Hutchinson gazette., 1901-12-12
The Diamond Bracelet
Cy MRS. HENRY WOOD.
Author OF ENst Lynne. Etc


"Cleyerly done" quoth Gerard, when
he could get his breath, II saw a
shark after mo, Thomas. and had to
make bolt for IT, Your having been
at the door saved me-"
Thomas turned pale,
Mr., Gerard, you have locked II, and
I'll put up the chain II you order me,
but I'm afeared It's going agln the law
to keep out them detectives by force OF
arms"
whats the mans head running on
now?" returned Gerard, "rhere are
no detectives nfter me; 1t was only II
seedy sheriff's officer. Pshaw, Thorn
asl there's no worse crime attached to
me than a slight suspicion of debt"
I'm sure | trust not, SIR only mas
ter will have HIS own way"
rs he at homer"
Hes gone to the opera with my
lady. The young ladies are upstairs
alone, Miss Seaton has been Ill, sir,
ever since the bother, and Lady Fran
ces IN staying ut home with her."
"Ill go up and see them, II they
are at the opera, VIC shall be snug and
safe"
"0h, Mr.. Gerard, had you better so
up, do you think" the man ventured
to remark III the Colonel should
come to hear Of It."
"IIow Gun he? You are not going
to tell him, and am sure they will
not. Besides, there's no help for 1t;
l can't 30 out again for hours. And,
Thomas, II any demon should knock
and ask for mo, am gone Toto an
evening party up at Putney; went out
you know by the side door"
Thomas watched him run up the
stairs, and shook his head. "one can't
help liking him, with 1t all; though
where could the bracelet have gone
to II he did not take ~"
The drawing rooms were empty, and
Gerard made his way to small room
that Lady Sarah called her "boudolr." ."
There they were-Allce buried In the
pillows of an invalid's chair and Lady
Frances careenng about the room, ap-
parontly practicng some new dancing
step. She did not see him; Gerard
danced up to her, and took her hand,
and Joined in It,
when the cats away the mice can
play" cried Gerard, treating them to n
step
"Mr Hope" demonstrated Alice lift
ing her feeble voice, "how can you in
dulge these spirits while things are so
mlserable?"
"Sighing and groaning won't make
them light" he answered, sitting down
on a sofa near to Alice. Here's seat
for you, Fanny, come along" he added,
pulling Frances to his side. First
and foremost, has anything come to
light about that mysterious bracelet?"
Not yet" sighed Alice, "But
have no rest; | am In hourly fear of
! IT,"
"Fear!" uttered Gerard In astonish-
ment Alice WINGED and leaned her
head upon her hand; she spoke In q
low tone.
you must understand what l mean,
Mr.. Hope, The affair has been pro-
ductive Of so much pain and annoy
ance to me- that | wish 1t could be ig-
nored forever"
Though 1t left me under a cloud"
said Gerard. you must pardon me II
cannot agree with you. My constant
hope is that It may all come to day
light; assure you have specially
mentioned 1t in my prayers"
pray don't, Mr., Hope reproved
Alice.
I'm sure have cause to mention It,
for It Is sending me into exile; that
and other things"
ut is guilty only who fee, not the
innocent" said Frances. "You don't
mean what you say, Gerard"
Don't /! There's a certain boat ad-
vertised to steam from London bridge
wharf tomorrow, wind and weather
permitting, and it steams mo with 1t.
! am compelled to fly my country"
"Be serious and say what you
mean."
Seriously, then, am over head and
ears in debt, You know my uncle
stopped my allowance In the spring
and sent me-metaphorically-to the
dogs. had a few liabilities, and they
have all come down upon me. But for
this confounded bracelet affair, there's
no doubt the Colonel would have set
tied them; rather than let the name of
Hope be dubiously banded by the
public; he would have expended his
ire In growls and have gone and done
1t, But that is over now, and go to
take up my abode In some renowned
colony FOR desolate English, beyond
the pale OF English loCk-ups. Bou-
logne or Calais. or Dieppe or Brussels
may see; and there may be kept for
years."
Neither OF the young ladies answered
Immediately; they saw the facts were
serious, and that Gerard was only
making light Of 1t before them,
"How shall you live2" questioned
Alice. "You must live there as we'll
ne hera, vnu nannot atarvpO