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

Self-abnegation is frequently misun-
derstood, and he found the role Of jilt-
ed sutton to be both unsatisfactory and
incQngruous. His father had received
,the news with considerable disgust
and urged him in frequent communi-
cations to look around for a wealthy
bride. But Jocelyn withdrew from So
cial life and spent the best part Of
his leisure at home in his apartment
on Madison avenue. where he found
the company Of his valet Talbot sufi-
cient for his requirements.
Talbot" he said. II am going to de.
vote myself henceforward to the pur-
suit of adventure. I am convinced
that New York city affords opportu-
mites such as are uncommon in our
staider London"
(Which you're right, sir" answered
Talbot. why, sir. the women here
has what I'd call a go about 'em
that"
Il was not referring to the female
element of the population. Talbot" re-
piled Lord Jocelyn severely.
ASC IL II uuOOA1dUI0 LAdI IuS pre-
mature termination of his engagement
to Miss Squires had not rendered him
permanently immune against feminine
attractions. Otherwise, why should
he have fingered in the vicinity Of the
girl in sables?
They were real sables, too. and
Jocelyn was a c%onnoisseur of furs.
Nothing, he was wont to say. adds that
finishing touch to a girl that hand
some furs will. But in this case there
was the element of curiosity that
anne to complete the spell. For why
had this richcly clad girl entered a
pawn shop at the lower end Of Sixth
avenue at six o'clock in the evening
and come out again without the sa-
bles? Was 1t a sudden need for
money to pay her dressmaker?
Keeping a discreet distance, so that
he might not be under suspicion of an
ungentlemanly pursuit, he followed
along the north side of Washington
square. She paused at the entrance
to a large, old-fashioned apartment
house, one of those that had been
constructed before the days Of eleva-
tors, and opening the door, disap-
peared within. AS she passed out of
sight Jocelyn heard something chink
upon the sidewalk. He hurried for
ward, stopped. and picked ZIP a mag
nif1cent diamond tiara.
His first impulse was to hasten into
the building and inform the girl of her
loss. His second was to remain out
side until she missed the ornament
and came out In search Of 1t. But, see
ing several men upon the opposite cor
ner of the square, looking, to his
mind. suspiciously like detectives in
plain clothes, pointing in his direction
and evidently observing him, he de-
cided to yield to the first impulse, and
entered. He hurried through a dark
hall and up a number of flights,
reaching the top story in time to hear
a door close softly. Which door had
she entered? He was sure it was the
door upon the left. He looked and saw
that it had not closed; the lock pro-
truded against the framework. He
knocked and. receiving no answer, en-
tered.
Lord Jocelyn found himself in a
large, sparsely furnished room, evil
IDENTIFY both bedroom and sitting room,
although the exceedingly dirty condi-
ton Of the windows, which were half
covered with a tattered shade. appar-
emily indicated a condition of poverty
zvI1JIxr ~ uorfo~no NTH tho o%+iv~
which the unknown had worn From
this room a door led apparently into
the second of the suite. but it was
locked. Jocelyn retreated to the door
by which he had entered, with the OBJ
ject of making further search for the
owner Of the tiara. But this was
locked, too. In some way it had
automatically fastened itself; he was
a prisoner.
The position in which. he now found
himself was certainly an awkward
one. Standing irresolutely in the cen
ter of the floor, holding the tiara. he
felt the guilty consciousness of
burglary Undue itself into his brain.
II the girl entered and found him
there-what would she do, what should
be say?
AS he revolved his ~predicament in
his mind he heard the lock click, and
a man came softly in. He was of
about Jocelyn's age, though certain
lines Of dissipation that had stamped
themselves upon his face, as we'll as a
furtiveness in his eyes, revealed the
fact that his life had not been wholly
open to the inspection Of his fellow
men. Seeing Jocelyn there, he stood
stock still. as though stunned by sur
prise, then suddenly whipped a revolt
yer out Of his inner breast pocket and
leveled it at him.
you'll break that mirror behind
me IL you fire." said Jocelyn, observing
that the weapon trembled in his Wis
litor's fingers. mot that it's my mir
;ror; I'm only advising you"
The man lowered the revolver and
turned an intensely penetrating look
Iupon Lord Jocelyn.