The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-04-04

Copyright. by W. G. chapman.)

lyn easily. 10 Degln tn
Whom do you want?" interrupted
the man again, with almost a shrek.
Il don't live here; I'm merely calling
on a friend-Walt Barrett. l was told
he had this apartment"
Instinct told Jocelyn that this was
Walt Barrett himself.
II don't live here either, MI. Bar
rett," answered Lord Jocelyn. $50
perhaps / may reply to your question
by repeating It"
Are you a 'bull?'" Barrett demand
ed with an oath. 'If you are"
"Do you mean a member Of the de-
tective force?" Jocelyn inquired. IF
so, I may say that at present l am
not, although there is no knowing
what l may come to-"
"Then who and what are you?"
"That," answered Jocelyn, seems
irrelevant. 1t is plain, however, that
you are an intruder upon these prem
Uses. It's sad, very sad" he contin-
ued.
What's sad?"
ITO see a young man of your age
devote his life to such practices" an
swered Jocelyn, shaking his head
mournfully. MY friend, if you had
acquainted yourself with statistics be-
fore e%mbarking upon your perilous oc-
cupation you would have learned that
the average burglar spends between
two-thirds and four-ffths of his active
life within the walls of our various
penal institutions. My friend. you
cannot beat the state"
The man recoiled a step and looked
at him in establishment. Convinced
that he was on the right track, Joce-
Ign proceeded:
81 myself am not disposed to wreck
so promising a career as yours by
calling in the police, for l see that you
are, by education and training, capable
of better things than this. Now, Mr..
Barrett, If I let you go this time will
you give me your word of honor to
abandon this life Of crime and to be-
come an exemplary %citizen?"
What answer would have been re-
turned is unknown, for at that mo-
ment the door on the farther side of
the DON opened and there stood re-
vealed the girl of the sables. And, in
her indoor attire, she looked still more
bewitching than before.
Seeing Lord Jocclyn, she recoiled in
establishment. Then, evidently agi-
tated, she hurried toward him.
What do you want? What do you
want? There's nobody here!" she
cried.
"My visit is. I assure you, entirely
a business one," Lord Jocelyn an
swered.
These words seemed to produce *
~traordinary CONSERVATION in the
young woman's breast.
Her eyes dilated In terror; suddenly
Jocelyn's arm in agitation.
Don't take him, officer" she plead
ed. "He was just going to leave. BY
morning he would have been " the
Canadian border. 1t would break my
heart and his old mothers. He did
not near to do anything really wrong;
he hardly knew that it was a criminal
act, for he would have replaced the
money in the vaults Of the bank to-
morrow II they had not made the dis
covery.
I'VE have restored the money" she
continued. dabbing at her eyes with
a handkerchief of filmy lace. II have
pawned my sables and my diamonds.
I will send the money to the president
in your presence. If only you will 60
back and say that you couldn't find
him"
you're a fool, SIS" Interrupted the
young man, harshly. Here, officer,
whatll you take to give me two hours
start? There's eight or nine hundred
sisters raised upon her furs and jew
els. Let's divvy up. Give me four
hundred to start me on my way and
you shall have the rest"
mo. no, Walter" the young woman
cried. "You promised me that you'd
be honest II I got the money for you.
It must go to the president. Officer,
you'll spare him, won't you?"
II tell you you're on the wrong tack,
SIS" cried the young man in exaspera-
ton. you've kept me sewed up in
this empty apartment for a whole
week while they were searching for
me, and now that I've got a chance to
beat it you want to spoil everything
by your COMPOUNDED %scruples."
Both fixed their eyes upon Lord
Jocelyn in intense eagerness, the one
wholly selfish, bartering his sisters
money for his own sake. the other
tremulous with anxiety for her broth
er's safety.
Indeed, you are both mistaken"
said Lord Jocelyn. II am not a men,
Der of the detective force. I came in
merely to restore to this young lady
this tiara, which she let fall at my
feet outside the door of the house."
And he held 1t out to the girl.
She eyed 1t askance, but made no
effort to recover 1t.
TITS PASTE" she cried. II had it
made when I pawned the original, so
that it's absence should arouse no
questions among my family. If that's
what brought you in here you a go.
Co." she cried, pointing toward the
door. Leave us Immediately"