The Red Cloud chief., 1889-01-18

him an elderly msa. Who had the aecxlacs
In his hand.
MAY l ask sou vaer you go. thar ne
said.
"I-I-ooush. it." she replied in . he's.
tating, CONFUSED way.
90! whom did you buy"
20. os-of-can I get ten doiiars For .tr'
Sh had q confused idea that there vas
something wrong. and . b~eyyiiierily sense
OF not knowing Just what she was saving.
She wanted 70 get her ten dollars q 20
away as quickly as possible.
"You Will have TO tell all you know abou,
this" said the nan . little severely. This
necklace Is worth several times ten dollars,
and IL was sold by this clerk . few weeks
ago TO a lady living in this city. Since :ha;
time il has been stolen, with other !ewe,ry,
some Of which has been found in di1eren:
pawn shops: but the thief 10 still at large.
Now may be il will be eas;e: for you 20 tell
me all about it than il would be 10 tell i: in
court"
I'm court - stolen - thief.r the words
seemed burning into poor Polly's brain.
Co." she gssped, Il did'n: ssel, il! Idon't
know-I-you can have il, sir"
The clerk ran quickly around the counter.
and caught her By the arm as she turned 70
walk away. She glanced up II him with a
look OF bewilderment in her innocent face
and then tainted away.
When she recovered Consciousness. she
found herself lying on q sofa In the little
rear Office. Several men were standing
around her. and she noticed. with a little
shiver, hat = policeman stood near the door.
Now. my child" said u gray-haired nan.
after a few moments. wedon'tres.iy think
you stole the necklace. but we want TO find
out who did. Please tell Us all about how
the necklace came into your possession"
The kindly tono OF the man reassurej
Polly. and she told her story simply. in q
manner that convinced most Of her hearers
Of its truth. One member Of the Arm. how
ever. scenes a little incrcdulous.
with whom are you staying in the c!ty!'
he asked.
with Mr. James Martins fami!y on
B street"
every well. I shall 20 with you 20 Mr..
Martins house, and see how much Of your
story is true"
Polly's tears and confusion only strength
encd the man in his resolve, aud she Wa
forced 70 walk home with him. feeling moro
than ever like . criminal.
Mr.. Martin happened 10 be At home. and
easily convinced roliy's escort tina, she had
told hin ths truth: but she could not shake
on her feelings Of intense chagriu and
humiliation.
The next day she gladly turned her face
homeward, resolved 10 tell the whole story
70 her parents AT once. II was harder than
ever to do thisa after she had bought morn
ing paper from q newsboy. and found in it
her own name. In big. bia.k letters. 1t tbs
kn.l 80 o-~ Skn .>nA -N r0aA h,N
lowered her vail. and sat in fearful silence,
her head leaning against the car window ali
the way home.
She spared herself nothing when she was
alone with her parents. but told them the
whole story. aud then showed them the
paper in which her name appeared. and in
which an inconsiderate reporter had
smartly referred to her - ~ ain audver-
liant youn: miss FROM the rural districts"
who hal 'shone for . brief season in
fashionable society, in Mrs. Ks pearls"
snow. YOU see. my dear. what has como
from your first attempt to keep something
from mother" said Mrs. Prinsle. in =
kindly tone, as she sat by Poily's bedside.
bathing her burning temples in cool water,
and soothing her "a best she could.
II tell you, Polly, dear, it's never safe for
girls to do any thing mother can't De told
about. Children could 80 often save them
selves lots Of misery. IL they never did any
thing they wouldn't be willing for ma and
pa TO know all about. Now you 30 - slesp
soon a. you can. and We'll never speAa OK
the matter again after this"
The peddler never came that way again,
and they never knew how the necklace
came into his possession. II seemed IN
likely that he was aware OF its rea, value
when he sold it to Polly. He might, now
ever. have been afraid 10 keep it longer in
his possession. and suddenly determined TO
sell II for what he could. and rid himself Of
II.
For a long time Polly had . horror Of b.
ing summoned TO the city to testify against
criminals. but il they were caught she
never knew il. She does Know that IL is
70 cultivate ones vanity, and
q cir! is never too old 10 make = CONT
dante o: her mother. L.. Harbour, il
I0xsh's Companion.