Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-05

1T Is curious story" began Joce-
lyn easily. ITO begin with"
Whom do you want?" interrupted
the man again, with almost shrek.
Il don't live here; I'm merely calling
on friend-Walt Barrett. was told
he had this apartment"
Instinct told Jocelyn that this was
Walt Barrett himself.
Il don't live here either, Mr. Bar
rett," answered Lord Jocelyn. $50
perhaps l may reply to your question
by repeating it."
"Are you a 'bull?'" Barrett demand
ed with an oath. EFF you are"
do you mean member of the de-
tective force?" Jocelyn inquired. "If
so, I may say that at present I am
not, although there is no knowing
what | may come to-"
Then who and what are your"
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.
WudL Sdu
ITO see 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 embarking upon your perilous oc-
cupation you would have learned that
the average burglar spends between
two-thirds and four-f1fths of his active
life within the walls of our various
penal institutions. My friend, you
cannot beat the state"
The man recoiled 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 l 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 room 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 Jocelyn, 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. assure you, entirely
a business one," Lord Jocelyn an
swered.
These words seemed to produce ex-
traordinary CONSERVATION in the
young woman's breast
Her eyes dilated in terror; suddenly
she put forth her hands and clasped
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 over the
Canadian border. 1t would break my
heart and his old mothers. He did
not mean 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 If they had not made the dis
covery.
I'VE have restored the money" she
continued, dabbing at her eyes with
handkerchief of filmy lace. II have
pawned my sables and my diamonds.
will send the money to the president
In your presence, If only you will go
back and say that you couldn't find
him.
You're fool, sis,' interrupted the
young man, harshly Here, officer,
what'n 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 If / got the money for you.
1t must go to the president. Officer.
you'll spare him, won't you?"
Il 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 chance to
beat 1t 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. Il am not men,
Der of the detective force. ! 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 it out to the girl
She eyed it askance, but made no