Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-03-07

I .Sure enough. here's something i
can't see 1t distinctly without my
glasses. What is it, Lady Living
| stOne?"
The letters S. H. as Miss Seaton
describes; I cannot deny It
DENY it! No, my lady. what for
should we deny 1t? 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,
don't think either you or will be the
one to deny it. Examine it for your
self, ma am" added he, giving it K
Alice
She turned it about, she put it or
her arm, her eyes lighted with the
eagerness of conviction. 1T is certain
ly the same bracelet" she affirmed.
cit 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 Lv-
ingstone.
II think it must be the same"
unused Sir Jasper. 1T 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 do
not know exactly where this was
bought; but did not consider myself
called upon to proclaim that fact to
young lady who was stranger to me.
and in answer to questions thought
verging on impertfnence."
"FIer 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 it's disap-
pearance. Can you not let me know
where you did buy it?' ,..r
II cam interposed Sir Jasper;
there's no disgrace in having bought
it where did. I got it at a pawn
brokers'"
Alice's heart beat violently. A
pawn brokers'! what dreaded discovery
was at hand?
IT was one day at the east end OF
London walking past, when I saw a
topaz and amethyst cross in pawn
brokers' window. I thought it would
be a pretty ornament for my wife, and
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
emit worth making. Now, I know my
lady's head had been running on a dia-
mond bracelet and I 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 a long while, the dia-
monds Of the first water, worth 9400
of anybody's money, but that being
secondhand he could part with it for
$3.50. And I bought it. That's where
got the bracelet. ma'am."
THAT was just the money Colonel
Hope gave for it new at Garrafd'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.
"The old wretch of a Jew! Sold it
to me at a secondhand price, as he
called it, for the identical sum it cost
new! Why, he ought to be prosecut-
ed for usury."
1T was just what 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
does not bring me any
nearer the knowing how he procured
it," observed Miss Seaton.
81 shall go to him this very day and
ascertain" returned Sir Jasper.
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 be continued.)