"The Village Blacksmith" by Darley Dale (Chapter XXXIV, December 1889). Mrs. Canter, nurse to the ailing Archdeacon, deduces that lost diamonds are hidden in a secret drawer within Mrs. Ryot-Tempest's mahogany wardrobe—recalling that such a drawer existed there fifteen years prior. She locks the bedroom, confronts and physically intimidates Mrs. Ryot-Tempest to prevent her entering, summons lawyer Deedes, and alerts the household staff. When Deedes arrives with Captain Tempest, Mrs. Canter confirms her conviction though she hasn't yet opened the wardrobe. Deedes then approaches Mrs. Ryot-Tempest requesting the key, finding her cooperative and offering to assist the search, having recovered her composure and devised new tactics.
📖 This public-domain issue is being restored page-by-page for our free reader — check back soon.
About this artifact
- Date
- December 1889
- Rights
- Public domain — free to view, share, and reuse.
- Restoration
- Digitally restored and hosted by ComicBooks.com · high-resolution version available.
Part of our mission to preserve and restore the public-domain heritage of the medium.