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

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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

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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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q He went out the door, shouted Robert De Moniyal, quick and we will catch him yet. The frantic crowd rushed out the door in pur- su1t of the kidnapper forgetting all about their ball gowns and jewels in their excitement. At tl1e sound of shots Mrs. Du Pont fainted and Bessie Gray quickly unclasped the necklace and placed it in the bottle of soothing' syrup, which she had used to quiet Jamie earlier in the evening. Tl1e bottle was carefully put in her hand bag and she slipped out into the crowd unnoticed. Soon the people returned without any report of the kidnapper and to their utter astonishment found the lost Jamie in bed. Oh, here he is, exclaimed Robert De Moniyal, the kidnapper heard tl1e shots and knew we were On his track. He was frightened lest he should be caught and returned the boy while we were Out in pursuit of him. Aha, he was very wise. The people were so excited that they accepted this statement without thinking any thing more about it. Now that Jamie had been found, Mrs. Du Pont was discovered lying on the carpet where she had fainted. After several moments had passed she was revived. The first thing she did after learn- llilg that Jamie was safe, was to put her hand to hr throat. B The necklace was gone! She littered a scream and went into another fainting spell. Every one of tl1e guests were searched but the necklace was not found and everyone came to the conclusion that the kidnapper had returned with tl1e hey and had used his opportunity to take the necklace. lt was strange that this time they did not sus- pect ,Robert ,De Moulyal as they usually did. Worn out searching for the necklace the guests departed, leaving many syrnpatllizing words for Mrs. Du Pont who lay unconscious in her bed where she had been put by Bessie Gray. Robert De Moniyal notified tl1e police and they immediatly set to searching for the missing neck- lace, of course never once suspecting him. All fllf Pl' if ll' . if fl! it 4? The next morning Robert De Moniyal sent a box of candy addressed to Miss Bell De Moniyol, this sisterj London, England. No one who saw the box ever dreamed that each chocolate drop contained a precious dia- mend. The police searched for days but never found any clue to the diamonds. Little did they know that tl1e jewels were far away, in safe keeping with Robert 'De Moniyal's sister and that he and Miss Bessie Gray Cwho was really his wife 1 intended to go to London the first god opportunity they had and to live the life of a Mrs. Du Pont.-lQl'ARRlE'l7 UH UNCH.