Ruby's Reward — page 261: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Why, Estelle, you must be mistaken; you have probably mislaid them and torgotten about them.” Indeed I have not; there is no mistalre about it,” re- torted Mrs. Gordon, flushing with excitement, ‘1 received the bill only Saturday, when I folded it and placed it in a side-pocket_of my purae. The purse I put in my appr bureau drawer under some handker- chiefa, but this morning it‘lay open and on top of the bureau, and the money gone ftromit. My diamonds were in their case In my jewel-box; the box was also eee and the stones missing, though the case was e te “How strange! And wae nothing else missing 2?” “No, and that is the queerest part of it, Ihave other diamonds and nice jewelry, as you know, but nothing was touched suve what [ mentioned.” “Did you lock your door last night?’ Ruby asked, Jouking perplexed. “No, [never lock it. Ihave never had a thought of danger since we came here,” replied Mra. Gordon, with a clouded brow, for her diamonds were very viuluable, and almost the last gift she had received from her husband. “Tt would be well for you to go and look after your | aide things,” she added, “you may have been robbed | also. “No one could get into my room, for my door was locked, and everything was all right when I came down stairs,” Ruby asserted, confidently. Mrs, Coxon was immediately informed of the mys- terious losa, and general inquirtes were made. The servants were Closely questioned, and the coachman examined, but they all appeared so innocent, and were 60 frightened at the mere thought of a burglar, that Mrs. Gordon was finally convinced that no one iad upon the premises had been guilty of the theit. It was a very strange affair, every one thought, and could have been perpetrated by no professional robber, for sueb a2 one would have taken everything of value that could be readily TOMOV EAP AE Pup fos