Hutchinson gazette., 1901-12-26


walked with him into the hall. As
they stood there, who should enter
but Colonel Hope, Gerard's uncle He
started back when he saw Gerard,
"C-a--can believe my sensos?"
suffered he, "Mr Netherlelgh, Is he
ono OF your guests?"
He Is here on business" was the
merchants reply, pass on, Colonel"
mo, SIR, | will not pass on" cried
tho enraged Colonel, who had not
rightly caught the word business. "or
II do pass on, II will only be to warn
your guests TO take care OF their jew
elry, mo, SIR" he added, turning to
his nephew, you can come back, can
you, when the proceeds OF your theft
Is spent You have been starring 1t
In Calais, | hear; how long did the
bracelet last you to live upon?"
Sir" answered Gerard, with n pale
face, 1T has been starving rather than
starring, asserted my innocence at
the time, Colonel Hope, and | repeat
II now"
"lnnocence!" ironically repeated the
Colonel, turning to all sides OF the
hall, as II he took delight In parading
the details OF the unfortunate past,
THE trlnkets were spread on table
In Lady Sarah's own house. You came
stealthlly into it-after being forbid
den II for another fault--went stealth
lily into the room, and the next min
ute the diamond bracelet was missing,
II was owing to my confounded folly
In listening to parcel OF women that
| did not bring you to trial at the
time; have only once regretted not
doing It, and that has been ever since,
A little wholesome correction at the
penltentiary might have made an hon
est man Of you, Goodnight, Mr.. Meth
erleigh II you encourage him In your
house, you don't have me-
Now another gentleman had entered
and heard this; some servants also
heard 1t. Colonel Hope, who firmly
believed in his nephews guilt, turned
OFF peppery and indignant; and Ger
ard, giving vent to sundry unnephew-
like expletives strobe after him. The
Colonel made dash into n street cab
and Gerard walked towards the city.
Lady Frances Chenevix, her dress
right again, at least to appearance,
was sitting to get her breath after a
whirling waltz Next to her sat a
lady who had also been whirling
Frances did not know her.
"You are quite exhausted; we kept
1t up too long," said the cavalier in
attendance on the stranger. what
can / get for your"
My fan; there It Is. Thank you.
Nothing else"
What an old creature to dance
herself down." thought Frances
She's 40, II she's a day"
The lady opened her fan and pro.
ceeded to use 1t, the diamonds of her
rich bracelet cleaned right in the eyes
Of Lady Frances Chenevlx. Frances
looked at 1t and started, she strained
her eyes and looked again; she bent
nearer to 1t and became agltated
with her emotion. II her recollection
did not play her false that was the
lost bracelet.
She dIscerned her sister, Lady Adela
Netherlelgh, and glided up to her.
"Adela, who is that lady?" she
asked pointing to the stranger.
II don't know who she is," replied
Lady Adela, carelessly. II did not
catch the name, They came with the
Cadogans,"
"The idea Of your having people in
your house that you don't know" In
dignantly spoke Frances, who was
working herself into a fever. Where's
Sarah, do you know that?"
I'm the card room, glued to the
whist table"
Lady Sarah, however, had unglued
herself, for Frances only turned from
Lady Adela to encourage her.
II do believe your lost bracelet is
in the room,' she whispered in aglta-
tlon. 81 think have seen 1t"
"Impossible! responded Lady Sarah
Hope.
lTo ba continued