The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-04-12
The Diamond Tiara

colf nhnCgatlon IL frequently Hisuh-
Srstood and he found the role OF jilt-
,,,j,or 10 be both unsatisfactory and
,s,ongruous. His father had received
-. rows with considerable disgust
snd ,rred him in frequent communi-
% ons 10 look around for n wealthy
lilo But Jocelyn withdrew from So
II life and spent the best part OF
"a. sure at home In his apartment
- y lson avenue, where he found
4, 90, paay OF his valet Talbot sufn-
ont fog his requirements.
talbot" he said. II am going to de-
vote myself henceforward to the pur-
emit of adventure. i am convinced
that New York city affords opportu-
mites such as are uncommon In our
| staidcr London
(Which you're right. sir" answered
Talbot; why, sir, the women here
has what Id call a go about 'em
| that"
Il was not referring to the female
element Of the population. Talbot" re-
rNod Lord Jocelyn severely.
Yet Il Is undeniable that the pre-
mature termination OF his engagement
10 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
iocelyn was connoisseur OF furs.
Nothing. he was wont to say. adds that
finishing touch to girl that hand
some furs will. But In this case there
was the element of curiosity that
came 10 complete the spell. For why
had this richcly clad girl entered n
pawn shop at the lower end of Sixth
avenue at six o'clock in the evening
and come out again without the sn-
blcs? Was II sudden need for
money TO pay her dressmaker?
Keeping a discreet distance. so that
/ he might not be under suspicion OF an
ungcntlemanly 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-
| pcarcd within. AS she passed out of
sight Jocelyn heard something chink
upon the sidewalk. He hurried for
ward, stopped. and picked up mag
nihccnt 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 II. 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 do
cided to yield to the first impulse, and
entered. He hurried through dark
hall and up number OF flights.
reaching the top story in time to hear
door close softly. Which door had
she entered? He was sure IL was the
door upon the left. He looked and saw
mat 1t had not closed; the lock pro-
trudod against the framework. He
knocked and. receiving no answer, en-
tered.
Lord Jocelyn found himself In n
large, sparsely furnished room. evil
gently both bedroom and sitting room.
although the exceedingly dirty condi.
ZION of the windows, which were hal!
covered with tattered shade, appar-
'hlly indicated condition OF poverty
wholly at variance with the attire
which the unknown had worn. From
lnIS room a door led apparently into
,"e second of the suite. but II was
rocked. Jocelyn retreated to the door
y which he had entered, with the OBJ
J'ct OF making further search for the
owner of the tiara. But this was
locked, too. In some way II had
automatically fastened itself; he was
prisoner.
The position In which he now found
himself Us certainly an awkward
one Standing irresolutely In the CEN
Ter OF the floor, holding the tiara, he
ieit the guilty consciousness OF
burglary Undue itself into his brain.
II the girl entered and found him
,nere-what would she do, what should
he say?
As he revolved his predicament In
MS mind he heard the lock click, and
man came softly In. He was OF
ABOUT Jocelyn's age. though certain
ines of dissipation that had stamped
themselves upon his face, as well as
iurtiveness In his eyes, revealed the
iact that his life had not been wholly
open to the inspection of his fellow
men. Seeing Jocelyn there. lie stood
STOCK still. as though stunned by sur
Prise. then suddenly whipped revol-
Yer out Of his inner breast pocket and
ieveled It at him.
You'll break that mirror behind
me II you fire." said Jocelyn. observing
That the weapon trembled In his Wis
itor's fingers. mot that it's my mir
ror; I'm only edvising YOU"
The man lowered the revolver and
turned an intensely penetrating look
upon Lord Jocelyn.