The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-04-21

ton apartment next Sunday Nelson again
few days before. Barbara Bradford. She
urges him not to allow the fact Of their
pF Heson o @oes Se ths
ent Wick. and instinctively dislilses him.
In wall safe he finds a necklace of
Meeting, Barbara in the hallway she
passes him without recognition. Dining
pleasant scrutiny Of a stranger. but O
man whom he had seen before.
With trembling hands I restored tho |
jewels to their hiding place, twice test
ing the knob to make sure that tho |
combination had set The unexpected
sight of such vast fortune In gems
had filed me with strange emotions,
with thoughts so evil hardly dared |
admit them to myself. There must
have been nearly half a million dollars
worth of precious stones in that ono
casket. The Castor pearls in them
selves were fortune
II only they were minel
To every honest man at times como
temptations as great as come to any
criminal. No man knows whether or
not he Is honest until he has been put
to the test. I knew! was tempted,
strongly tempted, to take my great
nunt's jewels. What was to hinder2
The old couple we're to be absent for
months. They had left me in charge
and had given me their keys and the
safe combination. There would he
abundant time for dlsposlng Of the
Jewels before their theft was discov-
cred. With the money they would
bring could satisfy my craving for
adventure. could travel the world
over,
Yet, as I look back at 1t, oil the
time was thinking these thoughts,
knew would not take the Jewels. A
normal man cannot steal. Even when
his desires lead him to theft, his mind
points out the folly and his conscience
the wrong.
Resolutely put the thought OF the
Jewels out Of my hcad---or tried to
and stretching myself out on couch
gave myself UP to pleasant reveries
about my delightful new acquaintance
the girl who lived just across the hall
pictured myself finding some way OF
winning her confidence and Of helping
her out of her mysterious trouble AM
what lf eventually old Rufus shoult
make me his heir? Surely l woul'
need mate with whom to- shs~e IN
joys of having fortW'.e. With VII
ions of Barbara Bradford bedccke
with my GRO. .t.aunt's choicest jewel
i fell os',.cp.
~ was almost dusk when ] We
awakened by the arrival Of the e:
pressmnn with my trunks. After
had recciptcd for them and had III
packed, I suddenly realized that I WI
hungry, for I had eaten nothing snt
breakfast. Hastily I donncd N
clothes, stopping only to count II
money. With weeks salary In III
pocket and no room rent to pay fl
several months, surely I could affol
q good dinner to celebrate the chang
in my fortunes.
As went out stopped in the lowe
hall to chat with the telephone gil
ostcnsibly to ask her to take any me
sagcs for me, though was expectr
none
"You're Mr.. Nelson, aIn't your" 81
asked, eyeing me with curious intcrc:
"Yes," I replied, "Mr. Spnlding NJ
SON. am occupying the CASTOR apal
ment while they are away"
A flicker Of amusement crossed h
face, with just the suggestion of
sneer
II hope you'll enjoy living here"
"Why not? I replied carelcssly.
any one calls, say that I will be hol
by ten, Miss"
"Ncllie Kelly" she added.
AS chnttcd with her the elcvat
had descended again, and three p
sons emerged, one Of them being $
for sight Of whom I had been int
tionally lettering One Of the t
persons with her was plainly
mother and the other l took to be
older sister. She rcscmbled Bnrbi
strongly, but there was world-wc'
look In her face, and her beauty see
cd to me to be marred by we
sensitive, passionate mouth Blu
had no eyes for her, so absorbed '
In the appearance of the girl
met in the park. If / had thou
her beautiful then, she was rnvish
now. Her raven hair was piled i
and caught back with great Spar
comb. An ermine-trimmcd ever
coat of brocade swathcd her fig
opening at the front just enough
give me glimpse OF her barred W
\ neck. Involuntarlly my hand wen
my hat, but into her eyes cam
naughty look and one hand Wen