The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-05
CHAPTER IV.-COntinued.
Told by Noel Brent, Who Is in Love
With the Home Secretary's
Daughter.

Told by Noel Brent, Who Is in Love
With the Home Secretary's
Daughter.
Observation-Disclosures
Il do ask you to believe that" Juli-
cite half sobbed, her glorious eyes
swimming in tears. ttThe contents of
that caae are sacred - me. It lis
something that-that if seen, even by
honorable men like you and your
gendarmes here, will hurt me to the
heart-to the heart. To me what lies
hidden there is sacred. To others it
lights T have ever been fortunate
enough to bring smiles to your lips or
tears to your eyes, by those smiles, by
those tears. believe in me, spare me
now
"Mademoiselle.' said the commits
sary of police, gravely and with dig
nifty, 1T is a grief to me that I must
refuse such a prayer-and from you,
Of all women. But my duty forbids
me to grant it. I must know what is
hidden here"
Even yet Juliette would not abandon
hope. She caught sight of his hand as
again the fingers touched the metal
clasp. IF I were rich I would give
you and your men all I have in the
world,' she stammered, in passion
of pleading. But have been extrav-
agant-I have saved next to nothing.
Still, what have is yours if
MAIDEN oiselle, there can be no
such \if!'" pronounced the French
man, sternly.
With all my soul I strove to draw
Juliette's eyes to mine, for with them
I might have told her something. But
I could, not compel her to gaze.
Trembling, painting, all the actress
,, forgotten, only the woman in her left,
she darted at the case and made g.
! wild attempt to snatch it from under
!! the lean brown hand. What she would
have done with it If she had succeed
ed don't know, nor, perhaps, did she,
unless her one hope was that, being
still men, the police would not wrest
it from her by force, even if I per-
mitted them to try. But she did not
succeed.
The commissary of police caught the
| redleather case off the table before
her white fingers could seize it, and
| taking quick step back before JUL
cite could fling herself upon him, he
began fumbling with the clasp which
held the two leaves of the case to-
gether.
Thwarted, desperate, all strength
seemed drained from her body as hope
died in her soul. With a moan she tot
tered back, and must have fallen had
I not sprung forward to give her sup
port against my shoulder. Three
words whispered close to her ear,
| but she did not hear them. Fasci-
mated, her eyes were on the leather
case, which did not open as easily as
might have been supposed.
Twice. thrice, the commissary OF
police tried the fastening, then in q
hot fit of impatience he tore the two
sides of the case apart.
Something fell out-something that
flashed as it fell like the arch Of g
cascade as It leaps from a cliff anC
carries with ia a rainbow. Incredu.
lous, amazed, Juliette's eyes followed
the cataract of shimmering light; an6
I, too, only less dumbfounded thar
she, gazed at it in speeches. aston
ishment. For some odd development
in the plot had been indeed prepared
since the finding Of the red leather
case in the sofa. but had not beer
!; prepared for this, nor evidently hat
the police. Their superior officer gave
vent to grunt of surprise, and
) STOPPING, picked up the thing Which
had fallen from the case almost will
reverence. 1t was the most magnif
cent diamond necklace that had eve
seen.
tSacre blue!" he CALCULATED beneath
his breath. But neither Juliette nor
uttered a sound. She still leant upo1
: my shoulder, but she was no longe
limp-haf dead. I felt her pulse
leap; I felt her begin again to live
And her silence was pregnant.
would give birth to new schemes, ney
hopes, were she granted but a mo
ment's breathing space.
Where, then, is the document?
the man rnuttered.
This was all that the dauntless wo
man needed. What document p" sh
inquired, controlling her voice to
semblance of itself.
But that question was not to be an
swered by diplomat, which wa
doubtless her reason for asking 1t, an,
to gain time.
tThe contents Of the case are no
what / was led to expect, mademoi
selle," said the officer Of police.
LED. am certain, by a cowardl!
dark she retorted, the slow colo
creeping back to her death whit
cheeks. cit is not your fault. I d,
not blame you. But you see, I toll.
you the truth. These diamonds
she pointed an unsteady finger-"tel
if you have any consideration for
much-aggrieved woman, you will tel
it to no one else. And you will return
to me my property without furthe
parley. I have been made to suffe
enough"
Then million pardons, mademoi
selle, and of you, also, monsieur. sal
the commissary Of police, placing Il
the beautiful outstretched hands tn
iqueer, unsuitable leather-case with it
scintillating burden.
.'You believe now that my frien
has brought me nothing treasonabl
' from England, or will you loo.
! farther demanded Juliette, almos
gaily Now that you know the wors
lyou may search as you please.