The Lambertville record., 1909-11-10

with violence. Up on the stairs the
prefect grappled with O'Rorke, and as
they swayed back and forth with un-
certain footing the light CLEANED from
a stiletto In the latters hand.
1t was the prefect that had called
for help. and before we could reach
them to assist O'Rorke half dozen
of the hotel servants appeared. and
Jim was overpowered. The prefect
disengaged himself with difficulty from
Jim's embrace and stood painting.
Lock this fellow up until police
come from the city" he ordered. But
Hargraves and | interpesed.
whats the trouble. Jim?' | called
to O'Rorke.
The prefeet tried to keep him from
replying. but Jim cried: He stole the
senora's necklace. It's in his pocket"
At this the prefect turned on him
with string of oaths. "Vilainv he
Kissed. You took the necklace. and
IL II had not been fer me the sonora
might have Jared worse. Thank heav-
en-. arrived In time to save her from
your stiletto.'
The retainers wrenched the knife
from O'Rorke's hand, and the crowd
surged up kissing. for nothing excites
the Latin mind like the sight of naked
weapons. The affair was becoming des
perate for O'Rorke, but luckily at this
moment Mr.. Cuthbert pushed through
the crowd, which fell back sullenly as
they recognized the consul.
Hold on there!' he called as the
walters tried to drag Jim away
There must be some mistake. prefect
l know Mr.. O'Rorke quite well. and
no doubt we can settle this affair in
moment"
The prefect interrupted angrily, but
the consul turned his back on him and
asked Jim to explain what had hap
pened.
Il had gone up to my room for this
stiletto. n curio which | wished 10
show my friends on the porch" Jim
explained. land on my return from the
head of the stairs | saw the sonora In
the hands of man who held her by
the throat. l shouted to him to let
go and was surprised TO see IL was the
prefect. who by that time had wrench
ed loose her necklace and slipped 1t
into his pocket. Then, realizing that he
was caught. he rushed at me as though
| was the culprit."
The prefect stamped his foot and
shouted LIAR But the consul held
the floor. and Jim In proof of his hon
esty turned his pockets inside out. As
he emptied his right hand pocket
glimmering gold chain fell from II. nj
the sight of which he staggered as
though he had been struck, Il was
the diamond necklace.
An exclamation broke from the on
lockers, and the prefect. catching sight
of the jewel. sprang down the stairs.
With a malicious shout of triumph he
held 1t up before the view of all.
But "he who laughs last laughs
best" The prefect had overreached
himself, for entangled in the meshes
of the chain was his police whlsris
engraved with his own name. Pedro
Menendos." Unknown to him. 1t had
clung 10 the necklace during the scuf-
6e when. in order TO throw the blame
on O'Rorke, he had transferred 1t to
the latter's pocket
Hargraves and | could not restrain
cheer, and some of the crowd In the
hallway Joined with us, though others
sided with their countryman. The face
of the prefect blanched. but he fell
back on the dignity of his office.
This proves nothing" he said
haughtily.
at proves the necklace was In your
pocket" Ilargraves called out. and
what might have been a general riot
was at this moment prevented by Sc
nora Gareias regalnIng consciousness.
For an instant she swept the crowd
with n bewildered glance; then as her
eyes fell on the prefect she realized
the situation and. with cry of anger.
snatched her necklace from his hands.
"Oh, you migrate" she exclaimed.
'You pretended to love me. but 1t was
only for my jewels. ! owe my life no
doubt to this young man" And she
turned TO O'Rorke. He arrived Just
in time TO save me-" Then as her
hands caught the police whistle she
diseptangled 1t from the chain and
hurled II In the projects face
at Is lie" he reiterated
The crowd. however. easily swayed
from one decision to another. closed In
on the guilty officer and forced him
up on the stairs. In that elevated po-
sltion he became the target for vari-
Gus missiles that chanced to be handy
until. drawing the dress sword that
hung at his side. he brandishcd 1t in
a circle at arms length. In this man.
ner he fought his way through the
crowd and made his escape by rear
door.
Later Hargraves and ] laughingly
suggested that Jim might supplant the
prefect In the senoras affections, but
he declared he had enough of South
American dealings, and we left the
next morning on Pacific steamer