Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-02-14

cuSe you, Mr. Hope; would not have
mentioned your name in connection
with it, because am sure you are in
nocent; but when it was discovered
that you had been here I could not
deny it."
"The charging me with having taken
| it is absurdly preposterous"' exclaimed
| Gerard, looking first at his uncle and
then at the officer. who accuses
me?"
| II do" said the colonel.
| Then 1 am very sorry 1t is not
somebody else instead Of you, SIR
| Explain. Why?"
Because they would get kindly
horsewhipping.
| Gerard" interrupted Lady Sarah,
do not treat it in that light way. II
you did take it say so and you shall
be forgiven. am sure you must have
been put to it terribly hard; only con-
| fess 1t and the matter shall be hushed
| up"
"No, 1t sha'n't, my lady!" cried the
colonel. II will not have him encour.
aged-I mean felony compounded"
1T SHALL" returned Lady Sarah, 'it
shall indeed. The bracelet was mine,
and ! have right to do as I please.
Believe me, Gerard. will put up with
the loss without murmur, only con-
fess, and let the worry be done with"
Gerard Hope locked at her; little
trace Of shame was there In his coun-
tenance. Lady Sarah" he asked, in a
deep tone, "can you indeed deem me
capable Of taking your bracelet"
''The bracelet was there, sir, and 1t
went. and you can't deny it," uttered
the colonel.
1T was there, fast enough" an
swered Gerard. II held it in my hand
for two or three minutes, and was
talking to Miss Seaton about it. I
was wishing it was mine, and saying
what I should do with it,"
"Oh, Mr.. Hope, pray say no more, -
involuntarily interrupted Alice. You
will make appearances worse
What do you want to screen him
for?" impetuously broke out the col
onel, turning upon Alice. LET him
say what he was going to say
II do not know why I should not
say it," Gerard Hope answered, in, it
must be thought, spirit of bravado
or recklessness, which he disdained to
check. Il said I should spout it."
You'll send off to every pawnshop
in the metropolis, before the nights
over, Mr.. Officer!" cried the choking
colonel, breathless with rage. '"This
beats brass r
But did not take it any more for
having said that" put in Gerard, in q
graver tone. "The remark might have
been made by any one, from duke
downwards, If reduced to his last
shifts, as am. said if it were mine;
did not say would steal to do it.
Nor did l."
II saw him put it down again. said
Alice Seaton, in a calm, steady voice.
"Allow me to speak word, colonel, 3"
resumed Lady Sarah, interrupting
something her husband was about to
say. Gerard, I cannot believe you
guilty; but consider the circumstances
The bracelet was there; you acknowl-
/ edge it; Miss Seaton left the apart
ment whom you did, and went into the
front room; yet when I came up from
dinner, it was there no longer"
The colone! would speak $50 it lies
between you and Miss Seaton,' he put
in. Perhaps you would like to make
believe she appropriated it,
NO." answered Gerard, with flash.
ing eye. ''She cannot be doubted.
would rather take the guilt upon my.
self than allow her to be suspected
Believe me, Lady Sarah, we are both
innocent"
(To be continued)
POUND FOOLISHNESS.