Albion State Normal School - Sage Yearbook (Albion, ID)

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L 012132 !lBiamnnh Afiecklace By Harriet Church Robert De Monyal was a young Frenchman who had recently come into the society circle of La Grande. Ile was a dashing young man, and had created quite a sensation among the younger set when he first entered their circle, but as valuable articles began to disappear, one after another, he was l0oked upon with suspicion, a11d accused of theft, though he could never be caught in doing the Sllghtest thing of this kind. Still a strong suspic- IOI1 rested on him and this he was fully aware of. .lt was about three weeks after he was first sus- Dlcioned that the announcement of Mrs. Du Pont's large ball was announced. The main purpose of this affair was that Mrs. Du -Pont Ca rich young widowl might display the family jewels which were usually kept in a vault fOr safety. The most valuable of these jewels was a magni- ficent diamond necklace of immense value. Mrs. llu I'ont's friends had begged her not to Wear this necklace, saying they feared it would disappear as so many articles had done lately, but She assured them that she would carefully watch the necklace and she really must wear it as this was intended to be the most fashionable a'l'l'air of the season and of course she must be at her best. u Several daysbeforevthe ball, Monseuir ,De Mon- lyal came to Mrs. Du Pont and begged her to hire 21 detective to protect her jewels. I suppose, said he to Mrs. Du Pont you know that I am suspicioned of having taken the ar- ticles which have lately disappeared and if your Hecklace should be taken I would of course be ae- CUSed of taking it. I do notwish to be put in Such an embarrassing position so in order that 0Verything may go well I ask you to hire a de- tective. I wish to attend this ball but cannot do so unless you have someone to watch the jewels as .l would certainly be pointed out as the thief if they were taken and of course you know that would be very unpleasant to me. . Mrs. Du Pont consented to this plan and prom- ised to secure a good detective. . On a back street in a small two roomed house lived a young woman known as Miss Bessie Gray. She was small in stature, quick in her motions, had wide open eyes and always wore a merry smile. ' Miss Gray claimed to be an orphan and .lived by herself in this small house, doing nursing as a means of earning her bread and butter. At present she was taking care of Mrs. Du Pont 's little boy. He had been very cross today and as she sat idly sipping a cup of tea by the stove in her little room she was wondering how much longer she would have to keep this tire- some work up. But never mind, she said half aloud, Hpehaps my time will come some day Robert is doing all he can and I am sure I am doing my part and who knows but that we may be as rich as Mrs. Du Pont herself someday. She half chuckled to herself and her thoughts wandered dreamily into a maze of diamonds and glittering jewels. A knock at the door somewhat startled her. She arose and opened it and to her surprise saw Mrs. Du Pont standing there. Good evening, Miss Gray, said Mrs. Du Pont. You undoubtedly think it strange to see me here at this hour but I came to make a special re- quest of you. I was so busy with my social duties today that I forgot to mention it to you and as I was out driving I thought I would stop in and tell you. You .know I am to give my grand ball tomorrow evening and wear the family jewels.

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Zlaunchp Mit By Hillarcl K. Cooper One day late in the fall, a small hunchback boy was walking along the street shivering in the cold wind. He was just wondering where he was go- ing to get his supper when a man drove up in a buggy, jumped out and throwing the lines to Tim, said Here kid, hold my horse 'til I come back. Tim gladly stepped forward to take hold of the lines and the man went inside the large building just in front of them. Tim wrapped the lines around his arm and put his hands in his pocket to warm them. He stood there about fifteen minutes when the man came out. He dropped something in the boy's hand and jumping in the buggy rode quickly away. The loy moved over in the light to see what the man had given him and, there to his great surprise, he saw in his hand two bright dimes. This was more than he had ever had at one time before in his life. He soliquized thus: I bet I have a swell sup- per to night, I can buy a cupof hot coffee, a plate of baked. beans and some biscuits and still have ten cents left for tomorrow. I tell you that 'er man what give this money was a dandy. He started towards the restaurant and had got about half way when he saw two little boys, smal- ler than himself. They were very thinly clad and were very cold. They looked at him appealingly and he walked up to them and said. Cold? 'Betcher life . was the answer that came from between the chattering teeth of the larger of the two. Hungry? asked Tim. U 'Betcher life answered the spoksman of the other two. What's yer name? Mine 's Tim Mulligon, volunteered Tim. The boys call me Brick Top and him Speckledn answered the larger boy again. Well, said Tim, I'm not rich but I suppose l Kin put up a lunch for three ter-night. I have twenty cents and that will buy quite a lunch. Shall we do? 'fWell l should say so, cried both boys in unison. Tim went into the restaurant and in a short time came out with some things under his arm and called: Foller me an' 'llll take ye to a place Wl191'6 we can eat this and be comfortablef' He led the way to an old deserted lumber shack about twelve by twelve feet and there spread the things on a box for them to, eat. In a short time they had eaten all of the food and nothing' remained but the things the lunch had been calmed i11. Tim then turned to the others and said, I guess there is room for three under those blankets. They crept under and were soon asleep. But there was not enough blanket for three and about eleven o 'clock Tim awoke and found that he was very cold. He began to think he was going to die and he wanted to, so he thought he would pray. Did he know God? Yes, for there was once a kind lady who told him ofthe Almighty God who loves all poor little boys without homes, food or clothing, Tim raised on l1is knees, clasped his hands and there-- Dear God, if there is any place in Heaven for a poor hunchy like me, I would like to go. Please take me. Amen. Then he lay down again and some how he felt Wa1'1ner. Then he passed into that delicious sleep from which there is no awakening and poor little I-lunchy Tim had found a home at last, a home where he would know no more of hunger and and where all would be bright and happy.

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Mrs. Du Pont did not notice the strange light that leaped into Bessie 's gray eyes. Of course, she continued, I will have a detective to watch the jewels, but still to be perfectly safe I want you to come earlier than usual and put Jamie to sleep. Then after he is asleep I want you oc- casionally to come to the head of the stairs and glance trough the crowd. You will be unnoticed and if you see any one attempting to steal the jewels give the alarm at once. Will you do this for me, Miss Gray? Bessie Gray assured Mrs. Du Pont that she would be glad to give her any assistance she needed, so Mrs. Du Pont left the door with a greatful smile and heaved a sigh of relief as she stepped into her carriage. She could wear the necklace now without feeling uncomfortable. The evening of the great event had arrived at last and there was a great stir at the Du Pont mansion Mrs. Du Pont glanced at herself in the long mirror as the last finishing touches were being added to her toilet and half smiled as she thought to herself, Mrs. Bellevue will not out do me tonight. She may be a trifle handsomer than I but she will never have the jewels to offset it. Ah! I shall reign queen tonight. I wonder what Monseur De Monyal will think of the necklace? Even though she was somewhat suspicious of hin., his handsome face attracted her and she wished to be equally attractive to him and took great de- light in dazzling him with her beauty H U 1 ll 1 i if if 'K Miss Gray had come early as she had promised, and had been trying for an hour to get the spoiled Jamie to sleep. But Jamie absolutely refused to go to sleep and Miss Gray in a fit of despair called in Mrs. Du Pont. 4 Oh dear! exclaimed Mrs. Du Pont is he going to annoy me this evening? ,I am beginning to have a headache already and the evening will just be spoiled for me if I don't quiet my nerves. Do for pity's sake give him something to keep him quiet. I have some soothing syrup in my little hand bag, said Bessie Gray, shall I give him some of that? Yes, anything to keep him quiet said Mrs. Du Pont, as she hurried down the broad stair- way to receive her guests. JK 411 if If lk i i ll If The evening was passing very successfully and Mrs. Du Pont 's diamonds were the main topic of discussion and many an admiring glance was cast toward her. Even Mrs. Bellevue paid her compliments. though, in her heart she secretly wished that jew- els were entirely out of fashion, as a flash from Mrs. Du Pont 's necklace put her pearls, which had always been coveted by the social world, entirely in the shade. . Mrs. Du Pont was sitting in her chair smil- ing coquettishly at Robert De Moniyal as he spoke flattering words to her. A cry from Bessie brought her quickly to her feet. She rushed to the head of the stairs and asked, Is it the necklace, Bessie? No, No, screamed Bessie Gray, it's the boy-Jamie. He has been kidnapped. I left him asleep in his bed while I came out here in the hall and when I came back he was gone. The terrified mother ran into Jamie's room to see if he was really gone and the excited crowd tried to rush in after her. At this moment a shot was heard followed by another and Robert De Moniyal's voice rang out clear and strong, Here he is, I see him, the kidnapper. Help! Help! We will catch him. The crowd eagerly rushed to the spot where Moniyal stood, but the kidnapper could not be seen