The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-02-20
The Diamond Bracelet
BY MRS. HENRY WOOD.
Author of East Lynne. Etc.

"Cleverly done," quoth Gerard, when
he could get his breath. "I saw a
shark after me- Thomas, and had to
make a bolt for it. Your having been
at the door saved me-"
Thomas turned pale.
Mr.. Gerard, you have locked it, and
III put up the chain, if you order me,
but I'm afeared it's going agin the law
to keep out them detectives by force of
arms"
Whats the mans head running on
now?" returned Gerard. "There are
no detectives after me; it was only a
seedy sheriff's officer Pshaw, Thorn
as! there's no worse crime attached to
me than Sigh, suspicion of debt"
I'm sure | trust not sir; only mas
ter will have his own way"
is he at homer"
He's gone to the opera with my
lady. The young ladies are upstairs
alone. Miss Seaton has been ill, sir,
ever since the bother. and Lady Fran
ces is staying at home with her."
III go up and see them. If they
are at the opera, we shall be snug and
SAFE"
"Oh, Mr.. Gerard, had you better go
up, do you Think" the man ventured
to remark. eff the Colonel should
| come to hear Of it,
How can he? You are not going
to tell him, and 1 am sure they will
not. Besides, there's no help for it.:
l can't go out again for hours. And,
Thomas, if any demon should knock
and ask for me, l am gone toto an
evening party up at Putney; went out
you know by the side door"
| Thomas watched him run up the
stairs, and shook his head. "One can't
help liking him, with it all; though
where could the bracelet have gone
to if he did not take it?'
The drawing rooms were empty, and
Gerard made his way to a small room
that Lady Sarah called her "boudoir."
There they were-Alice buried in the
pillows of an invalid's chair and Lady
Frances careening about the room, ap-
parently practicing some new dancing
step. She did not see him; Gerard
danced up to her, and took her hand,
and joined in it.
When the cats away the mice can
play" cried Gerard treating them to a
step.
Mr.. Hope" demonstrated Alice, lift
ing her feeble voice, chow can you in
dulge these spirits while things are so
miserable?"
"Sighing and groaning won't make
them light" he answered, sitting down
on a sofa near to Alice Here's a seat
for you Fanny, come along" he added,
pulling Frances to his side. "First
and foremost, has anything come to
light about that mysterious bracelet?"
mot yet" sighed Alice. But I
have no rest; am in hourly fear of
it,
"Fear!" uttered Gerard in astonish-
ment. Alice WINGED and leaned her
head upon her hand; she spoke in a
low tone.
'You must understand what mean,
Mr.. Hope. The affair has been pro-
ductive of so much pain and annoy
ance to me, that l wish it could be ig-
nored forever"
Though it left me under cloud .
said Gerard. "You must pardon me if
l cannot agree with you. My constant
hope is that it may all come to day.
light; I assure you have specially
mentioned it in my prayers"
pray don't, Mr.. Hope" reproved
Alice.
I'm sure have cause to mention it,
for it is sending me into exile; that
and other things"
ct is guilty only who flee, not the
innocent" said Frances. you don't
mean what you say, Gerard"
Don't 1! There's certain boat adj
vertised to steam from London bridge
wharf tomorrow, wind and weather
permitting, and it steams me with it.
] am compelled to fly my country"
BE serious and say what you
mean"
Seriously, then, am over head and
ears in debt. You know my uncle
stopped my allowance in the spring
and sent me-metaphorically the
dogs. 1 had a few liabilities, and they
have all come down upon me. But for
this COMPOUNDED bracelet affair, there's
no doubt the Colonel would have set
tied them; rather than let the name of
Hope be obviously banded by the
public; he would have expended his
ire in growls and have gone and done
it. But that is over now, and l go to
take up my abode in some renowned
colony for desolate English, beyond
the pale of English lock-ups. Bou-
logne or Calais, or Dieppe or Brussels
l may see: and there may be kept for
years."
Neither of the young ladies answered
Immediately; they saw the facts were
serious, and that Gerard was only
making light Of it before them.
How shall you live?" questioned
Alice. "You must live there as well
as here; you cannot starve."