Hutchinson gazette., 1901-12-26

can't see II distinctly without X,
glasses. What is II, Lady I,lyirK'
stone2" nh
"The letters 8, II, as Miss sehi
describes; | cannot deny IT, IA
Deny III No, my LADY, what Il
should we deny lt2 II we are in
possession of another's bracelet ldb
by fraud and II the discovery viii adl
this young lady's mind at eaee \
don't think either you or will be the
one to deny 1t, Examine II for your
SELF ma'am," added he, giving Il Ia
Alice.
She turned II about, she put II oil
her arm, her eyes lighted with the
eagerness OF conviction, ut is certain
ly the same bracelet she affirmed
ut is not beyond the range OF pos
slbility that initials may have been
scratched on this bracelet without itg
being the same" observed Lady Liv-
| ingstone.
II think II must be the same"
unused Sir Jasper 1T looks suspicl-
GUS" N.
Lady Frances Cheneyix understoH
you to say you bought this Of MeaarS
Garrard," resumed Miss Seaton,
Lady Livingstone felt rather foollN
What ! said was that Messrs. Garral
were my jewellers. The fact is I Y
not know exactly where this wa
bought; but did mot consider myself
called upon to proclaim that fact TO N
young lady who was stranger TO me.
and in answer to questions | thought
verglng on impertinence,"
"Her anxiety, scarcely less than my
own, may have rendered her abrupt"
replied Alice, by way Of apology for.
Lady Frances. "our hope ia not so
much to regain the bracelet as 10
penetrate the mystery Of Its disap-
pearance, Can you not let me know
where you did buy III"
II can" lnterposed Sir Jasper;
there's no disgrace In having bought
1t where l did, l got 1t at u pawn
brokers'"
Alice's heart beat violently. A
pawnbrokers! what dreaded discovery
was at hand? 1
IT was one day at the east end OF
London walking past, when saw a
topaz and amethyst cross in a pawn
brokers' window, I thought 1t would
be pretty ornament for my wife, and
| went in and asked to look at IT.. In
talking about Jewelry with the master,
he reached out this diamond brace
let, and told me that would be a pres
ent worth making. Now, know my
lady's head had been running on a dia-
mond bracelet, and was tempted to
ask what was the lowest figure he
would put 1t at, He said 1t was the
most valuable article of the sort he
had had for long while, the dia-
monds Of the first water, worth 940e
Of anybody's money, but that being
secondhand he could part with II for
e25O. And bought 1t, That's whore
got the bracelet. ma'am."
THAT was just the money Colonel
Hope gave for 1t new at Garrard's."
said Alice, Two hundred and fifty
gulneas"
Sir Jasper stared at her; and then
broke forth with a comical attempt
at rage, for he was one of the best
tempered men in the world.
"The old wretch Of Jewl Sold IL
to me at a secondhand price, as he
called 1t, for the identical sum 1t cost
new! Why, he ought to be prosecut-
ed for usury."
1T was just what | told you, Sir
Jasper" groaned the lady, you will
go to these low, secondhand dealers,
who always cheat where they can, ipsr
stead Of regular Jeweler; and nig
times out of ten you are taken in."
But your having bought 1t of tlNF
pawnbroker does not bring ,NT
nearer the knowing how he pftM ~,
It," observed Miss Seaton. ~
II shall 80 to him this very day and
ascertain" returned Sir Jasper.
"Tradespeople may not sell stolen
bracelets with impunity." tp
Easier said than done. The dealer
protested his ignorance and innocence
and declared he had bought 1t in the
regular course OF business, at one Of
the pawnbroker's periodical sales.
And the man spoke the truth, and the
detectives were again applied to.
ITO be continued.)