he kept mumbling to
himself so I could hear: 'Slit her damn throat if she makes a move; slit
it right into the backbone.' So, of course, I didn't make a move--I
thought he was talking to a confederate whom I couldn't see."

"Why a _confederate_?" asked Mrs. Tennant. "Oh, I see--you mean a sort
of partner."

"But there was only the one," said Miss Tennant. "And when he had filled
his pockets and was gone by the window--I thought it was safe to scream,
and I screamed."

"Have you looked to see what he took?"

"No. But my jewels were all knocking about on the dressing-table. I
suppose he got them."

"Well," said Mrs. Tennant, "let's be thankful that he didn't get mine."

"And only to think," said Miss Tennant, "that only last night papa
asked me why I had given up wearing my pearls, and was put out about it,
and I promised to wear them oftener!"

"Never mind, my dear," said her mother confidentially; "if you are sorry
enough long enough your father will buy you others. He can be
wonderfully generous if you keep at him."

"Oh," said Miss Tennant, "I feel sure that they will be recovered some
day--it may not be to-morrow, or next day--but somehow--some time I feel
sure that they will come back. Of course papa must offer a reward."

"I wonder how much he will offer!"

"Oh, a good round sum. I shall suggest five thousand dollars, if he asks
me."

The next day Miss Tennant despatched the following note to Mr.
Hemingway:

DEAR, KIND MR. HEMINGWAY:

You have heard of the great robbery and of my dreadful fright. But
there is no use crying about it. It is one of those dreadful
things, I suppose, that simply _have_ to happen. The burglar was
smooth-shaven. How awful that this should have to happen in Aiken
of all cities. In Aiken where we never have felt hitherto that it
was ever necessary to lock the door. I suppose Mr. Powell's nice
hardware store will do an enormous business now in patent bolts.
Papa is going to offer five thousand dollars' reward for the return
of my jewels, and no questions asked. Do you know, I have a
feeling that you are going to be instrumental in finding the stolen
goods. I have a feeling that the thief (if he has any sense at all)
will negotiate through you for their return. And I am sure the
thief would never have taken them if he had known how badly it
would make me feel, and what a blow he was striking at the