The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-06-24


morals are Turkish" He paused for
a moment, then quilted the room.
Pauline called him back, but the clos
ing of the door drowned her voice.
Returning to the breakfast table, she
opened the letter from Mr.. Leftwich,
and read it, frowningly.
Dear Lady Belljoy: Sorry I can't
comply with your request. / quite ex-
pected you might want to borrow the
necklace. 1t is in the bond, as you
know, that you can ransom it, without
repayment of the $500, by coming to
fetch it yourself. You can visit my
fiat without any risk of being recog-
nized, in the way have already ex-
planned Meanwhile, l am taking good
care of your family heirloom by wear
ing it round my own unworthy neck.
Yours ever,
VICTOR LEFTWICH.
"Odious beast" said Lady Belljoy,
with a stamp Of her little foot that
made the coffee cups tinkle.
During the next three days Lady Bell
Joy made fruitless attempts to raise
the ransom. Several friends disap-
pointed her, others were quite unable
to lend so large sum at short notice.
Most of her jewelry was in the hands
of a money-lender, and to this man,
there is reason to suppose, she applied
in vain. Parliament was to be opened
on Tuesday, but it was not until Sum
day evening that Lady Bellioy ab1n-
doned hope. Her husband was away
in the country. A verbal confession
she might have braved, but no doubt
she shrank from telling him by letter
why she needed $500. The poor little
lady spent a miserable and lonely Sab
bath, denying herself to all visitors.
Hour after hour she sat listlessly in
her boudoir trying to frame decision.
She had to choose between making a
full confession and visiting the fiat of
an unprincipled man. She recognized
the danger. Possibly she might have
found some means Of tricking him,
but she feared to rely upon strategy.
At midnight she went to bed, but
could not sleep. By her bedside lay
some novels and a dainty little revol-
yer. Belljoy likes her to be thus
armed during his absence, and has
taught her to use the weapon. The
novels bored her just as much as if
she had been a professional reviewer.
At last she turned off the electric
lights and lay brooding the darkness.
lo+ I'D Pol1iOu Q
reused by an unfamiliar sound. In a
moment she was wide awake. Sitting
up in bed, she listened intently. Some
body was at the door of her room, and
was turning the handle. Her quick
ears caught the sound of breathing,
and she was sure that the door was
being cautiously opened. Lady Belljoy
felt no fear. Allowing the intruder
time to enter, she grasped her revolver
and suddenly turned on the lights.
Hands upv' she said, quietly, as
she looked down the sights at stout
man in a fur cap.
"Well, I'm jiggered" said the burg
lar, regarding her ladyship with frank
astonishment.
"Hands upw repeated Lady Belljoy.
"And before 1 count three. One
| two"
The burglar complied.
"All right. me lady" he said. This
is your DEAL I'd a notion the room
was empty
Il suppose I really ought to shoot
| voY1 - said ,odv RnlioV
"No need of that" said the burglar.
Lord, you're a plucky lady, and a
pretty one, too I've seen your lady
ships portraits in the papers many
time, but they don't 'alf come up to
you, me lady, not 'alf."
"You sit down on that chair" said
Lady Belljoy, land don't attempt to
move till my maid comes"
"'Alf mo-, me lady," pleaded the
burglar. mo need to ring. cause I've
| disconnected the battery"
tAt any rate you are at my mercy"
said Lady Belljoy. Il can hit an ace
of hearts at twelve PAGES"
you're a marvel" said the burglar,
admiringly. "Bless your art, l
wouldn't hurt an air of your cad. I've
| got gals Of my own"
"Then it's a pity you don't try to
support them honestly"
That's just what l want to do, me
lady. Give you my word, was going
to retire from the profession this
month. This was the very last crib
1 meant to crack. My poor girls II be
terrible upset This re means seven
years chokey for me-"
'In that case" said Lady Belljoy,
"and for the sake of your family. l