Room Number 3, and Other Detective Stories

should remain at my desk, even though there was an unusual stir c

t for home, an imperative ring call

this the pol

t

clever or too discreet. A valuable jewel has been lost, which must be found bef

who is spea

. As

of The Evergreens an

be sent at once. Whe

at the rear. Let him giv

ood. Go

od-

discreet, but neither united both qualifications in the measure demanded by the sensible and quietly

through the fast-falling snow when my attention was drawn to a fact which struck me as peculiar. These carriages were all coming my way instead of rolling in the direction of The Ev

rred at The Evergreens. Rapidly I paced on,

w nearer I perceived many an anxious head thrust forth from their quickly-opened doors, and heard many an ejaculation of disappointment as the short in

I listened to what he was saying.

hing has happened which makes the reception of further guests impossible. To-m

had probably been received with the same mixture of doubt

me, I pressed up still nearer, and, bending towards him fro

nni

th professional sang-froid proceeded to take my way to the house thr

self until I stood in front of it. Then I saw that it was brilliantly lighted, and gave evidence here and there of some festivity; but the guests

being the one I sought. Pushing it open, I entered without ceremony, and speedily found myself in the midst

? I am told that I shall find

” was the c

nni

low

t, where I was left, with the assurance that Mrs. Ashley would presently join me. I had never seen thi

pened, and this fine, well-poised woman was telling he

herself had attended the great football game in the afternoon, and it was on the college campus that Mrs. Burton had first dropped her invaluable jewel. But a reward of five hundred dollars having been at once offered to whomever should find and restore it, a g

or class. He had been the first to detect its sparkle in the grass, and those who were near enough

g man just starting life. But he was weak enough to take this girl into his confidence; and on their way h

As the occupants of this buggy were ladies, and seemed to have no control over the plunging beast, young Deane naturally sprang to the rescue. Bidding his own ladies alight and make for the porch, he hurriedly ran forward and, pausing in front of the maddened animal, waited for an opportunity to seize him by the rein. He says that as he stood there facing the beast with fixed eye and raised hand, he distinctly felt something strike or touch his breast. But the sensation conveyed no meaning to him in his excitement, and he did not think of it again till, the horse well in hand and the two alarmed occupants of the buggy rescued, he turned to see where his own ladies wer

hat there was only one other carriage behind the one in which Mr. Deane had brought his ladies. Both of these had stopped short of the stepping-stone, and as the horse and buggy which had made all t

joining him, and the two looked the ground over, inch by inch, from the place where Mr. Deane had set foot to ground in alighting from his carriage to the exact spot where he had stood when he had finally seized hold of the horse. But no ruby. Then Harrison (that is my son’s name) sent for a broom and went over the place again, sweeping aside the surface snow and examining carefully the ground beneath, but with no better results than

n caught me by the hand, and I thought she would faint. For this jewel is of far g

must tell you, to show how imperative it is for us to recover it; also to account for the large reward she is willing to pay. When he last looked at it he noticed that the fastening was a trifle slack, and, though he handed the trinket back, he told her distinctly tha

am ——” I

wo men to the gates with orders to hold back all further carriages from entering, and two others to shovel up and cart away to the stable every particle of snow for ten feet each side of the front step, I asked to see Mr. Deane. But here my son whispered something into my ear, which it is my duty to repeat. It was to the effect that Mr. Deane believed that the jew

and vanished from the room. Some impulse made me follow her. She is a conscientious little thing, but timid as a hare, and though I saw she had something to say, it was with difficulty I could make her speak. Only after the most solemn assurances that her name should not be mentioned in the matter would she give me the following bit of information, which you may possibly

e, to the step; but the other — the one who came last — did not do this. She stopped a moment, perhaps to watch the horse in front, perhaps to draw her cloak more closely about her, and when she again moved on it was

lady dressed

son. Two of them wore white cloaks, but one of these was Mrs. Dalrymple, and I did not give her or her cloak a second thought. The other was a tall, fine-looking girl, with an air and bearing calculated to rouse admiration if s

cause of the few flakes clinging to it, really to see if anything could be shaken out of it. Of course, I met with no success. I had not expected to, but it is my disposition to be th

d where the young

l. Do you see your way to accomplishing this? We are from this very moment at your disposal; only I pray that you will make no more disturbance than is necessary, and, if possible, arouse no suspicions you cannot back up by facts. I

ing undue annoyance upon the innocent. Then I inquired whether it was known that a detective had been called

roceed when anothe

aid whether the carria

was thoroughly overhauled bef

this over

rust any one else in a

o approach Mr. Deane on the carriage-drive pr

acks in the snow of any s

myself, but I said nothing; and in sile

t. I felt that I must rely on insight in this case, and on a certain power I had always possessed of reading faces. That the case called for just this species of intuition I was positive. Mrs. Burton’s ruby was within a

erything else about the place that night — greeted us as Mrs. A

of the cheer suitable to a great occasion; but, in spite of this, the effect was altogether melancholy, for the hundreds who should have graced this scene, and for whom this illumination had been made and these festoons hung, had b

ed nothing in them but annoyance at a situati

o point out her son, adding that I should be glad to have a

elf. He is quite upset. Not even Mrs. Burton c

ed to him, and in another moment we were standing together in one of the

ich has just been lost on these premises.” Here I smiled. “She evidently ha

sive of great candour. The eyes looked straight into mine, and, while showin

rstand that you were on the ground almost

f the suspicious action of the young lady who had been a member of that gentleman’s party, and

one all we can. The next

, still with my eyes fixed scrutinisingly on his face —“a universa

flushing. “Such an indignity offered to gu

offered to submit t

y? H

n empty out your pockets in the sight of every one, don’t you think that all the men, and possibly all the women

raightforward air, which se

think how it would affect these boys who came here for the sole purp

of the

knowledged, growing res

ockets. This left but two persons for suspicion to halt between. But I disclosed nothing of my thoughts; I merely asked pardon for a suggestio

It adds to our difficulties, but that cannot be h

wish to sp

er a sight of

I perceived a young man sitting, with fallen head and dejected air, staring at vacancy. By his side, with hand laid on his, k

he still has the jewel, he would not try to carry off th

tone, and the depression into which he fell when he realised that it was not to be found,

some one touched his breast on the driveway strikes me as a trifle suspicious. Your mother sa

and wheel-tracks, for several carriages had already passed over it. Then th

that he was to

es

here to touch

ley was

.” Then, as we turned to put on our coats, I asked with suitable precautions: “Do you suppose that he has the same secret suspicions as ourselves,

oked more start

aw Miss Glover do. I could not bring myself to ment

s words, and neither of us spoke again till we stood on the exact spot in the

t a shrub. If the wind were blowing as freshly as it is now, and very probably it was, one of those slender branches

ranches would need trimming in the spring, and yet I never so much as

back I made

account, we can credit his story as being in the main true, which,” I calm

e now at the threshold of the

wing me the young lady in whom, from this moment on, we are especially interested. If you can

she is. I shall hav

it by the

nutes he re

led me into what I ju

young lady standing with her back to me on the farther side of a flowing lace curtain, I took a few steps toward her, hoping that the movement would cause her to turn. But it entirely failed to produce this e

far from being an authority on feminine toilets, I yet had experience enough to know that such a gown represented

to sacrifice certain scruples to obtain a little extra money. This imposing figure might be that of a millionaire’s daughter; how, t

ng a moment’s respite from the dance. It was rather that of an absorbed mind brooding upon what gave little or no pleasure; and as I further gazed and noted the droop

that for which I had risked this daring move. “Your pardon,” I hastily apologised. “I mistook you for ano

itions, looked so distorted with distracting emotions that she was no fit subject for any man’s eye, let alone that of a hard-hearted of

first offenders are amenable to influence, especially if they hav

learn what I could of the character and antecedents of the suspected o

usiness or my reasons for being in the house, since all this gave me authority, I modulated my tone to suit her gentle spirit, and, above all, I showed the utmost sympathy for her lover, whose

r trouble than Mr. Deane. Why is this? You brought her here. Is her s

es me, but not well enough to cry over our misfo

you can

rise was

cer, called in, as I understand, to recover a stolen

make my position

ething from the driveway, where no one

en? Who

whom — while you were stepping down from the carriage. As you preceded her, you naturally did not observ

I should have asked her what she had found, and I should have insisted up

nd a most becoming blu

you answer my former question? What t

r beautiful new dress would please her, but it does not seem to. She has been unhappy and preoccupied

? What have

moment ago. I woul

d this word, and now you must tell me what it means. You were going to speak of the inte

en he acknowledged that he expected it to bring him five hundred dollars before midnight. But any gir

thy? She wears a very ex

is not called very well off. But perhaps she bought it with her

eparted, held in her possession, probably at this very moment, Mrs. Burton’s magnificent jewel. But where? On her person or hidden in some of her belongings? I remembered the cloak in the closet, and thought it wise to assure mys

arents. An enormous bill, which must have struck dismay to the soul of this self-supporting girl, who probably had no idea of how a French dressmaker can foot up items. Four hundred and fifty dollars, and for one gown! I declare I felt indignant myself, and could quite understand why she heaved that little sigh when Mr.

that windy porch, she watched the progress of the search, which every moment made it not only less impossible for her to attempt the restoration upon which the reward depended, but must have caused her to feel, if she had been as well brought up as all indications showed, that it was a dishonest act of

rned. No, she would keep the compromising article a little longer, in the hope of finding some op

arsh measures. I was sure, from the glimpse I had caught of her face, that she longed to be relieved from the tension she was under, and that she would gladly rid herself of this valu

and drew

ot found it

; “but I am posi

here i

Glover’s un

ley turn

it back without making her shame public. Li

nt for a moment, then nodd

moning her son, who was never far away from her side, she whis

one present, followed by a breaking up of the only too small circle of unhappy guests into agitated groups. But I appeared to see nothing of all t

in the great feed caldron over the stable fire. We expect to find the ruby at the bottom, and Mrs. Ashley invites you to be pres

rls bounde

Where are our clo

ions. Amid the bustle which now ensued I caught sight of Mr. Deane’s face peering from an open doorway. It was all alive with hope. I also perceived a lady looking down from the second storey, who I felt sure was Mrs. Burton herself. Evidently my confiden

; and though she followed in the wake of the rest, it was with hidden face and lagging step, as

tove. As pains had already been taken to put out the fire in this stove, the ladies were not afraid of injuring their dresses, and consequently crowded as close as their numbers would permit. Miss Glover especially

; then the lights flared up as suddenly as they had gone out, and while the glare was fresh on every face, I stole a glance at Miss Glover to see if she had made good use of the opportunity given her for ridding herself of the jew

the rich folds of her new and expensive dress; but her eyes were fixed straight

but before they could be lifted out dripping, half the ladies had scurried back, afraid of injury to their pretty dresses. But they soon sidled fo

est lips forgot to chatter, and eyes whose only business up till now had been to follow with shy curiosity every motio

would naturally hail the first sight of the lost ruby. Conceive, then, my chagrin, my bitter and mortified disappoi

lip. Drawing Mr. Ashley aside (who, by the way, seemed as much affected as myself by the turn aff

hat is

show me what she picked

she re

tion, where we have women who can make

nvoluntary gesture o

uch a fine figure of a girl! Did you notice how bright and happy she

conclusions. I shall have to ask you to procure me an

eet you in t

ot been for her furtive look of care, appeared almost as blooming and bright. Would it ever come to pass that a harsh man of the law should feel it his duty to speak to my Flora as

with the tears of alarm and grief rising in her eyes —“but you can tell me something which will greatly simp

I

in her cheeks. I had to force my next words, which, ou

were seen to pick up from the drive

mbled backward, tripp

I could not tell, she coldly answered: “Oh, that was something of my own

ely, yet not with just the clear light I should,

en picked up from the driveway after Mr. Deane’s loss of the ruby; and though we do not presume to say that

o collapse, and she loo

they would fly to her aid. Then, in a burst of indignation which I was fain to believe real, she turned

aker’s bill?

for a moment, then sank upon a s

ate publicly that Miss Glover brought an unpaid bill to the party, and that because Mr. Deane was unfortunate enough, or careless enough, to drop and lose the jewel he was bringing to Mrs. Burton she is to be looked upon as a

than any likely to rise in a breast wholly

ll if you will go with that lady to her room, and make plain to her, in the only way you can

cannot! I cannot! Oh, I shall die of shame! My father! My

moment she came

spite of the misery it has caused me, has failed to bring me the ——” She did not continue. She had caught my eye and seen there, perhaps, some evidence of the pity I could not but experience for her. With a sudden change of

uilt. Yet where could that ruby be, if not with this young girl? Certainly, all other possibilities had been exhausted, and her st

before them all, and ask to have it proved that

ucceed in finding ——

isen from the

f young people whom I had left scattered about in the various parlours. I thought he appeared to be in a peculiar frame of mind; and when he glanced our wa

word settled

! Do you want to see the culprit, for there is a culp

ard with beaming eyes and instinctively lifted hand. But some of the ladies looked

word found, but had drawn herself up by this time, and was awaiting his further action

You must see him, mother; you must see him, ladies, else you will not r

es of the great front-door swung slowly forward, reveali

shout of hilarity, caused the animal, unused, no doubt, to drawing-rooms, to rea

to rob them both by grinding his hoofs all over the snow of the driveway till he came upon the jewel which Mr. Deane had dropped from his pocket, and, taking it up in a ball of snow, secrete it in his left hind shoe — where it might be yet, if Mr. Spencer”— here he bowed to a strange gentleman who at that moment e

ere noted the clatter of the retiring beast or the heavy clang made by the two front-doors as they shut upon the robber. Eyes and tongues were too busy, and Mr. Ashley, realising, probably, that the interest of all present would remain,

ayed. “All our troubles

e floor in a dead faint. With a murmur of pity and possibly of inward contrition, he stooped over her, and together we carried her into the

Ashley was now lost, but in the satisfaction I experienced at findi

paid in full to Mr. Deane, who, accompanied by his two ladies, went home in as buoyant a state of mind as was possible to him after the great anxieties of the

had been subjected, I visited her in the morning, with the intention of offering a suggestion or two in

ed the dress could possibly cost more than a hundred dollars, and I offered her that sum if she would

nd I may have a bone to pick some day. But I s

to-ni

natural flowers, will make me look festive enough.

nce was more eloquent than words, and I was not surprised

m which made her especially desirous of attracting and pleasing him. Not understanding the world very well, certainly having very little knowledge of the tastes and feelings of wealthy people, she conceived that the more brilliantly she was attir

so she dressed herself, and, being urged all the time to hurry, hardly stopped to give one look at the new and splendid gown which had cost so much. The bill — the incredible, the enormous bill — was all she could think of, and the figures, which represented nearly her whole year’s earnings, danced constantly before her eyes. She could no

ing eyes in the house, and she was as ashamed of that bill as she might have been of a contempl

et out of the evening. There was a young girl present, dressed in a simple muslin gown. While looking at it, and i

simple white than in the elaborate

ady sufficiently stricken and uneasy breast, and were the cause of the tears which had aro

d no emotions of contrition and pity had been awakened in her behalf in the brea