The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-29
THE DIAMOND CROSS.

he could not nave CHOSEN profession Tor
which he was less fitted, or which was less
to his taste. 4 gentle, retiring, morbidly
sensitive young fellow, who bushes when
be is spoken to, and who shrinks with hor-
ror from the very thought of appearing in
public. IS not exactly the sort of person cal
culated to succeed as a barrister, nor is hs
likely to enjoy the boisterous, noisy, strug-
Cling life which barristers are compelled
to lead.
Why, having gone to the bar, Arthur
Hisluck joined the Doltshire circuit was
further and still deeper mystery In the
first place. be had not a single friend among
the barristers on the circuit; in the second
place, he had not single acquaintance
among the solicitors on the circuit, and in
the third place. he had not single connec-
ton among the public on the circuit. Per-
haps he knew few people out of London,
but il was next to impossible that there
was not some part of provincial England
where he was not quite so utterly friend
less as he was in the shires which formed
the Doltshire circuit.
It cannot be said that the members of
the DOltshire circuit mess took kindly to
Arthur Hisluck. They considered them
selves rather q smart set; they were all
sons OF the country gentry, or of the attor-
neys, brewers or wealthy pawnbrokers of
the district; at any rate, they all had local
connections OF one sort or another, and the
intrusion of one utterly friendless was dis
tasteful to them. Moreover, the circum-
stance made them suspicious of him.
Why did he come where he was absolutely
unknown? Was it because he was equally
unknown elsewhere, or was it because he
did not want to go where he was known?
These were questions. which were dis
cussed privately good deal, and not a
few of the bar agreed with the view enter
tanned and expressed by Mr.. Herman
Potts-the bully of the mess-that the
whole thing looked deuced shady.
It must be admitted that Arthur His
luck's own conduct did not tend to dissi-
pate the suspicious of his fellow barristers.
The young man was, as has already been
said, of a shy and retiring temperament.
He kept himself very much to himself
He vouchsafed no information to the mess
as to his parentage or position. Neither
did he join in the somewhat rough jovial
ity which prevailed in the evening. After
dining with the circuit he quietly with
drew, and going to his own room spent
there the hours which the other members
were devoting to cards, port and hiiarity.
This behavior was so unprecedented, and
seemed to the mess so unnatural, that it
raised cloud of prejudice against him
and did much to confirm the suspicious
which his friendlessness had aroused.
Hisluck joined the circuit at Mudford;
there he was not liked. He went on with
it to Rottenboro; there he was more or less
Wbor ba raanhad nbtor ho faalipn
against him was so pronounced that Her
man Potts felt safe in insulting him at the
dinner table This was too much for Tom
Brightley. Tom was kindly fellow, and
though he knew nothing about Hisluck
and was more or less under the general
prejudice against him, still he resented
Herman Potts behavior toward the friend
less Junior. He took Hisluck's part, and
told the bully that his conduct was not
creditable to himself or to the mess, who
tolerated it. Herman Potts, who like
most DULLES was a coward, mumbled
some excuse and inwardly vowed to take
it out of Hisluck and Brightley yet.
The very next day strange thing hap
pened Herman Potts was a very snowy
dresser, and like most snowy dressers
was also very fond of jewelry. On his
hands were several valuable diamond and
emerald rings, and over his waistcoat hung
heavy watch chain, from the end of
which dangled beautiful diamond cross
of Roman workmanship. Potts was very
proud of this cross which, as he said, be-
sides being Of great intrinsic value, was
curiosity Oh account of its rare construc-
ton. Well, it happened On the day in
question, when Potts was leaving the court
house, TO his surprise and CONSERVATION
he discovered that the ring which con-
nected this Cross to his chain had been cut
almost completely through. Evidently an
attempt had been made to steal it, and
had been very nearly successful. A very
slight pressure completed the severance of
the ring, and MIR. Potts, taking the cross
off, put it carefully in his waistcoat
pocket, thanking heaven for its preser-
walton.
A few minutes later Mr.. Herman Potts
came into the messroom. Of course he was
full to OVERLOOKING of the felonious attempt
that had been made upon his diamond
cross As he ate his soup he talked loudly
of the narrow escape he had had, and he
wondered vastly who the thief was and
how he could get at his watch chain.
You see," he said. II was not out of the
bar seats all day, except when | went to
the robing room at lunch. Now the thief
must have been among the general public,
and you know THERE'S barrier between
their seats and onrs How any man could
reach over that barrier. around me and cut
my watch chain without either me or any
one else seeing him is more than | can un-
derstand"
"He must have cut il when you were
pushing through the crowd TO the robing
room" suggested some one.
mo, il could not have been then"
argued Potts, because went through the
bar door"
But the bar door was crowded" was
the reply.
Eyes, but only by solicitors"
How do you knows" Queried Tom
Brightley, with laugh He would be a
cute fellow who could distinguish at q
glance between a solicitor and thief"
There was O general litter around the Ia
BILE at this sally.
Have Won the violated cross with youtr
some one then asked Potts
Yes, told you didn't lose it
Let us see ne article"
Potts took it out of his pocket and
handed it to the person desiring 10 see 1t.
This gentleman was greatly struck with its
peculiar workmanship, and made some re-
marks TO that effect. Several other mem
bers Of the mess thereupon asked to see it,
and the jewel was handed to the nearest Of
them. This one passed il on 10 the next.
and he 10 the next, and so il began making
the circuit OF the table Meanwhile Mr..
Borman, who posed As an authority on
jewels and jewellers work, as he did On
almost every other topic, entered upon q