Year: 1876

to New York 1t would never do to pack
them in trunk. proposed TO Nan to
wear them.


And be murdered, of course" she
Indignantly replied,


thought they could be hidden under
her dress aud hat, but this she would not
listen to she was afraid her very con
sciousness would betray her. SO at last
we put them in an ordinary morocco
hand bag which she never let 60 Of one
minute all the days journey. This was
enough to attract attention in itself, but
we got safely to the hotel where we were
to stay, and drew freer breath.


1t was six o'clock at night. We were
too tired to 60 down town, and having
ordered some dinner, Nan proceeded to
array herself for that cereihony.


But what should we do with the dia.
monds There was but one thing now.
Nanon put the comb on her head and ov.
erlaid 1t with these soft and nbardsn,
coils till not star peeped TO fight, ana
over all she plumed a little black lace han
kerchief, out of date as to fashion, but
mighty picturesque. The necklace was
worn under her high dress of dark silk,
and for fear the shape of the ornament
might show. she had tied herself up, as
to throat and shoulders, in scarf of
some delicate sort Of lace. She looked
like an invaIid. angel: but who cared ?
The jepels were covered up and the ca
ses locked up in our hand. bag.


In the evening friends came to see US.
They stayed until ten o'clock, perhaps.
Nanon, very tired, went up stairs before
me few minutes. When | reached our
room l found her sitting by the open
window. She did not stir for moment,
but when ! was partly undressed, said she
had left her lace handkerchief in the par
lor, and must go for it. Directly she
came back.


oh, Jack, Uncle Ward wants to see
you Can't you put your,clothes on and
come down?


"Why, what made him so late 2" said
| rising hastily, for Mr.. Ward was my
mothers only brother, and had been like
father to me in my early orphanage


q. don't dnew,h 81 said, her face pale
with excitement, I" but hurry. dear, il is
so late %


l made good speed, as the old ballads
say. yet when We reached the parlor there
was no Uncle Ward there. l turned to
Nan with surprise in looks and words.


:" / didn't say he was here, dear; he
wasn't But there is burglar in our
room---under the bed, l think--and |
wanted to get you down here"


Man," | exclaimed.


+" There is, there is ! Oh, Jack. I smell
ed the horrid tobacco the minute l went
in, but thought he would suspect me If
| went right back, and opened the win
dow so that could call you if you delay
ed long, and so you would not perceive
~,
it. Please get policeman right away"


What could do2 Could / tell that
supercilious and condescending creature.
the clerk, that my wife smelt a burglar
and wanted apoliceman Yet had faith
to believe she did, knowing her as did.
l took refuge in the presumed weakness
of the sex, told Nanon to sit In the par
lor till l came back, and with shame on
my countenance and lie on my tongue,
represented to the clerk that my wifo was
very nervous and had an idea not to be
reasoned away that there was burglar
in our room. Would he kindly send for
a policeman 2 With mild contempt on ev-
cry lineament he rang bell and gave the
needful order, and in five minutes the ar
ticle arrived. We mounted the stairs to
46 and began our search. There was no.
body under the bed or in the closet, but
the policeman signed me to shut the door,
and inserting key from his pocket into
lhe wardrobe door, which suddenly OBJ
lerved was without the key Nan had used
after putting away her cloak aud hat, he
said violent hands on a slight, wiry, ILL
ooking fellow, who tried to slip past him,
but submitted when he saw there were
two ofus.


On Investigation next day, he disclos-
ed that We had been watched all the way
from home, my wife's devotion to her
hand bag observed and understood, but
from her not putting it down an instant,
and our transit from the station being so
brief and in broad daylight, it had been
impossible to obtain possession of the
prize, and he had rosorted to lying in
wait in the wardrobe till we should be
safely asleep, The bag had been opened
Of course, but only the empty case was
found.


Neither Of us slept much that night.
Those diamonds went to breakfast with
us, and in a carriage from the hotel stable
we conveyed them to the jewcler with
whom we had before communicated
They were sold and the money deposited
in bank before the dinner time, and we
went home much happier than when we
left it.


l had weighed in my mind by this time
all the advantages and disadvantages Of
my wife's peculiar faculty, and concluded
that its good outwe.ghed its evil. With
a satisfied and grateful heart said again
that night. Bless your dear nose, Nan =


Nor so BAp,-A dentist, whose skill
at tooth pulling is we'll known, was re