The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-14

Mr.. Tarbeaux came forward, limp
ing. One hand pressed a crimsoned
handkerchief TO his nose, which had
impacted rather violently upon the
good knights breastplate. His other
hand grasped a yard of torn blue
cloth, which he waved before him.
Did you stop that woman cried
Lady Erythea.
Mr.. Tarbeaux' i~narticulate answer
was in the negative.
"Why not, idiot !" said his mistress.
"A houseful of useless membranes
unable to stop a single" The EN-
purpled handkerchief caught her eye.
why, what is the matter, man? Are
you woundedf'
"Proud-shed m blood-ladyships
service !" snufied Mr.. Taroeaux.
Couldn't help skirt tearin', m lady
WHAT"
Mr.. Tarbeaux, with a silent but
splendid gesture, laid the piece Of
torn skirt upon the hall bench.
Glue, m lady," he said, with the
air of a bankrupt making the most of
his assets. WIN THIS IL SIloui uol
be difficult to trace the thief"
Trace her" snorted Lady Erythea.
IF you had held on to her there would
would have been no need to trace any
thing"
Mr.. Lambe joined them; his mild
eye at once apprehended the signih-
canoe of the piece of serge.
Il cannot see that Tarbeaux is to
blame" he said in his aunt's ear; he
did his best, and after all it is Lnim-
portant."
"Unimportant! The Infamous crea-
ture has got clear away"
My dear aunt That stupid girl
cannot have been the thief. You do
not really suppose this burglary was
committed by a womant'
Most certainly l do" cried Lady
Erythea. Il can believe anything OF
the modern COMMUNICATING She
hid when the alarm sounded. and
made a desperate dash for escape
when l discovered her. 1t is as clear
as daylight TO anybody but a fool
1t is certain she had my emeralds
upon her at the time. and it is lucky
none of you are killed-though it
would be very little loss. Tarbeaux,
did you recognize the creature whom
you allowed so egregiously TO escapeT'
mo, my lady. 1t IA too dark.
And the incident was somewhat sud
dem said Mr.. Tarbeaux APOLOGIZE
cally. at was a young person. am
unable to say more. But | am sure
she was not one of our household"
81 have telephoned the police at
Stanhoe,' said Mr.. Lambe; sthey
are coming Immediately by car"
"A CLEAN of intelligence at last
Thank you, Alexander-and forgive
mel am overweight. My censure
does not apply to you. The whole af-
fair is appalling" said Lady Erythea,
| clenching her hands. my pearls, the
diamond chaplet-these comparatively
are trifles-but the eIneralds are gone.
The Lambe emeraldsi
The audience shrank before her
wrath.
1T is incredible, Twelve years ago
the abbey vas broken into-this is the
second case. I had taken every pos
sible %precaution, under skilled advice.
My safe is modern l considered l had
made the house itself ~impregnable at
night. So it would have been, had l
been adequately served. What meas
ures did you take, Tarbeaux? l was
absurd enough to think I could rely
upon you, in IN emergency like this =
Il retired at the usual hour, my
lady, to my room in the passage" said
Mr.. Tarbeaux %unhappily, ''as I have
done for years, by your instructions,
in view of-er-er-an emergency like
this. One of the alarms reused rae /;
1 rose Immediately. only waiting long
enough TO don a garment"
Go on, man, go on
"While putting them-while putting
it on. my lady, I sounded my bell,
which connects with the other men,
servants rooms, and ran into the hall.
At that moment 1 thought l heard feet
on the gravel outside, and unbolting
the front door l rushed out
Leaving an exit for any thief in
the house to escape by! :" snorted Lady
Erythea. Continue your brilliant
narrative"