream,
fell down senseless on the ground. sent
the housemaid for the police, and put
the investigation into their hands at
once When the inspector and con-
stable entered the house, Arthur, who
had stood sullenly with his arms folded,
asked me whether it was my intention
TO charge him with theft. l answered
that it had ceased to be private matter,
but had become public one, since the
ruined coronet was national property,
l was determined that the law should
have its way in everything.
cat least said he, you will not
have me arrested at once. 1t would be
70 your advantage as well as mine II
might leave the house for five minutes.
THAT you may get away, or per
haps that you may conceal what you
have stolen said l. And then realizing
the dreadful position In which / was
placed, ! implored him to remember
that not only my honor, but that OF one
who was far greater than ! was al
stake; and that he threatened TO ralst
q scandal which would convulse tht
nation. He might avert 1t all If he woulC
but tell me what he had done with thu
three missing stones.
You NAV as well face the matter
said /; you have been caught in the act
and no confession could makeEour gull
more heinous. II you but make sucl
PREPARATION as is in your power, by tellin
US where the beryls are, all shall b
forgiven and forgotten.
Keep your forgiveness for thost
who ask for it, he answered, turning
away from me, with sheer. i say
that he was too hardened for an,
was but one way for it. / called il
the inspector, and gave him into Gus
tody. A search was made at once, no
only Of his person, but OF his room
and of every position Of the hous
where he could possibly have conceale'
the gems; but no trace of them could b
70 und, no would the wretched DO,
open his mouth for all our persuasion
,>,A o,,y tbroo4o This he x,-at
removed 10 a cell, and l, after goin
through nll the police formalities, hav
hurried round TO you, 10 implore yol
10 use your skill in unravelling the mat
ter The police have openly confesse
they can at present make nothing Of il
You may go TO any expense which yol
think necessary. ! have already offere,
areward Of 200 pounds. My Goo, wha
shall dol j have lost my honor, III,
gems, and my son in one night. Oh
what shall j dop'
He put q hand on either side Of hi
head, and rocked himself to and fro
droning to himself like a child who's
grief has got beyond words.
Sherlock Holmes sat silent for som
few minutes, with his brows knitte
and his eyes fixed upon the fire.
"Do you receive much company?
be asked.
None, save my partner with HI
family, and an occasional friend {
Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell hs
been several times lately. No one els.
] think"
do you 90 out much In society,""
arthur does. Mary and | stay 6
home. We neither Of us care for it"
THAT ip,lsi1a1 in q younu uirl ~
''She is of a quiet nature. Beside
abe is not SO young. She is four-anc
twenty