Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

bed. [locked my door after you went out, and saw that the screen tu every window was secnrely fast- ened. There is no evidence that any strange person has been in the house, and not another article is Missing; even my purse, with considerable money in it, remains untouched on my dressing-case. But my necklace is surely missing.” ‘“Mamma, it is too dreadful!’ sobbed Belle, thor- oughly frightened. “Tt was all by accident that I discOvered my loss,” Mrs. Stewart continued, “for I was going to put the case away without opening it, when semething im- pelled me to unlock it and see that [ had lost no stones ont of it last night, and, lo! it was gone.” “What will you do, mamma? It was worth thous- ands of dollars! Have you questioned any of the servants?’ Helena asked, looking pale and worried. “No; and not a word must be said to one of them,”’ her mother replied, with decision. ‘‘I shall send for a detective at onee and put the matter in his hands, The surest way to get it backisto keep still, for if any of the servants are guilty, and imagine that we suspect them, they will make off with it and we shall never see it again. Iam nearly crazy,” Mrs, Stewart continued, tremulnously. ‘‘Let alone the value of the thing, it was the last present your father made me, and for thatreason, more than any other, [ prize it more than everything else I have,” and, bowing her face upon her hands, she burst into nervous weeping. “Mamma, don'’t—it breaks my heart,” Belle said, going to her side, and putting her arms about her aia ne am sure you bs ere it again; L mene be- ieve there was ever another like it, and if. tl i sells it, it must come back to you ae neon ROBT