The Ordway new era., 1908-11-06


ton to be at fault"
Then tell Mrs. Armatage Just what
you want. You can trust her. She
knows her guest and knows how to
act. lf Miss Randall has the other
ornaments my power as you call It.
has not been at fault. II she has not,
she doubtless can prove property
rights In the bracelet If there has
been any dishonesty you may be sure
Mrs. Armaia3e is not the woman to
shield it,"
And TEaida was right. as she always
Is. Nrs. Armatase's eyes opened in
wonder g she heard the story
Yes. yes" she exclaimed, when
Clarke had finished. Katharine has
them. evc:y one of them. I've seen
them all 81 ar dresser and admi. ed
them. Rca7e.s yes. they may have
been advertised. never look mt the
classified columns. And never asked
Katharine where she got them. But.
Mr. CLARKE, there cant be anythin.
wrong. Katharine is In her rooms
now and just TO prove my faith in her
I'll call her down here and before all
Of You ask her where she 70; these
trinkc;s. There cannot be anything
wrong with my little Katharine
oh. yes. there can be. ainty."
walled tcar-chokcd voice. and fair.
haired girl staggered from behind the
portlere and enptied into the lap OF
the astonished Mrs. Armataye tor.
toise comb. cameo. n jcweled still.
etto brooch and medallion bracelet.
Then she fell at Mrs. Armatage's feet
and burying her face In that good
woman's lap. soDbed as IL her heart
would break
Mrs. Armatagc soothed her and she
finally lifted her tcar.stained face and
said:
"Aunty. am very, very wicked and
| want TO confess 1t all. | overheard
you talking and | slipped down with
the things and heard II all. You know
when first came to Chicago | told you
how lucky | was. Every time almost
| went out On the street found
some beautiful thing. found all
these. They were always lying on the
sidewalk just as II some one had Just
dropped them. knew they were not
mine but | wanted to keep them SO
badly. tried net TO look at the classi.
fed ads. and from that moment classi.
fled ads. had perfect fascination for
me. Whenever ! picked up paper
they were staring at me. AT last
saw one. 1t just caught my eye:
'Lost-Satsuma medallion brace.
let
Il tore up the paper withou, reading
fn I,Ar sx.l.
read 1t. had the bracelet repaired
so 1t could not DE identified. l never
dared to wear any Of them until this
afternoon when l couldn't resist put
ting on the bracelet, and when Mr..
Clarke said there must be n mystery
about It thought l should faint"
Was the bracelet locked when you
found It, Miss Randall?" asked Clarke,
gently.
Yes. had to take It to a locksmith
and have a key fitted for It," said .Le
penitent girl as she rose and fed from
her self-inflicted auto-da-fc.
do not be too hard OH her. Mrs.
Armatage. Just remember what
temptation these things would be to
any of us women." pleaded Thaida, ms
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.
"1f this box contains the jewels you
have lost and l restore them to you,
may l exact of you n 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, IL he /
ever seems to have buried grief you |
will be very gentle with him and
never for one moment let pang of |
jealousy have place In your heart. !
Do you promise all this?"
II PROMISE" said the girl, wonder
ingly, while her woman's curiosity
struggled for the mastery.
Clarkes thoughtful tact was UNI
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. 1
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?" asked Clarke, when
he showed me the paper.
Sexton, l don't know was all
could get out Of him.
ffvopvriul,t 1ona NV vW n ryt,aou,euN