CHAPTER XLV1.—(Continued.) RUBY'S RELEASE EXPLAINED.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 228, 12 November 1887, Page 11

CHAPTER XLVl.— (Continued. ) RUBY'S RELEASE EXPLAINED.

" Ruby, you cannot mean " he began, excitedly. "Don't ask me just, now !" she interrupted, pleadingly. " Let mo tell Mr Conant first." He said no more, bub went immediately to comply with her request, every nerve in his body tingling as he thought that perhaps at that very moment lie was carrying those stolen jewels a/bout with Mm. But where '! Surely they had searched every pocket thoroughly as soon ,as they had begun to suspect foul play. But Mr Conant wenfc to Kuby -at >once, and fehe told him the whole btory. Walter's lawyer was then sent for, and it was repeated to him, and he commended the young gill warmly for her thoughti'ulness. "You were very wise, my dear Miss Goidon, not to tell Mr Richardson ; it is far better that he should not know the circumstances until after the trial, especially if we desue to hush the matter and save your sister's reputation." "It wud be sa\ed for my brother's sake,"' Ruby said, with great agitation, •' I cannot bear to appear against her. T would lather that the villain should go unpunished, and I am sure Walter would agiee with me, than to have all this miserable story come out. Don't you think it can be arranged in some way V" she concluded anxiously. " Yes, very easily, if Mrs Gordon will agree to do the right thing, though I am wot sure that you are not letting her 'oft' al together too easily. " " But it was not so much her fault, after all; she was almost forced into it, you know,' 5 pleaded Ruby. " That is true, but it will all depend upon herself ; she will have to keep the particulirs from the prosecuting attorney, and be governed entirely by me/ 1 returned the lawyer, thoughtfully. "But," he added, "we must first find the diamonds ; we can do nothing without them."' Mr Conant went to Walter and made him exchange his clothing for a suit of his, and carried to the other room the three garments Walter had just taken off. Then there was an exciting search after the missing diamonds. Ruby herself was the successful one, and with a nervous laugh she proclaimed : " I have found them ! bring me a pair of scissors quick !"' The missing gems had been sewed into the thick padding at the top of the sleeves of the coat— one into each— and so carefully imbedded in ib, and so neatly done that no one would ever have suspected their existence, without some previous knowledge, or that the coat had been tampered with. "Let me rip them out for you, dear," said Mr Conant, gently, and trying to take the garment from the young girl, for she was very much excited. "No! no! I must bring them to the light. Oh! to think what a \ilc plot it was ! ' They let her have her way, though her little hands shook like leaves in the wind as she ripped the lining away, drew forth Mrs Gordon s jewel's, and handed them to the lawyer. The good old housekeeper was simply horrified upon learning what had happened to Rub/, but she was overjoyed to know that she had discovered the long missing will. It was easily found and Mr Ruggles re- j turned in triumph with it to Mr Conant's. Meantime, Mrs Gordon had arrived, and the moment she espied Ruby, she rushed forward, sobbing hysterically, and threw herself upon her knees beside her. " Estelle," Ruby said, gra-\ely and somewhat coldly, "I want you to compose yourself, for I have a great deal to tell you, and we h^ c much to arrange and there is no time for sentiment now." She then related to her all that she had overheard under the great oak at Forestvale, and Mrs Gordon seemed crushed and repentant as she listened. Her indignation at Edmund Carpenter's treachery was unbounded, and she readily agreed to be guided by Walter's counsel regarding her evidence at the morrow's trial. I We already know how well Mrs Gordon ! acquitted herself, and what the result of j her evidence was ; but, as soon as that ! exciting interview with Edmund Carpenter afterwards was at an end, her strength failed her, and she was borne from the court-house really ill from shame, grief, and remorse over her share in the wrong which had come so near ruining the name of a noble young man as well as her own, and wrecked the happiness of her husband's beautiful sister. It was a glad day to Ruby and Walter who had a few hours to themselves in the afternoon, which they spent in rehearsing the exciting incidents of the weeks that had ! elapsed since they last saw each other. During this time Mr Ruggles was engaged upon a pleasant errand. He did not forget his promise of the pre- ! vious day and went to make his call upon Miss Annie Partridge. He took along with him a pretty velvet caseconteiningacharminglittlewatchjwhich after explaining to the young girl and her mother something of what had occurred to Ruby during the last few weeks, he presented to Annie, and requested that whathe had told them might be considered as strictly confidential. Thus all scandal was avoided, and but very few ever knew of the romantic events which had occurred in the very heart of ihe delightful city.