The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-03-06

Sure enough, here's something-i
can't see it distinctly without my
glasses. What is it. Lady Living
! stone?"
1.-The letters S. H. as Miss seaton
describes; cannot deny it"
Deny it! No, my lady, what for
should we deny it? II we are in the
possession of another's bracelet lost
by fraud, and If the discovery will set
this young lady's mind at ease, I
don't think either you or will be the
one to deny it. Examine it for your
self. ma'am." added he, giving it to
Alice.
She turned it about, she put it>6n
her arm. her eyes lighted with the
eagerness of conviction. "It is certain
ly the same bracelet" she affirmed.
1T is not beyond the range of pos
sibility that initials may have been
scratched on this bracelet without it's
being the same" observed Lady Liy-
ingstone
Il think it must be the same. :"
unused Sir Jasper. ut looks suspici-
ous.''
Lady Frances Chenevix understood
you to say you bought this Of Messrs.
Garrard," resumed Miss Seaton.
Lady Livingstone felt rather foolish.
What said was that Messrs. Garrard
were my jewellers. The fact is 1 do
not know exactly where this was
bought; but l did not consider myself
called upon to proclaim that fact to a
young lady who was a stranger to me,
and in answer to questions thought
verging 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 is not SO
much to regain the bracelet as to
penetrate the mystery of its disap-
pearance. Can you not let me know
where you did buy it?"
II cam interposed Sir Jasper;
there's no disgrace in having bought
it where did l got it at a pawn
brokers'"
Alice's heart beat violently A
pawnbroker's! what dreaded discovery
was at hand?
I was one day at the east end OF
London walking past, when l saw
topaz and amethyst cross in a pawn
brokers' window I thought it would
be pretty ornament for my wife, and
l 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 pres
ent worth making. Now, l know my
lady's head had been running on dia-
mond bracelet, and l was tempted to
ask what was the lowest figure he
would put it at. He said it was the
most valuable article of the sort he
had had for long while, the dia-
monds of the first water, worth e400
of anybody's money, but that being
secondhand he could part with it for
$3.50. And bought it. That's where
l got the bracelet. ma'am."
THAT was just the money Colonel
Hope gave for it new at Garrard's,"
said Alice. Two hundred, and fifty
guineas'
Sir Jasper stared at her; and then
broke forth with comical attempt
at rage, for he was one of the best
tempered men in the world.
1.-The old wretch of a Jew! Sold it
to me at secondhand price, as he
called it, for the identical sum it cost
new! Why, he ought to be prosecut-
ed for usury."
ut was just what 1 told you, Sir
Jasper" groaned the lady, you will
go to these low, secondhand dealers,
who always cheat where they can, In
stead OF regular jeweler; and nine
times out of ten you are taken in"
"But your having bought it of this
pawnbroker does not bring me any
nearer the knowing how he procured
it, observed Miss Seaton.
II shall go to him this very day and
ascertain" returned Sir Jasper.
'Tradespeople may not sell stole,
bracelets with impunity"
Easier said than done. The dealer
protested his ignorance and innocence
and declared he had bought it 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.
(To he continued \