Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-11-06

Then tell Mrs. Armatage just what
you want. You can trust her. She
knows her guest and knows how to
act. II Miss Randall has the other
ornaments my power as you call II.
has not been at 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 Thai6a was right. as she always
is. Mrs. Armatage's eyes opened in
wonder % she heard the story.
Yes. ycJ.' she exclaimed. when
Clarke had finished. katharine has
them. ev2:y one of them. I've seen
them all ea Ter dresser and admired
them. 1;ea7e..s yes. they may have
/ been advertised. neyer look at the
classified columns. And I never asked
Katharine where she got them. But.
Mr.. Clarke, there cant be anything
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 got these
trinkets. There cannot he anything
wrong with my little Katharine"
oh. yes, there can be. aunty."
walled tearchoked voice. and n fair
haired girl staggered from behind the
pcrtiere and emptied into the lap OF
the astonished Mrs. Armataye a tor
tcise comb. cameo. a jeweled still
rtto brooch and n medallion bracelet.
Then she fell at Mrs. Armatage's feet
and burying her face In that good
woman's lap, sobbed as II her heart
would break.
Mrs. Arnatagc soothed her and she
finally lifted her tcar-stained face and
said:
"Aunty. am very. very wicked and
| want TO confess II all. ! overheard
you talking and slipped down with
the things and heard II all. You know
when first came to Chicago I told you
how lucky was. Every time almost
! went ont 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 not to look at the classi-
fed ads. and from that moment classi.
fed ads. had perfect fascination for
me. Whenever ! picked up a paper
they were staring at me. At last
| saw one. II just caught my eye:
"'Lost-Satsuma medallion brace.
let
Il tore up the paper without reading
any farther and told myself hadn't
read II. I had the bracelet repaired
SO 1t could not ne identified. never
dared to wear any Of them until this
afternoon when I couldn't resist put
ting on the bracelet, and when Mr.
Clarke said there must be mystery
about 1t I thought ! should faint
Was the bracelet locked when you
found It, Miss Randall?" asked Clarke,
gently.
Yes. had to take II to n locksmith
and have n key fitted for it," said lie
penitent girl as she rose and fed from;
her self-inficted 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 a little Jewel case.
III this box contains the Jewels you
have lost and restore them to you.
may ! exact OF you n solemn promise
Miss Atwcll?' 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. II he
ever seems 10 have a 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.
Clarkes thoughtful tact was IN
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 a 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 ] |
could get out of him.