Newspaper Page Text
S^ROM THIS DIARY OF INSPECTOR BYRNES.
-By JULIAS HAWTHORNE, Author of
The Great Bank Robbery, B “An
American Penman,” Eta
[Copyright by O M. Dunham, and published,
'■through special arrangemeut by the American
Ptbhm Association with Cassell & Co., New York
•and London, j
CHAPTER ni.
• MRS. CXJTUBERT TUNSTALL.
VENTS were
shaping t b e in -
solves for disas
ter; but, for the
timo being, they
w seemed to go
smooth ly enough.
Percy Nolen
maintained his
brilliant career,
and attained a
certain distinc
tion among the
persona with
whom he associ
ated. He was a
big, liandsome youth, with broad tshoul-
■ders and sturdy limbs, a clever boxer, a
good whip, n fair billiard player; his
- spirits were exuberant, and he had more
mental resources and ideas than are
'vouchsafed to the generality of young
'.gentlemen of his kind. Tlius he assumed,
to some extent, the position of a leader
among them; and, as he was uniformly
good natured and yet not to he imposed
upon, he was liked and not laughed at.
Rut his favorite companion and friend
•was Valentine Martin. The two men
' were nearly the same age, Martin licing
-a little the elder, and were a good deal
- alike in size and personal appearance.
Martini being English, wore side whisk-
s ers, and Percy, being American, wore a
mustache. Martin was inclined to lie
fair and Percy to be dark; but they
might have been taken to be brothers.
The Englishman, however, was of a
somewhat gloomier temperament than
the American; more reticent and more
given to moods and inequalities of tern-:
per. He liad brought with him several
good letters of introduction ami had duly
-delivered them, but he had availed him-
'• -self but sparingly of the social courtesies
- 'extended to him. seeming to prefer a less
formal and regular lifa He made no
pretense of large wealth, but, on the
other hand, he never seemed to be
cramped for means, and no one could l>e
found from whom he had borrowed
money. If he were a trifle mysterious,
- xiobody was concerned to fathom his
-■ 'mystery, for it was no one's interest to
--"do so. Valentine Martin had not come
’<to America to speculate, to organize a
company, to raise capital, or to do any of
those tilings that are apt to render en
gaging foreigners suspicious in our eyes.
He had apparently come to amuse him-
•self and mind his own affairs; and after
-a time he was permitted to follow this
.innocent inclination. The upper ten.
■whom lie neglected, ceased to take an
active interest in him. and those with
whom he associated relinquished the
vain effort to (lersuade him to reveal his
-^secret, and came to the sensible conclu-
-eion that there was probably no secret to
•reveal.
The acquaintance and ' subsequent
‘ friendship between Martin and Percy
- Nolen had sprung up spontaneously
without any formal introduction. They
'had tastes and ideas in common, and they
mutually pteased one another. Martin's
was perluqis the stronger character, but
Percy’s was the more ^enterprising and
lively; so that they were ujion fairly
.even terms. One day the Englishman
accepted un invitation to come and take
^afternoon tea at the Nolens’; lie met
.Pauline on that occasion, and it was not
.afterwards necessary to urge hint to re-
,peat his visit Pauline was interested in
-him as an Englishman, and after discuss
ing his native country with hint ad
znitted him to a certain degree of friend-'
ship, partly on her brother's rccomnien
dation, partly on Ills own account He
.seemed gloomy at times, and she was
■Borry for him, without knowing or even
caring to Inquire what made her so. At
other times lie conversed in a manner
that interested her and stimulated her to
. talk in return; and, though Pauline was
but a girl, she had a mind that was worth
•coming in contact with. The English
man never made any direct demand
upon lier sympatliies or emotions, and
probably he gained rather than lost by
this forbearance When a woman has
insight she would rather exercise her in
tuitions than luvve things explained to
her.
Matters went on in this manner for
•several months, and the year’s vacation
which Percy had allowed himself was
more than up. He had as yet shown no
sign of being bankrupt, unless a certain
a'unlraCtion Of manner at tYnicsrdCOom-
panied by a biting of his nails; and a
drumming with his foot, might bo con
j catch; but she cared nothing for coal,
and was jealous of hfa devotion to it.
She wanted him to be devoted to her
and to nobody else. She hated to think
of him working—actually working—all
day long. Ho came home to dinner, it
was true; but he was not fond of dining
out, and when dinner was over, he was
tired, and. liked to stay quietly at home
and go to bed at half, past 10. Such an
existence as this was the next thing to
unendurable to a woman like Sylvia
Tunstall. Forty years hence, perhaps,
this Darby and Joan kind of life might
be practicable; but not now, in the (lush
of youth, variety and euriosityl
solutely would not stiind itl
Tunstall wasamanly. straightforward, if he preferred his business to bis wife,
single hearted fellow, and at iirst lie did why could he not allow his wife her
not comprehend hia wife’s attitude. He preferences? It was unjust and tyran-
t h he S i ? ea8 “ f , ,n a nitHland ^Nevertheless, if he was determined to
the routine of social dissipation was be ugly about it. of course there must be
actions for him. When at no scandal. She would tell Percy, the
last he learnt how matters stood, he next time slio saw him, tliat the ac-
br had his questions been only the result
of chance? She wished to believe the
latter, but she could not.
After all, she did not seriously care for
Percy Nolen. It had been a mere flirta
tion for pastime. She had not supposed
that her husband would care much, even
if he knew. He had not of late betrayed
any very passionate affection for her. If
he loved her, why did he not accompany
her on lief social rounds? It was ridicu
lous ttrsay that he was obliged to attend
to his business. They had plenty of
money without any business. There was
nothing except Iiis own obstinacy to pre-
She ab- . vent him from retiring to-morrow and
■ never going near his office again. But
thought it over, and came to the conclu
sion that his wife had much reason on
her side. She was young, good looking
and full of the wine of life, and it was
only natural and proper in her to wish to
see and to be seen. So he licgan by air-
tempting to “go out” with her; but he
presently discovered that going to bed at 1
2 o'clock in the morning was not com
patible with having breakfast at half-
past 7. He then tried giving dinners
twice a week and a reception once a
month; but Sylvia pointed out to him
tliat the customs of good society de
manded that they should accept invitac
tions as well os give them; so tha? hia
second state liade fair to be even worse
than his first. What was to be done?
He would not consent to give up his busi
ness; on that point he was firm. Sylvia
was equally convinced that it was im
possible to give up society. For a time
there threatened to be a deadlock.
Finally a compromise was effected.
Sylvia had relations and particular
friends who were in society, and of
whose escort and countenance she could
avail herself. Her husband could take
her to places and her relatives or
friends could bring her home again. By
degrees it was'found unnecessary to have
him take her, and she both went and re
turned without him. His anticipations
of domestic felicity were disap|minted;
but Sylvia was enjoying herself, and lie
always looked forward to a time when
she would weary of gayety and return
to him. lie loved her as much as ever,
and was proud of her social popularity;
lie had |>erfect faith in her truth and
honor, lie ate his dinner and went
to bed nlone, and when lie rose in the
morning he was careful not to awaken
his wife. That was the style of the
menage.
ButCuthbert Tunstall was not a fool—
a fact which his wife perhaps failed to
fully appreciate. As long as her conduct
was aliove reproach, according to the
somewhat vague standards of society, he
would not interfere with her pleasures;
but he was not the man to permit the
least step beyond this. And though he
was naturally unsuspicious, and slow to
wrath, any one who understood men
would have known that it would be un
comfortable to arouse him. But Sylvia
got the idea that she could do exactly as
she pleased, and she did it.
One daj; Tunstall got a hint from some
precious friend of hia—a very distant,
indirect, ambiguous and innocent hint,
but a bint ail the same. He appeared
not to understand it, and passed it over
without comment; but the repressed
emotion which it aroused was so strong
that he came near fainting where he
stood.
He attended to his business the same
as usual, returned home at his customary
hour and sat down to his solitary dinner.
His wife was upstairs dressing. By and
by she came down to say good-by to him
for the evening. She was beautifully
dressed and was lovely to look upon.
Cuthbert looked at her in silence.
“Good night, dear.” she said, drawing
on her gloves. “1 suppose you won’t be
up when 1 come home.”
“Not if you come at your usual time."
•‘I wish you’d drop your horrid busi
ness and come with me.”
1 am mdre useful as I am. Do you
know a gentleman by the name of Percy
Nolen?”
“Percy Nolen? No—yes—I believe
I da”
These were her words, but her face and
the tone of her voice betrayed her, and
they both knew it.
“He is an agreeable fellow, isn’t he?”
pursued the husband, quietly.
“I suppose he is like the rest; all men
ire alike to me—except you, of course,
lear! But why do you ask?'
“Some one who knows him happened
to mention him today. Well, and what
going on to-night?”
“Dine at Mrs. Murray's, and then the
theatre.”
“Won't yon want something to eat
when you get home?”
“Oh, no. Don’t bother. I shan't be
aungry.”
“It might be better to order something
to be ready for you here than to take
jupper at Delmonico's,” he said slowly,
looking her in the eyes. v
She turned away her eyes after a mo-
quaintanoe must cease. It was not worth
while to run any risks on his account.
Having made up her mind to this, she
was more at case.
After the second act at the theatre,
Percy Nolen came into her box. She
greeted him coldly, but he sat down be
side her, apd began to make various pro
positions. She repulsed him, but not
very vigorously. At last she whispered;
“You must really be more-carefull Peo-
B le are lieginning to observe us. If any-
tiing should happen, I would never for
give you l”
“I will take every precaution, but—I
love your lie replied in her ear. He had
never said so much before, and she
turned pale and gave him a look.
The curtain went up on tho next act,
Bhowing how the hero, by a combination
of circumstances, was arrested and taken
to police headquarters.
CHAPTER IV.
NEEDS MUST.
UDGE
strued as symptoms of approaching j m . 'aient, ostensibly to pull up her cloak,
•pecuniosity. But another affair, not } had no idea of going to Delmomco s,”
- - die 6aid, in a slightly strained voice.
“Of course not!” he repeated; and
ihen he turned to his owning paper, and
•connected with finance, was going on at
ibis period which, unless put an end to
betimes, might result in trouble.
There was a young married woman in
New York society named Mrs. Cuthbert
Tunstall. Her husband, also young, had
inherited from hia father an immense
-business in coaL Cuthbert Tunstall was
tfond of activity, and he plunged into his
-coal with hearty good will, intent upon
• creating a fortune twice as large as that
which his father had left him. As a
' matter of course, and of necessity, he
was absent all clay at hia office, and was
often obliged to run down to the minw
to oversee things there in person.
Slip His wifo was the daughter of an aris
tocratic- Knickerbocker family; she had
becira reigning belle in her coming out
year, and the year following tho match
between her and Tunstall had been made.
She liked her husband, because he was a
good fellow, because he was in love with
her and bccajise ho was considered a big
jho went out, with a senile on her lips
ind fear in her heart.
Her husband bad given her warning,
and he hoped against hoped that it would
be sufficient. -He would not take the
next step unless she compelled him to it;
but he was resolved (and she partly felt
it) that the next .step would be final.
How much he actually knew of her flir
tation with Percy she could of course
only conjecture. She had taken supper
with him in a private room of a fash
ionable restaurant the night before. They
had not been alone; there had also been
present another young married woman,
and a young man not married. But the
two couples liad not been in each other’s
way; they had rather hedged each other
out. It was certainly not an affair which
Sylvia would have wished to have gen
erally known—least of all to bo suspected
by her husband. Djd he know about it?
KETEL-
LE’S prophecy
was delayed; but
it came true at
last'; and Mrs.
Nolen did not
keep her promise
to him.
One morning
Percy came to the
house, and came
up to his mother’s
boudoir, where
she was sitting
re a d i n g Mr.
Shorthouse’s ro
mance of “John
Inglesant.” Mrs.
Nolev was not given to reading fiction as
a rule; but Mr. Shorthouse was under
stood to be a religious writer, and she
enjoyed his book very much without en-
Arely understanding it. Percy kissed
her, and sat down in a chair opposite.
After a little desultory conversation he
said, “Mother, I’m in a scrape!”
Her heart sank; she closed her book,
and folded her hands upon it. “Oh, my
son!” she said, falteringly.
“Well, it’s nothing so very dreadful, 1
he returned, forcing a smile. “I* was up
at Monmouth Park the other day, and
lost a little money—well, it was a pretty
good sum, for me. I'm not a Croesus,
you know, and a few thousand dollars
makes a difference.”
“Monmouth Park? What is that?”
“It's a track; they race horses there,
you know.”
“Percy, have you been betting on
horse races?”
“Mercy, mother, it’s no crime! All
the fellows do it. I should look queer if
I didn't chip in with the rest! Only this
time I happened to get in pretty deep
and as all the favorites were beaten I
got badly left."
“Do you mean that you lost all the
money you wagered?”
“Every cent'of it; yo* never saw such a
run of bad luck in your lifa The trouble
was, I made up my mind to win anyhow;
6oeach time 1 lost I put it all on the next
race, so as to get back what was gone,
and more into the bargain. It was as
good as certain that I wouldn't lose every
race, you sea So when it came to the
last I had a big pile on; and it was voted
a sure tiling. I believe it was the jockey’s
fault, after alL Anyhow, he lost the
race by a short head; and if I hadn’t
had a return ticket I'd have been obliged
to walk homo. ”
“All your money gone! Why, my
son, if you had invested it, you might
have lived comfortably on the interest of
itl And your father gave it to you to
start you in your profession. What can
you do?”
“Well, mother, I must do the best I
can. I know it’s all wrong, and I’m
very sorry and all that. But it’s no use
crying for spilt milk. I'm in a hole and
I’ve got to be helped out of it somehow!”
“I will speak to Judge Ketelle and see
what”-—
“Whatever you do, don’t speak to
Judge Ketelle! He can do no good, and
would be certain to do a lot of mischief.
What business is it of Judge Ketelie’s
anyway?”
“Be was appointed executor under the
will and”
“That is no concern of mine, motherl
My interest in the will ceased when I
got my patrimony. I have no further
relations with the judge nor he with mp.
He has no right to help me, even if he
wanted to, which he doesn’t.”
“My son, he is the best friend I have,
and whatever is for our good”
“My dear mother, I tell you it won’t
do! I know what the judge would say,
and after he had said it I would be no
better off than I am now. I have some
pride, and I don’t want all the world to
know that I’m a beggar. I shouldn’t
think you would, either.”
“Percy, you know I wish nothing but
your good, but”——
“The long and short of the matter is
that unless I am to be disgraced I must
have some money, and without any de
lay, too. I owe a few bills—they don't
amount to much—and I must have a lit
tle to go on with. A thousand dollars
would cover the whole thing. You can
let me have it, can't you?’
“A thousand dollars! But after that,
Percy? You will be wanting money all
tho time, and this cannot go on forever.”
“It isn't going on forever. This is the
first time J[ Jiave pver asked you for a
sent, mother, and It shall ho* the last.
Heaven knows it was hard enough to
havo to come to yon at any rate; but I
didn't exjx'ct you would make it harder
by arguing about it!"
‘•My dearest boy, you might have all I
possess, so far as I am concerned"
“Who else is concerned except you? a
thousand dollars isn’t going to ruin you,
mother, but it is ruin to me if I don’t got
it. And don’t fear I shall be coming to
you again. I am going to stop the kind
of a life I have been living tho last year
and turn over a new leaf. I havo several
opportunities to get positions in the city,
and I am going to set to work at once
and find out what will be the best thing.
As soon as I am in a place where 1 can
turn around I shall put in my spare time
studying up my mining, and before an
other year is out I shall be ready to ac
cept an engagement. I can support my
self as well as the next man—and make
a fortune, too! But 1 don’t suppose you
want to see me miss all that for the sake
of a paltry thousand dollars?”
The end of it was that Mrs. Nolc-n gave
him a thousand dollars. She tried to
make him promise that he would come
and live under her own roof, but he put
her off with a temporizing reply, alleg
ing, in no very logical vein, that he did
not wish to make himself a burden to
her, but when he got “fixed” so that he
could pay her for his board and lodging
he would come with pleasure.
The request indicated that getting fixed
was an operation that required time.
The fact was that Percy paid sums on
account to his most pressing creditors,
including tho proprietor of his lodgings,
and went on living much as before; to
salve his conscience he did make some
inquiries about work, but not in such a
manner as to secure practicable answers.
One subject possessed his mind, and that
was Mrs. Tunstall. It was impossible for
him to live with his mother while that
affair was going on. His infatuation was
intensified by Sylvia’s timidity and re-
luctanca A man’s brains count for
nothing in such a matter. Percy lived
in the desire of the moment; he gave no
thought to the inevitable consequences..
If he might see her today, or to-morrow,
no matter ;«i>out the day after, and no
matter that tho meeting was fraught
with danger both to her and to him. The
difference between a good desire and an
evil one generally is that tho former is
sane and the latter has more or less of
insanity.
Sylvia’s heart was not engaged—if she
could be said to have a heart—and it was
clear in her mind that she must run no
$isk of compromising herself. At the
same time, had it been in her power to
banish Percy forever by the utterance of
a single word, it is doubtful if she would
have done it. She knew that, were her
husband to discover any further corre
spondence between them, he would not
hesitate to act decisively and finally, and
the first result of that action would be
that she would find herself cast upon the
world with a damaged reputation. Such
a thing was not to be thought of. But
the very peril of her position was an al-
Turement to linger in it; and then there
was the excitement of knowing that a
man was in love with her who had no
business to be so, and who was willing to
go all lengtlis for her. Moreover, she
was angry as well as dismayed because
her husband liad spoken to her as he did
(like all women, she interpreted what
was said by wliat was meant), and found
a pleasure in defying him in thought if
not in deed. So, although she did not
openly and explicitly encourage Percy,
she allowed him to believe tliat he was
not indifferent to her.
Neither he nor she had committed any
actual sin, but they were on the road to
do so. People always believe that they
can pull up at the last moment, and are
therefore willing to go on until the last
moment is reached. But by that time
events combine’ in an unforeseen manner
and push them over the edga Then
they are astonished to find themselves
linked with the brotherhood of crime.
And once that link is forged it defies all
attempts to break it.
It happened before long that Percy
needed more money. He had less than
two hundred dollars left, and he owed
more than that. He did not wish to go
to his mother again, partly from shame,
partly because he knew that, in order to
raise the sum he needed, she would be
obliged to sell .some stock, and that
would involve applying to Judge Ketella
One night at a club he was asked to take
a hand at a game of poker with three
others. He sat down and played with
varying success for an hour or two.
Then two of the quartet withdrew and
he and the other kept on.
Percy had faith in his luck, and had
fortified himself with several whisky
cocktails. His opponent was a quiet
man, and seemed to be in a dejected and
timid frame of mind. The chips on the
table represented a good deal of money,
how much exactly Percy did not know;
he meant to win it all. Some good cards
were dealt to him; he drew, and found
himself in possession of a superb hand.
He was quite certain that his adversary
held rib such cards, and he began to bet.
His adversary was drawn into raising
liim * fKov nAnfimiAfl -ii
was so apparent in lifa manner and ap
pearance tliat she divined it at once.
The interview that ensued was a very
painful one to both parties.
Mrs. Nolen had not got the money, and
could not get it for a week at least. She
couvinced her son by documentary evi
dence that such wo3 tiie case. It might
be possible to borrow from Judge Ketelle;
there was no other way. These were
facts which no arguments or entreaties
could alter. Mrs. Nolen was terribly
agitated by the revelation of her son’s
incorrigible perversity, and her tears and
anguish put him in almost a suicidal
frame of mind. It seemed to him that if
ho could only escape from this predica
ment he would never allow himself to get
caught again. But there was no escape,
except through the judge, and that was
almost as bad as no escape at all. The
judge, even if he agreed to the loan, was
not the man to spare Percy a plain and
severe statement of the reprehensibility
of his behavior! The young man writhed
in anticipation of this rebuke. He knew
he deserved it, but it would not be easier
to endure on that account. Under ordi
nary circumstances he might rebel and
answer back; but it would not do to fight
with a man whom he was begging money *
of. He had always been proud of his
pride; now that pride was, going to suffer
a fatal humiliation. Only one thing
could be worse, and that was to inform
his opponent of the night before that he
could not pay him. Percy wished that
he had never been born, and then lie
wished that he were dead.
The first wish beingimpracticable, and
the second one that he did not care to
put into practice, he left his mother’s
house in an unenviable frame of mind,
and turned his steps in the direction of
Judge Ketelie’s office. He felt gloomy
and desperata He could understand how
men, heretofore respectable, were in
duced to become thieves or robbers. Had
he been a bank cashier, he felt that he
was in a mood to rob the safeand depart
for Canada; or if he had been alono on a
dark road with a wealthy old gentle
man, he could have taken him by the
throat and gone through his popkets.
But he was on Fifth avenue, in broad
daylight, and these short methods of re
imbursing himself were not availabla
He struck into Broadway, and pres
ently, about a block in advance, he
caught sight of a graceful female figure
that lie knew, walking in the same di
rection with himself. It was Sylvia
Tunstall He hastened his stene; but
lust before he came up with her she
turned into a large jewelry shop on tne
right.
It was as good a place as another for
an interview, .ind he felt a feverish de
sire to speak to her. He followed her
into the shop, and, as she came to a
pause at one of. the counters, he stood be
side her and uttered her naina
“I am sober, if
he said. “If Wo w . s ' v V,
show you what ia tho . al '^
Good God! Is there no ! , ) at W
where we can be atoS**® 8 ®
an hour?" n °
Some one touched u.
He turned savagely r» m M
»i„,, ...1_ ■ lti
left a cane standing . 0 _v r 'V!
te waa no,.,^ ll.’gjJ
off. Percy came rou&N
of Sylvia and leaned on t^
ing her m his handT
“I can’t stand thi- - .
he i
«tand this,
never see you at all 7 ^
much right to see yL^*' I
You
key'll,
acquaintances,
way!”
“If you would be content , 1
my other acquaint^*?,N
know perfectly well how d, ^
And you could not have,* 1 N
place than this." She bem^l
added in a whisper, “j foi >i
stall may come in at
knew 1 was coming here
about the necklace, and J* 1
about intending to try and^-
go! It will only make it
hereafter.”
“tt cannot bo more difficult.,
already,” replied Percy ‘ ,
should like to meet Ivim and i
with him, if he wants
What is there he can sav 111
ter? He has no business to i 1
“You don’t know him!"
“He doesn’t know me if L
care for him! Why should
the worst comes to thewo«5l
only throw us together I a* 1
it—are you?” nr
“Percy, you are crazy! R<iL
talk so! You will make me "
to see you again. Nothing of,
is possibfe. I never thought
thing.” 01 ■
“Such things have been ,
aud they are possible. Youa^J
as you are now, Sylvia, and y 0 !u
Why not let society and resp *
to the devil, where they bole.,
joy life in our own way? There'-"
places in the world besides New*?
America.”
“Here U the necklace, Mr*),
said the voice of the salesman. ‘
standing on the opposite side 0 f(
ter, with the box in his iiandi
She was thankful for the infe,
for she was becoming seriouslyi
at Percy's manner; and, dnr
box towards her, she opened it
tained a necklace of fine d
which, had been selected some li
fore, and set according to Mrs.'ft
directions. She examined them
pressed her approval. “It is
hundred dollars, fa it not?’ she rail
“Twenty-five hundred i
peated the salesman, softly.
She looked around for hermSf ,
Percy had just replaced on the e
She slipped her hand in it and
an exclamation. Then she senln
glance over the counter and on
“Have you Been it?" she saidinj
tied tone.
“I beg your pardon," said
man, blandly. Percy mail
gloomy silence and an abstracted
“My pocket book—and some
bank notea Iliad them in
she exclaimed.
“Have you”-— she went on,
to Percy.
He looked at her uncomprel
“Wliat fa it?" he demanded
“My purse—and tho money,
you had my muff just now.
you”—
“Did I have your muff? I wass 1
of it. 1 know nothing about ii,1
unconcernedly.
“But I can’t lose it—it must bit
—it was right there!" she
again. “It can’t have disap]
nothing!”
May I inquire if the sum wail
one?” put in the salesman, softly.
“Why, yes! there were two
hundred dollars and some small*
in the purse. I had brought it
for the necklace.”
By this time several persons
lected, drawn by the evident ag
the handsome young lady; amosj
was a small, bright looking
an alert and confident manner,
jected Mrs. Tunstall and Percy
but unobtrusive scrutiny.
“Perhaps you put it in your
Percy suggested, who, on b"
large a sum mentioned, had
arouse himself from hfa curiooi
She put her hand in the poetd
dress and felt in it anxiously,
her head.
“No,” she said, “and,
lect it all now distinctly. I P ut “*,
in my purse when I went out tb*
ing, and put the purse in
always do. When I got hew
the purse and took thenotesfn^
“Pardon me, madam,” >n f
bright looking man at this
connected with this establi
.is my duty to inve3tigatecaseso
articles. Can you state what
nomination of the bills repr'"’
sum of money—twenty-fi ve
lara I think you said?” (
“There were four bank n ^
Tunstall replied; “one of »®o
lara, and three of five hundred
“Thank you,” said the *7
note on some tablets rn" 13 j
you recollect the numbers of .
the banks they belonged tor
She shook her head. “I 1
she said.
“You took these notes on
purse, you say”—-
“I took them out so as to
ready. I was a little nervous
rying so much money, and
should lose the purse I ^
money separata But now i
“After taking the notes
purse, what did you do wit
sued the bright looking
“I held them in my 1^“. - <
in this baud,” indicating he
just as 1 came up to the
gentleman spoke to me.' f
“Thia gentleman fa a frt (
Mrs. Tunstall hesitated
‘I am acquainted with
quainted with hinb”
him; they continued to raise each other.
Percy swallowed another cocktail, and
felt that he could not lose. He acted
upon this conviction and lost. Upon in
vestigation, it appeared that the quiet
man had won not only Percy’s original
stakes, but some nine hundred dollars
into the bargain.
Percy preserved a calm exterior, and
wrote lifa I. O. U. for the amount, to be
redeemed within twenty-four hours.
Meanwhile, he was in a cold sweat of
consternation, for he did not know how
he was to get the money. It was too
largo a sum to borrow from any of hfa
acquaintances; those whom he knew
well enough to approach on such a mat
ter were aware of his financial standing,
and would net lend -anything. There
was nothing for it but to go to his mo
ther. The money must be forthcoming.
If he failed to pay, he would be dishon
ered. Sylvia would hear of it. * * <
Nol he must liave the money at any cost.
He went to bed, passed a very bad
night, and after attempting to eat some
breakfast he betook himself to hfa motli-
er’a house. The_nature of his errand
CHAPTER V.
A FATAL MEETING.
HE shop was a
very large one,
and was full of
customers, for
the holiday sea
son was at band,
and the wealthier
portion of the
community was
presenting itself
with precious
gifts. TTio cus-
t o m ers were
chiefly ladies,
though there was
also a fair sprinkling of the other sex.
There were also the salesmen and the
walkers, and perhaps a few other per
sona whose office was not to promote
sales but to prevent appropriations of
stock by.individuals who liad not gone
through the formality of paying for it.
Yet it seemed impossible that, among
such a multitude, the eyes of a detective
Bhould be able to fix upon the malefac
tors, and nevertheless a successful theft
was a very uncommon occurrence in the
great jewelry shop.
When Mrs. Tunstall heard her name,
she turned with a start, and her vivid,
but pretty face paled. “Don’t stay,”
she said in a low voice; “do go! what is
the use of running any risks?”
“I havo as good a right as anybody to
be here,” Percy replied. “If we both
happen to be here at the same time, what
of that?”
‘What is the matter? You look quite
illr she said.
At this moment a salesman, having dis
patched an adjoining customer, pre
sented himself before her with a “What
can I do for you, madam?” She handed
him a card and said, “I have called about
that necklace; it was "to have been ready
this morning.” The man took the card,
bowed and hurried off. She turned again
to Percy. Her muff was in her left hand,
and as she turned she laid it upon the
glass counter, on the side furthest away
from him. His sudden Appearance had
evidently disconcerted her.
He met her look and thought how
charming she was. She was dressed in
fine black velvet trimmed with soft furs,
and wore a wonderful bonnet, adorned
with birds’feathers and sparkling points;
a delicate silken veil was hound around
it. Her oval face, with its bright eyes,
small straight nose and rather full lips,
was perfectly pretty; and now the blood,
which had been driven from her cheeks
for a moment, came ebbing back beneath
the transparent skin. She was lovely,
luxurious and rich; those diamonds in
her ears would have paid all his debts,
and he believed that she would relieve
his” necessities in a moment had sho
known of them. But how impossible it
was to tell herl How inaccessible she
was, though he could have thrown his
arms around her as she stood therel He
felt a helpless rage—an impulse to seize
upon her and make off with her bodily.
If he only had had money—money, and
plenty of it—there was nothing so wild
that he would not have ventured to pro
pose it to her. What a power money was
in this world!
All this time he stood' gazing at her
and saying not a word.
“What is the matter with you, Percy?”
sho repeated. “What makes you look
so? You are making everybody notice ' ,
Are you^-^ Shejiesitated.