Show AN AWKWARD SITUATION aidmon to get leading parts induced me to throw up a good position in the north 0 of england to join 1 manager starting at salisbury the busin business turned out disastrous the theater closing la in a fortnight 1 I an utter stranger su anger in the place with a wife and balse was taken ill and could hardly stir for days but for a good hearted madla ly I 1 do not know what would have become of us as one morning however over a melancholy pipe in the grassy hollow below old sarum aarum a ray of hope dawned upon me in my anxiety and depression one old aid acquaintance had alto altogether eaber slipped ny my memory this was 1 a I mr allier atherstone nu an art dealer of bond street he first ahne knew v me when I 1 had bad become assistant to a well known engraver and watched my progress with great inter rat est I 1 wrote telling him the whole of my misfortune A prompt rely followed apart from proof of mr Ather stones feeling toward me his letter contained confined news that I 1 read with surprise md and pleasure not without reason as the he following extract will show 1 I want you to undertake a I 1 comings slon lon that requires tact and discrimination it Is a private inquiry and has 0 o be carried through at shrewton Shrew ton ourt durt merivale fe the seat of lor lord d mount falcon alcon within a 1 I few miles of salisbury permission from the owner to we see his art treasures I 1 shall forward 0 o you a jeweled miniature of lord Mount falcon and want you to ascertain it if it Is a fac simile of one in the collection that Is the least important point of the inquiry with which I 1 you find out at any trouble and with all the skill you can command the circumstances under which the fac sini le ile came to be painted there Is a keeper of the galleries try to make friends with him keep the object of your visit us as darkas possible on again hearing from the art dealer I 1 wrote to lord Mount falcon asking permission to visit his bis picture galleries iller loss by next post I 1 had the most courteous of replies acceding to my request one thing puzzled me the handwriting of the note ote signed by the dobli nobleman man was familiar where I 1 had before seen it I 1 could not recollect next nest morning I 1 went over to merl Mer merivale yale ivalo lie ourt court situated in a spacious park comin commands ands many picturesque objects one Is a graceful ionic temple halt half hidden in a mass of firs and white elms so much did it strike my fancy that I 1 left the pathway to obtain a close view it was prevented hon hencier hoei cier cr by a aln singular ular incident As I 1 approached a young girl in white bounded down tile the marble steps her melancholy yet beautiful face and sunny tresses decked with pansies and III lilies les might have been ophelias to my perplexity she elie advanced and courte sled three times directly afterward a matronly woman ran out of the building she quickly took the girl by the hand and loci led her away the lbrewton shrewton Shrew ton collection would be famous if only for its ita florentine and venetian masterpieces while absorbed absorb 1 before them a ll 11 light ht foot fall behind aroused me I 1 turned and saw lord blount falcon ills his open handsome face would have been an excellent letter of introduction anywhere he said 1 I have hare seen you before was it not as charles surface at exeter from theatricals lord Mount falcons talk glided into matters of pictorial ill art in which he be was evidently nil an enthusiast liast halt half an hour passed and his lordship remarked 1 I must now leave you on no account miss tile the small blue galleries there Is a portfolio of rembrandt nem braudt etchings that must have special value in tile thu eyes of a practical draughtsman perhaps you might also like to look at my bronzes bronz eG cameos and miniatures 1 I should my lord I 1 answer answered ed v very e r Y in much uch at are C ther many yes a large number replied his lordship very representative from and cooper to ross and moule my portrait by moule I 1 regard as line fine us anything painted by cosway the keeper shall now attend to you he will have bare orders to let you see anat anything baug in which you may have an interest when the keeper entered the mystery vanished labout about the handwriting sent to me the day before I 1 had known samuel crackenthorpe Cracken thorpe and we were no longer on speaking terms we had become intimated tel at exeter where he was then a lawyers clerk and a small money lendar bender etwas it was not long before I 1 found out he was a moan wily intriguing treacherous ou fellow and on discovering lit him of gross dishonesty I 1 angrily cut hla his acquaintance we met of course cour se like perfect strangers rangers tt but manner was waa polite even to obsequiousness obsequious ous neES ness I 1 had bad looked at water colors bronzes and prints and now asked for the miniatures they were contained in three large cases placed upon the table in the smaller chamber of the blue gallery and unlocked at my request just ns n 14 I 1 was preparing to examine the works of art a footman entered and informed me it was his marter 3 wish I 1 should II 11 take luncheon I 1 could either sit down with mr crackenthorpe Cracken thorpe or be attended separately but I 1 excused myself on the score of wanting to leave almost immediately intending to resume my visit next day left alone tone I 1 examined several of the miniatures at last I 1 unhooked the Mount falcon picture it represented the nobleman in court dress I 1 satisfied myself on every point after the closest scrutiny I 1 was convinced the miniature I 1 carried in my breast pocket differed in nothing from froin the original it was perfect in similarity of jewels arms and setting it struck me that I 1 would compare the pictures the light being less strong in the northern than southern division dIvI ision of the gallery ga alery I 1 entered the brighter chamber there I 1 looked at the miniatures side by side I 1 was waa aghast for a moment lost lest they 6 should hould become displaced to tell which from which would have been impossible putting the copy in my pocket I 1 turned returned re placing the original on a small table near the cases some orae feeling impelled me to again visit the south aparto apartment ent where I 1 once more examined every point in the picture mr atherstone had sent sly my all absorbing thought was waa to get a clew to the history of that picture my meditation was broken by a faint sigh like sound from the inner apartment I 1 looked around it was perfectly solitary and silent but on returning to replace lord mount falcons miniature it had disappeared my feelings can be conceived I 1 searched in vain everything else had been untouched amid bewilderment a terrible idea occurred to me I 1 knew Cracken malevolent nature had he I 1 thought found au nu opportunity to pay off ills his grudge against me it was time however to meet the biffi culty stating what had happened I 1 requested crackenthorpe Cracken thorpe to at once summon his master if at hand lord Mount falcon listened to my statement with the greatest calmness and patience in reply he said most likely I 1 must have dropped the picture among the prints or othor other things on the table the keeper and a footman were then ordered to make a search through everything it was perfectly fruitless the nobleman whose lys eyes had bad never left me said what explanation have you I 1 learn clearn that you have been alone with the works of art more than halt half an hour and during the time no one has been near the gallery it Is a matter of opinion my lord lorda I 1 returned looking hard at the keeper a noise I 1 heard warrants my belief i that hat someone secretly did enter do you want to throw suspicion on oil me exclaimed crackenthorpe Cracken thorpe it would not be the first time you have falsely charged me with i ith dishonesty the nobleman waved his hand and said to me it Is very painful to me but I 1 h have ire no alternative you must be searched forbear my lord I 1 calmly replied spare me such humiliation hear me for a moment only cried crici the keeper 1 I assure you he la Is a man of disreputable character and creeping closer to me crackenthorpe Cracken Crack thorpe elithorpe struck my breast pocket and hissed out what have you there I 1 knew full well heaven kl knows lors but what could 1 I do 1 I have hare no property of lord mount falcons I 1 said and mr cracken thorpe knows that perfectly nell disprove his charge then by producing what your pocket coata constans con tans ng was the answer 1 I can have no more delay if you again refuse what Is demanded one of my servants must ride off to salisbury for a constable surveying eyIng the whole situation I 1 answered allow tile me a private interview lord Mount falcon and I 1 can gite you such au an explanation that must remove all suspicion what the noble nob lemans marli answer might have been I 1 know not at the moment a wild mocking cry came from the garden what is that exclaimed lord Mount falcon anxiously surely I 1 know tile the sound in ila an 1112 instant lie he had quitted the gallery lery S soon oon confused cont used role voices es intermingled alc l with the angry tones of the master of the mansion arose in the corridor SOule something thill unusual had bad taken place in a few minutes lord Mount falcon strangely pale reentered entered re and laid the missing miniature on oil the table lie he said to me with extended extend ell hand 1 I deeply regret we have caused you vo u so nine much h anxiety hear my eipl explanation in A niece of mine unfortunately of weak intellect gained admission lu in some inexplicable manner to the g gallery 31 the noise you heard doubt doubtless 1 came from her entrance or departure A gardener observed her unattended aldfo and following ll arg the young lady saw her be cast something into the rosary it was the portrait taken take from the table whore where you had deposited it 11 I 1 deeply regret you should have been placed in such an awkward situation I 1 bowed and prepared to depart lord Mount falcon would not hear bear of it stat ing he wished to see me in private by the way he added to cracken crac ken thorpe it Is 13 a mystery to me how lady hester could have hare obtained enarce entrap here by means mean of that looked locked door ho 1 Is entirely cut off from this aid ld 0 f 1 door two been un im the mansion HM the abo locked since my orders ordera of it it faltered faitele d 1 I have no knowledge the keeper turning pale lord crossed to the door and it opened on the handle being turn rum transpired I 1 did not learn ed what until an hour later As I 1 sat eat down dovin over my luncheon I 1 began the possibility of to to see my way obtaining a clew to the history of the m miniature Inda ture in my pocket atherstone but I 1 had bad facts had bad given me some been sensitive about dt disclosing sc losIng them it was not long before I 1 was closeted W with ith the owner of lbrewton court in a lull of conversation his lordship observed in a quiet tone was it solely an interest in art bringing you to merivale Merl vale I 1 answered in the negative 1 I thought so go was the reply now we have established friendly relations may I 1 ask why you at first so firmly resisted my demand of your being se searched arched because my lord I 1 answered ai a 1 I have such a terrible witness of guilt in my pocket what was it observed the nobleman only this I 1 replied handing over the replica silence inthe in i the room was w ial only broken by the fa faint lut ticking of a small french clock 1 I am astounded cried the nobleman surely this Is my miniature yet no my own was slightly stained by the wet grass of the rosary to whom does it belong 1 I am ignorant ig borant was my answer it tins has belen been in the hands of a dealer for sale and one of his clients Is eager to ascertain how it came to be pain painted tea who Is that 1 I have no knowledge I 1 replied well observed the nobleman 1 I would pay a handsome reward to find out the history of the thing have you any key to unlock the mystery no I 1 said but most likely crack en thorpe has may lay I 1 put him through a cross examination in your presence by all means returned lord mount falcon it may prevent his ting lodged in jail that unlocked door in the blue gallery has revealed ww w w a gross gros ly dishonest fellow he Is ask him what you please sam crackenthorpe Cracken thorpe fearful of being prosecuted by his master every question I 1 put the examination as near as I 1 recollect was aj ai follows well mr crackenthorpe you know this fac simile of the min lawo you assorted asserted I 1 had in my pockets pocket 1 yes who painted I 1 itt 1 l mr moule mollie where in my sitting room who obtained his services 1 I did at whose reque request still A lady came to see the galaj ga es after lord Mount falcon went off to ro the mod med iier her name miss vt 11 where did she see the original miniature ia la ture at moslem the jewelers n u pion dilly what story was told the miniature painter to blind him that his lordships lord ships sister s secretly wanted a copy ho how came miss unton to 10 wish tor for a copy because she so admired the like three months afterward mr atherstone and I 1 wit witnessed nessel the ceremony of the marriage at st SL georges Ue orges hanover square between lord Mount falcon and the beautiful lady susan brewster A 1 rival miss unton had insinuated tile the nobleman was in love with her producing ns as proof the miniature she had obtained under such menn ind and craft crafty Y circumstances lady brewster returned lord Mount falcons picture in a tit of anger believing the falsehood and broke off the engagement on mr atherstone communicating the f facts acts of the case lady S susan US an be became c ame reconciled to her od lover after the ceremonial wils was over mr atherstone took me out for luncheon later on dallying with a cigar and a 1 bottle of claret the art denier dealer said 1 I think we are in duty bound to drink the hoal tili of the bride and bridegroom gro groo o in by the bye continued my old friend 1 I shall run down the week after next to Shrew shrewton ton court for lo 10 lord id M Mount houllif falcon I icon told me he had fitted you up capital quarters as the new keeper of his art gaI g lerIs ill erlos LIOT lloyds ds L london weekly |