The Lamar register., 1902-02-26
The Diamond Bracelet
Ey MRS. HENRY WOOD.
Author, OF East Lynne. Etc
CHAPTER XVI.


man one evening in the coming twf-
light; towering. gaunt skeleton
whose remarkably long arms and legs
looked little more than skin and bone
The arms were fully exposed to view,
since their owner, though he possessed
and wore a waistcoat, dispensed with
the use of shirt. An article. once
coat, lay on the floor, to be donned
at will-if it could be got into Tor
the holes. The man sat on the hoor
in corner, his head finding resting
place against the wall, and he had
dropped into a light sleep, but II ever
famine was depicted in face, 1t was
in his. Unwashed, unshaven, with
matted hair and feverish lips; the
cheeks were hollow, the nostrils
white and pinched, and the skin
around the mouth had blue tinge.
Some one tried and shook the door; 1t
aroused him, and he started up. but
only to cover in bending attitude
and listen.
II hear you." cried a voice. How
are you tonight, Joe? Open the door.
The voice was not one he knew; not
one that might be responded to.
DO you call this politeness. Joe
Nichols? II you don't open the door,
shall take the liberty of opening 1t for
myself, which will put you to the
trouble of mending the fastenings
afterwards"
who are you?" cried Nichols. read
ing determination in the voice. I'm
gone to bed, and can't admit folks
tonight"
Gone to bed at o'clock?'
Yes: I'm ILL.,"
II will give you one minute. and
then I come in. You will open 1t If
you want to save trouble"
Nichols yielded to his fate and
opened the door.
The gentleman-he looked like one
cast his keen eyes around the room.
There was not vestige of furniture
in it; nothing but the bare. dirty
walls. from which the mortar crum-
bled. and the bare. dirty boards.
What did you mean by saying you
were gone to bed, eh?"
so | was. l was asleep there"
pointing to the corner, and there's
my bed. What do you want?" added
Nichols, peering at the strangers
face in the gloom of the evening, but
seeing it imperfectly. for his hat was
drawn low over it.
"a little talk with you. The last
sweepstake you got into"
The man lifted his face and burst
forth with such eagerness that the
stranger could only arrest his own
words and listen.
"It was a swindle from beginning to
end. I had scraped together the ten
shillings to put in it, and l drew the
right horse and was shufiled out of
the gains and l have never had my
dues, not a farthing of 'em. Since then
l have been i'll. and l can't get about
to better myself Are you come, sir,
to make it right?"
"Some''-the stranger coughed-
friends of mine were in it, also." said
he; land they lost their money"
Everybody lost it; the getters-up
bolted with all they had drawn into
their fingers. Have they been took.
do you know?"
''All in good time; they have left
their trail. So you have been ill, have
you?"
Ill! Just take sight of me!
There's an arm for big man."
He stretched out his naked arm for
inspection; it appeared as If touch
would snap it. The stranger laid his
hand upon its fingers. and his other
hand appeared to be stealing furtively
toward his own pocket.
II should say this looks like starva-
ton, joe"
"Some'at nigh akin to it."
A pause of unsuspicion and the
handouts were clapped on the aston
ished man. He started up with an
oath.
No need to make noise. Nichols"
said the detective with a careless air.
II have got two men waiting outside"
Il swear l wasn't in the plate rob-
berry" passionatelv uttered the man.
II knew of it, but I didn't join .'em.
and 1 never had the worth of salt
spoon after it was melted down. And
they call me a coward, and they leave
me here to starve and die! l swear
l wasn't in it."
"Well, we'll talk about the plate
robbery another time" said the officer.
as he raised his hat; you have got
those bracelets on, my man, for an
other sort of bracelet. A diamond one.
Don't you remember me?"
The prisoners mouth fell.
II thought that was over and done
with all this time-I don't know what
you mean,'' he added, correcting him
self.
NO" said the officer. Its just be-
ginning. The bracelet is found and
has been traced to you. You were
clever fellow. and l had my doubts of
you at the time; thought you were
ton nIovor tn IN long"