The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-11-07

Then tell Mrs. Armatage just what
you want. You can trust her. She
knows her guest and knows how to
act. If Miss Randall has the other
ornaments my power as you call It.
has not been al fault If she has not,
she doubtless can prove property
rights in the bracelet. If there has
been any dishonesty you may be sure
Mrs Armatage is not the woman to
shield it."
And Thaida was right, as she always
is, Mrs Armatages eyes opened in
wonder as she heard the s;ory.
Yes, yes she exclaimed, when
Clarke had finished. Katharine has
them, every one of them. I've seen
them all on her dresser and admired
them. Heavens yes, they may have
been advertised. | never look at the
classified columns. And never asked
Katharine where she got them. Bat.
MI. CLARKE, there can't be anything
wrong. Katherine is in her rooms
now and just 10 prove my faith in her
III call her down here and before all
of You ask her where she got these
t'inEcts. There cannot be anything
wrong with my little ka'harine.'
oh, yes, there can be, aunty."
walled Il tval-chosicd voice and a fair
haired girl staggered from behind the
porticrc and cnpIied into the lap OF
the astonished Mrs Armatage il tor
tcise comb. a cameo, a jeWeled still
etto brooch and a medallion bracelet.
Then she fell at Mrs. Armatage's feet
and buryinG her face in that good
woman's lap. sobbed as if her heart
would break.
Mrs. Armatase soothed her and she
finally lifted her tearstained face and
said:
"Aunty, am very, very wicked and
| want to confess il ALL overheard
You talking and | slipped down with
the things and heard it all. You know
when | first came to Chicago told you
how lucky | was. Every lime almost
| went cut on the street ! found
some beautiful thing. | found all
these. They We're always lying on the
sidewalk just as if some one had just
dropped them. | knew they were not
mine but wanted TO keep them SO
badly. | tried not to look at the classi-
fed ads, and from that moment classi-
fed ads. had a perfect fascination for
me. Whenever | picked up a paper
they were staring at me. At last l
saw one. II just caught my eye:
'Lost-Satsuma medallion brace
let
Il tore up the paper without reading
any farther and told myself l hadn't
read it. | had the bracelet repaired
SO It could not De identified. l never
dared to wear any of them until this
afternoon when ! couldn't resist put
ting on the bracelet, and when Mr.
Clarke said there must be mystery
about it thought l should faint"
Was the bracelet locked when you
found IT, Miss Randall?" asked Clarke,
gently.
Yes, | had to take 1t to locksmith
and have a key fitted for it," said lie
penitent girl as she rose and fed from
her selfinhicted auto-da-fe.
"Do not be too hard on her, Mrs.
Armatage. Just remember what
temptation these things would be to
any Of us women" pleaded Thaida, as
we said good night.
Promptly on the minute next after
noon Miss Atwell's big touring car
rolled up to our door. We received
her in the library and Clarke held in
his hands little jewel case.
If this box contains the jewels you
have lost and I restore them to you,
may | exact of you solemn promise
Miss Atwell?" said Clarke
'I'll promise anything, Mr. Clarke" :"
said the girl, impulsively.
Then promise me first that you will
never wear one of these ornaments
but that you will keep them as sacred
heirlooms for your children, when that
time shall come. Second, that when
you are married to Lieut.. Robinson
you will never ask him more than he
chooses to tell you of his experiences
in the Philippines; and third. if he
ever seems to have buried grief you
will be very gentle with him and
never for one moment let a pang of
jealousy have place in your heart.
Do you promise all this?'
Il PROMISE" said the girl, wonder
ingly, while her woman's curiosity
struggled for the mastery.
Clarke's thoughtful tact was un-
necessary. for Lieut.. Robinson was
destined never to become The husband
of Miss Atwell. Before the war was
out the list of officers killed in puni-
tive expedition against the treacher-
GUS Moros of Mindanao contained his
name.
''And do you believe he really had
a beautiful native wife who once wore
those jewels?" I asked Clarke, when
he showed me the paper.
Sexton, l don't know" was all l
could get out of him.
Copyright, 1908. by w. G. Chapman)
Copyright in Great Britain.)