The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-03-08


cloquence, said, rather GROSSLY:
Very well. 1 see We are not likely to
come to terms, SO I will trouble you to
wrap MP the case, Mr.. Maurice, and 1
will take il back"
You won't get a better offer any
where" said Mr.. Maurice. looking at the
diamonds with evident longing. I'm
tell you what III do" he added, as
though struck by sudden thought, Il
don't mind presenting you with piece
I've offered, and thst must be my ulti-
matum."
Thank Won fer nothing" said Mrs.
Briscoe, poutine. However, | may as
well see what you have to offer.
Mr.. Maurice secretly elated, shufiled
of with his keys to his strong room, and
after a short absence, returned with a
han dozen small leather cases in his
hand. Mrs. Briscoe inspected the con-
tents with the air OF ccnnoisseur, and
put each contemptuausly on one side
until she came to the last, which con-
tanned diamond bracelet of chaste and
peculiar design.
That is rather pretty" she said care
lessly.
pretty It's handsome" rejoined
Mr.. Maurice, holding it at arms length.
Its worth $50 at least. No, ma'am; 1
didn't intend to offer that. ! can't do it,"
he added, closing the case abruptly.
Il will take it," said Mrs. Briscoe,
cody. 81 would sooner sell the dia-
monds to you than to a friend, to avoid
scandal, and l rather want new brace
let."
Mr. Maurice hesitated moment and
inspected the ornament carefully, with a
puzzled expression. His reflections
were brought to premature conclusion
by an impatient movement on the part of
his customer, which caused him to say
hurriedly:
"Well. we'll, ma'am. 1 suppose 1
must give way. But you have got the
better Of me this time; YOU have, indeed"
Mrs. Briscoe gave little scornful laugh
and the dealer proceeded to write out a
check for the amount agreed upon. He
then prepared formal receipt for their
joint signature, stating that he had pur-
chased the tiara for such and such a
sum, and diamond bracelet esti-
mated at so much. This formality was
always insisted upon by Mrs. Briscoe,
who had feminine notions of being
strictly business-ike, and Mr.. Maurice
knew from experience that he must hui
NOR her. He wrote out the receipt, as
usual, in duplicate, handing one copy to
the lady and keeping the other himself.
This terminated the transaction, and Mrs.
Briscoe presently took her departure in
high good humor.
Mr.. Maurice was by no means dissat-
isfed with his bargain, when he came to
think it over. He had given large sum
for the diamonds, but they were clearly
worth the money; in fact he saw his way
to make handsome profit out of them.
But he felt little uneasy about the
bracelet, for he couldn't for the life of
him remember now he came by it. His
books showed no record of it, and this
rather increased his uneasiness, for when
ever he made purchase under suspi-
cious circumstances he was careful not
to make any entry of the transaction, to
avoid accidents. Should there be a mys
terry attached to it, it might be exceed
ingly awkward, not to say damaging to
his reputation, if the bracelet should be
recognized by any of Mrs. Briscoe's
friends.
This disagreeable possibility aroused
Mr.. Maurice's apprehensions to such
a pitch that he was strongly inclined to
call upon the lady Immediately and pur-
chase the bracelet back at any price.
Upon reflection, however, he abandoned
the idea partly from fear of exciting
Mrs. Briscoe's suspicious, and partly
because it was highly probable that he
would have an opportunity of acquiring
the bracelet upon his own terms before
many weeks had elapsed. The last con-
sideration quite reconciled him to the
risk he ran IN the meantime, and, al
though his expectations were not real
lied as soon as he anticipated he did not
suffer his anxiety to prey upon his
mind.
At length he received another visit
from Mrs. Briscoe, who was exceedingly
gracious and affable. She made Iar-
ticular inquiries about his health, and,
after chatting pleasantly for few min
utes on general topics, said, confiden-
TALLY:
"Mr. Maurice, 1 have had such
dreadful upset. / don't know When l
have been SO much distressed in my
mind"
Indeed! What is the matter, Mrs.
Briscoe?" inquired Mr.. Maurice, with
solicitude.
my maid-a girl whom implicitly
trusted, and whom I have treated with
every kindness aud indulgence-has
been robbing me shamefully," said Mrs.
Briscoe.
TIN very sorry to hear that" returned
80 T.