Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-28

started the police; II was ~sorieDooy
else. You see. the star was hot M
property at all. IL got 1t In Lonoon.
Mr.. Merritt looked up With inVolun-
tary admiration.
You don't mean 70 say as you ni0N
q 7u he asked. "Well, wel!' !.
Chris bent her head lever 10 Gomez,
her agitation. Her shoulders W.
heaving, but not with emotion. inc
warmth of Merritt's agitation nau
moved her to silent laughter, and sne
had made the exact impression that shs
desired.
'I have telegraphed to the lady. VINO
/. more or less a friend Of mine she
soid. "I have urged her TO lake no
further steps in the matter. I fancy
that she is a good and kind girl ana
that-but i reply might come at any
time"
There was a reply o. the way now
as Chris knew perfect y well. the
whole thing had been carefully ar
ranged and planned to the moment Oy
Steel and others.
az dare say they'll let you COW
easy" Merritt sad, 1i7"o 1s1'ateiy,
.'s,:; i.'Il be hot for me. Tv1 copied VI
too many times before. you see.
Eyes, I see," Chris said, Thought
fully. "Mr. Merritt, I've made hp my
mind; IL I had rot-er-borrowed that
star, q would not have been lost,
YOU would not have founi 1t, n there
would have been no trouble. My con-
science would not rest If ! allowed YOU
TO be dragged back into he old lie
again. I am going to save you'll am
going to tell the police that you pawned
that star for me at my Instigation."
Merritt was touched, even 20 tears.
There was not al atom OF ivtlry IN
the ~rascal's composition. II had little
or no heed for the trouble that his ccTr-
panion appeared to be piling up for h"r-
self. but he was touched 20 the depths
OF his soul. Here vas "A clever ciri
who, in her own way, appeared to be q
member Of his profession. who was
prepared to sacrifice herself to save
another. Self-sacrifce il a beautiful
and tender thing, and Merritt had 10
intention Of thwarling II.
DO that, and I'm III pal for hfe'
he said, huskily. "And 1 never went
back on a pal yet. Ask anybody who
really knows me. 'Tain't as II you
weren't one of US, neither. I'd give a
trihe to know what your little game is
here, eh?"
Chris smiled, meaningly. Merritt's
delusion was distinctly to be fostcred.
You shall help me. then, presently"
she said, in a mysterious whisper.
Help me, and keep your own counsel
and there will be the biggest Job you
ever had in your life. Only let "on n
I get ont Of his mess, and we shall see
what we shall see presently"
Merritt looked speeches. admiration.
He had read of this class Of high tone
criminal sin. the gutter stories pe'thled
by certain publishers, but he had never
hoped to meet ore in the hesh. He was
still gazing, e -mouthed, at Chris. as
two men came along the avenue. They
were both in plain clothes, but the!
had policemen writ large ell e
them.
cops, for a million" Merritt CUR
gled, with a pallid face. you can tell
'em when you're asleep. And tney are
after me; they're coming this way. TIN
be all right presently"
IT hope So" Chris said, with q curling
lip. "You look guilty enough now"
Merritt explained that It was merely
the first emotion, and would pas OF
presently. Nor did he boast In vain.
He was quite cool as the officers am
UP and called him by name.
That's me-" Merritt said. Whats
the trouble?" e
A.. A-NnaR~aH IL h0A
no warrant. he said, but, all the same.
he would have to trouble Mr.. Merritt
to accompany him to Moreton Wells.
A diamond star, not yet definitely iden-
tiled, had been handed over to the POI
lice, the same having been pawned by
James Merritt.
That's quite right" Merritt said,
cheerfully. II pawned It for this young
lady here-Miss Lee. OF course, IL IL Is
not her property"
The officers were palpably taken
aback. He knew more than he cared to
say. The star had been pledged by
Merritt, as he cheerfully admitted, but
the owner of the star had lost the gem
in London, under suspicious circum-
stances, in which Miss Lee was mixed
UP. At present IL was not the policy Of
the police to arrest Miss Lee. That
would come later.
II am afraid that there has been a
Misrepresentation altogether" Chris
said. ALLOW me TO explain: Mr.. Mer-
rift, would you step aside for a mo-
ment? I have to speak Of private mat
ters? Thank you. Now, SIR, 1 am quite
prepared to admit that the ornament
pledged does not belong to me. bat to
Miss Henson, whom I met in London.
i took the star by mistake. You may
but I have one very like IT. II
Miss Henson had searched her Jewels
properly she would have found that she
had my star--that I had hers. heard
OF the business quite by accident, and
t~elegraphed to Miss Henson to look
searchingly among her Jewels. She has
a large amount. and might easily have
overiooke5 the star. Here is. a boy
with a telegram. Will you take 1t
him and read II aloud7 1t Is ad-
dressed TO me. yea will find"
1t was signed Enid Henson" II went
on to say that the sender was fearfully
sorry for all the trouble she had caused.
but that she had found Miss Lees star
with her Jewels. Also, she had tele-
graphed at ence to the police at More
ton Wells to 60 no farther.
Looks Ike n mistake" the officer