The Diamond Bracelet I Dy MRS. HENRY WOOD. I Author of East Lynne, Etc. CHAPTER VII.—Continued.) “Madam,” said the officer "you must be aware ttiat in an investigation of this nature, we are compelled to put questions which we do not expect to be answered in the affirmative. Colonel Hope will understand what I mean , when I say that we call them ‘feelers.’ I did not expect to hear that Miss Seaton had been on familiar terms with your servants (though it might have been), but that question, being disposed of, will lead me to another. I suspect that some one did enter the room and make free with the bracelet, and that Miss Seaton must have been cognizant of it. If a common thief, or An absolute stranger, she would have •een the first to give the alarm; if J •ot on too familiar terms with the | ■servants she would be as little likely to screen them. So we come to the Question—who could it have been?” “May I Inquire why you suspect Miss Seaton?” coldly demanded I.ady Sarah. “Entirely from her manner; from the agitation she displays.” “Most young ladles, particularly in •our class of life, would betray agita tion at being brought face to face with a police officer,’’ urged Lady Sarah. “My lady,” he returned, “we are keen, experienced men; and we should not be fit for the office we hold if we were not. We generally do find lady •witnesses betray uneasiness, when first exposed to our questions, but in a very short time, often in a few moments, it wears off, and they grow gradually •easy. It wa3 not so with Miss Seaton. Her agitation excessive at first, In creased visibly, and it ended as you saw. I did not think It agitation of guilt, but I did think it that of con scious fear. And look at the related facts; that she laid the bracelets there, never left them, no one came in, and yet the most valuable one vanished. We have many extraordinary tales brought before us, but not quite so extraordinary as that.” P CHAPTER VIII. The Colonel nodded approbation; Lady Sarah began to feel uncomforta “I should like to know whether any one called whilst you were at dinner,” mused the officer. "Can I see the man who attends to the hall door?” "Thomas attends to that,” said the Colonel, ringing the bell. “There is a side door, but that is only for the ser vants and tradespeople.” “I heard Thomas say that Sir George Danvers called while you were at din ner," observed Lady Sarah. “No one else. And Sir George did not go up The detective smiled. “If he had. my lady, it would have made the case no clearer.” "No,” laughed Lady Sarah, “poor old Sir George would be puzzled what to do with a diamond bracelet.” “Will you tell me,” said tbe officer, wheeling sharply around upon Thomas when he entered, “who it was that called here yesterday evening while your master was at dinner? I do not mean Sir George Danvers; the other Thomas visibly hesitated; and that was sufficient for the lynx-eyed officer. “Nobody called hut Sir George, sir,” he presently said. The detective stood before the man staring him full in the face with a look of amusement. “Think again, my man.” quoth he. “Take your time. There was some one else.” The Colonel fell into an explosion; reproaching the unfortunate Thomas with having eaten his bread for five years, to turn around upon the. house and its master at last, and act the part of a deceitful, conniving wretch, and let in that swindler “He’s not a swindler, sir,” inter rupted Thomas. “Oh, no, not a swindler," roared the Colonel, “he only steals diamond bracelets.” “No more than I steal ’em, sir,” again spoke Thomas. "He’s not capa ble. sir. It was Mr. Gerard.” The Colonel was struck speechless; his rage vanished and down he sat in _ a chair, staring at Thomas. Lady Sarah colored with surprise. “Now. my man," cried the officer, why could you not have said it was Mr. Gerard?” “Because Mr. Gerard asked me not to say he had been, sir; he is not friendly here just now. and I promised him I would not. Ar.d I’m sorry to have had to break my word.” "Who is Mr. Gerard, pray?” “Ho is my nephew,” interposed the checkmated Colonel. “Gerard Hope.” “But as Thomas says, he is no swindler,” remarked Lady Sarah: “he is no thief. Yon may go, Thomas.” “No. sir,” stormed the Colonel, “fetch Miss Seatoa here first. I'll come to the bottom of this. If he has done it Lady Sar^h. I will bring him to trial, though he ts Gerard Hope.” Aiiec caiwa back leaning on the arm or T/Mly Tram-.;* Cht-nevlx; the latter flawing been rtjriug with curios ity to come in before. “So the mystery is orrS ma'im,” be gan the Colonel to Miss Seaton; “it appears this gentleman was right and that somebody did come in; and that somebody the rebellious Mr. Gerard Hope.” Alice was prepared for this, for Tbomas had told her Mr. Gerard's visit was known; and she was not so agi tated as b°fore. It was the fear of Its being found out, the having to conceal it, which had troubled her. "It is not possible that Gerard can have taken the bracelet,” uttered Lady Sarah. "No, it is not possible," replied Al ice. "And that is why I was unwilling to mention his having come up.” “What did ho come lor?" thun dered the Colonel. "It was not an intentional visit. I believe he only followed the impulse of the moment. He saw me at the front window, and Thomas, it appears was at the door, and he ran up.” "I think you might have said so, Alice," observed Lady Sarah, in a stiff tone. “Knowing he had been forbidden the house, I did not wish to bring him un der the Colonel's displeasure," was all the excuse Alice could offer. "It was not my place to inform against him.” “I presume he approached suffi ciently near the bracelets to touch them, had he wished?” observed the officer, who, of course, had now made up his mind upon the business—and upon the thief. “Ye—s,” returned Alice, wishing she could have said no. "Did you notice the bracelet there after he was gone?” "I cannot say I did. I followed him from the room when he left, and then I went into the front room, so that I had no opportunity of observ ing.” "The doubt is solved," was the mental comment of the detective offi cer. The Colonel, hot and hasty, sent several servants various ways in search of Gerard Hope, and he was speedily found and brought. A tall and powerful young man, very good looking. “Take him into custody, officer!” was the Colonel’s impetuous command. “Hands off, Mr. Officer—if you are an officer!” cried Gerard, in the first shock of surprise, as he glanced at the gentlemanly appearance of the other, who wore plain clothes, "you shall not touch me unless you can show legal authority. This is a shame ful trick. Colonel—excuse me—but as I owe nothing to you, I do not see that you have any such power over me.” The group would have made a fine study; especially Gerard; his head thrown back in defiance, and looking angrily at everybody. "Did you hear me?” cried the Col onel. "I must do my duty.” said the police officer, approaching Gerard; "and for authority—you need not suppose I should act, if without it.” "Allow me to understand, first," re marked Gerard, haughtily, eluding the officer. “What is it for? What is the sum total?” "Two hundred and fifty pounds!” growled the colonel. "But if you are thinking to compromise it in that way, young sir, you will find yourself mis taken.” "Oh, no fear," retorted Gerard. "I have not two hundred and fifty pence. Let me see; it must be Dobbs. A hun dred and sixty—how on earth do they slide the express up? I did it, sir, to oblige a friend.” “The dueee you did!” exchoed the colonel, who but little understood the speech, except the last sentence. "If ever I saw such a cool villain in all my experience!” "He was awful hard up,” went on Gerard, “as bad as I am now, and I dia it. I don’t deny having done such things on my own account, but from this particular one I did not benefit a shilling.” CHAPTER IX. His cool assurance and liis words struck them with consternation. “Dobbs said he'd tnke care I should be put to no ineonvenienve—and this comes of it! That’s trusting your friend, lie vowed to me. this very week, that he had provided for the bill.” “He thinks it only an affair of debt,” screamed Lady Frances C'henevlx. “Oh, Gerard! what a relief! VVe thought you were confessing.” “You are not arrested for debt, sir,” cried the officer, "but for felony." “For felony!" uttered Gerard Hope. “Oh, indeed. Could you not. make it murder?” he added, sarcastically. “Off with him to Marlborough street, officer!” cried the exasperated colonel, “and I’ll go with you and prefer the charge. He scoffs at it, does he?” “Yes, that I do,” answered Gerard, “for whatever pitfalls I may have got into in the way of debt and careless ness, I have not gone into crime.” “You are accused, sir,” said the offi cer. “of stealing a diamond bracelet.” “Hey!” uttered Gerard, a flash of intelligence rising to his face as he glanced at Alice. “I might have guessed it was the bracelet affair, if I had had my recollection about me.” “Oh, oh,” triumphed the colonel in sneering jocularity, “so you expected it was the bracelet, did you? We shall have it all out presently.” “I heard of the bracelet's disappear ance,” said Mr. Hope. "I met Miss Seaton when she was out this morning and she told me it was gone." “Hetter make no admissions,” whis pered the officer in his ear. “They may be ured against you.” "Whatever admissions I may make, you are at liberty to use them, for they are truth,” haughtily returned Gerard. "Is it possible that you do suspect me of taking the bracelet, or is this a 1 joke?” “Allow me to explain,” panted Alice, stepping forward. “I—I—did not ac cusp you, Mr Hope; 1 would not !.<.»«• ; ment'oned your name in connection with It, because i am sure you are \n nocet.t; but when it was discovered that you had been here I could not deny it.” “The charging me with having taken it Is absurdly preposterous’’’ exclaimed Gerard, looking first at his uncle and then at the officer. “Who accuses me?” “I do,” said the colonel. “Then I am very sorry it Is not somebody else Instead of you, sir.” "Explain. Why?” “Because they would get a kindly horsewhipping. “Gerard,’ Interrupted Lady Sarah, “do not treat it in that light way. If you did take it say so and you shall be forgiven. I am sure you must have been put to it terribly hard; only con fess it and the matter shall be hushed up." “No, it sha n’t, my lady!" cried the colonel. “I will not have him encour aged—I mean felony compounded.” "It shall,” returned Lady Sarah, “it shall indeed. The bracelet was mine, and I have a right to do as I please. Believe me, Gerard, I will put up with the loss without a murmur, only con fess, and let the worry be done with.” Gerard Hspe looked at her; little trace of shame was there in his coun tenance. "Lady Sarah,” he asked, in a deep tone, “can you indeed deem me capable of taking your bracelet?” “The bracelet was there, sir, and it went, and you can’t deny it!” uttered the colonel. “It was there, fast enough,” an swered Gerard. ”1 held it in my band for tw'o or three minutes, and was talking to Miss Seaton about It. I was wishing it was mine, and saying what I should do with it.” "Oh, Mr. Hope, pray say no more,” involuntarily interrupted Alice. "You will make appearances worse.” “What do you want to screen him for?” impetuously broke out the col onel, turning upon Alice. “Let him say what he was going to say.” "I do not know why I should not say it," Gerard Hope answered, in, it must be thought, a spirit of bravado or recklessness, which he disdained to check. "I said I should spout it." “You’ll send off to every pawnshop in the metropolis, before the night's over, Mr. Officer!” cried the choking colonel, breathless with rage. "This beats brass.” “But I did not take it any more for having said that,” put in Gerard, in a graver tone. “The remark might have been made by any one, from a duke downwards, if reduced to his last shifts, as I am. I said if it were mine; I did not say I would steal to do it. Nor did I.” “I saw him put it down again,” said Alice Seaton, tn a calm, steady voice. “Allow me to speak a word, colonel,” resumed Lady Sarah, Interrupting something her husband was about to say. “Gerard, I cannot believe you guilty; but consider the circumstances. The bracelet was there; you acknowl edge it; Miss Seaton left the apart ment when you did, and went Into the front room; yet when 1 came up from dinner, It w’as there no longer.” The colonel would speak. "So It lies between you and Miss Seaton," he put In. "Perhaps you would like to make believe she appropriated it.” “No,” answered Gerard, with flash ing eye. “She cannot be doubted. I w'ould rather take the guilt upon my self than allow her to be suspected. Believe me, Lady Sarah, we are both innocent." (To he continued.) POUND FOOLISHNESS. Not Always Kcouomy to liuy in Large Quantities. One of the commonest forms of pound foolishness is countenanced by many high authorities. This is the purchase of certain household pro visions in large quantities. Few wri ters on domestic topics fail to lay stress upon the economy of buying groceries in bulk. That sugar and flour, potatoes and apples should be bought, by the half or whole barrel, cereals by the case, butter by the tub, and other things In like proportion, is one of the early precepts in the ‘‘Young Housekeeper’s Complete Guide to Do mestic Economy.” The ignorant young things buy the provisions first and the experience afterward. The flour grows musty, the cereals develop wee vils, the potatoes and apples rot long before they can be eaten, and the cook exercises a lavishness in the use of butter and sugar she would never show were they bought in such limited amounts that the housekeeper could hold close watch over them. Even after these events the young mistress feels as if she were absolutely reck less and no manager at all when she so far departs from household law as to buy food in small quantities.—Inde pendent. Evidence to the Contrary. “Do you think that a man is always better off for a college education?” “No,” answered the housewife, rather sharply- "This morning I asked a man who came around with a wagon whether he had any nice fresh eggs. He merely looked at me reproachfully and said: “Madam, might I be permit ted to observe that fresh eggs are al ways nice eggs, and nice eggs are al ways fresh?”—Washington Star. Long Fnnngti for Any One. Teacher—How many of my scholars can remember the longest sentence they ever read? Hilly—Please, mum, I can. Teacher—What? Is there only one? Well, William, you may tell the rest of the scholars the longest sen tence you ever re? Billy—imprison ment for life.—Sli! y Stories. Losers are always in the wrong. Ql ESTIONSOF DETAIL. PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE REC IPROCITY PROPOSITION. - I Fltal riinslrtrrations W’lilcli Sliiiut! Rn gage the Careful Attention of the [ Kortiii'onilntt C'oeentlou of Ainerieau Manufacturers. From the American Economist: The advocates of Tariff concessions as a means of enlarging our export trade do not condescend to tell us how their plan would work. They do not go into particulars. When asked to specify they invariably decline to take up de tails. These, they say, must be left for latpr consideration, the main thing be ing to agree upon the general principle that in order to sell more we must buy more, and in order to buy more we must lower our duties so as to admit au increased quantity of foreign-made commodities. If requested to name what branch or group of domestic in dustries shall diminish their produc tion, or cease altogether to produce to the end that we may buy larger quantities of foreign goods of the same character, they evade the question. Evidently they have not gone into the matter deeply enough to give a spe cific answer. Nevertheless, the extension of our export trade by means of Tariff con cessions, whether by special trade treaties, or by legislative lowering of the Tariff schedules, is a practical question, a question of specific detail. Either it is that, in the deepest and broadest sense, or it is a reckless, ig norant tampering with existing condi tions that is morally certain to lead to disaster. Somebody must answer the question, and answer it plainly: "What industries will you select for slaughter in order that we may offset our big export surplus by an increase in tlie volume of imports of competi tive goods?" Perhaps it will be an swered by tho forthcoming convention to lie held under the auspices of the National Manufacturers' Association. It certainly should be answered, for it is the main question, almost tho only question to come before that assembly of notables. Bearing directly upon this question is a letter lately addressed to ‘he Philadelphia Times by Mr. S. H. Welheumayer, treasurer of the Blue Ridge Knitting Company of Hagers town, Maryland. It is the outgiving of a practical man who knows whereof he speaks, and who is able to present his facts in plain, convincing language. Mr. Weilieumayer says: "I have been greatly interested in articles on reciprocity in your paper of recent dates and feel sorry to see a man of Mr. Search’s prominence take the stand that he does. The importa tion of foreign goods hurts labor more than the manufacturer, as mills will not be run at a loss. If his raw ma terial cannot be purchased cheaper he is bound to reduce wages to meet the same. "If the present Tariff is too high and goods cannot be purchased at a profit, there is plenty of home com petition to keep prices down to a rea sonable figure. On the other hand, if Mr. Search would have the Tariff re duced, and it would not hurt the man ufacturers, it certainly would do the other country entering into the reci procity agreement no good. I would like to have Mr. Search explain how it can be dona otherwise. Or better yet, go into the hosiery manufacturing business, have a satisfactory reciproc ity agreement reducing Tariff on hos iery. and demonstrate to us how it could be done; and also explain how can a too high Tariff prevent us from exporting. 1 can readily see how a low Tariff can easily stop us from ex porting as well as supply the home demand. We are always ready to learn and are looking for new ideas. "The hosiery industry has more peo ple with limited capital engaged in it than in any other line, and I venture to say wo have more mills scattered over the country than any other one industry. As the manufacture of full fashioned hose is really in its infancy in tills country, and considerable cap ital is now being invested in manufac turing these goods as well as machin ery to produce the same, it undoubt edly would he a poor policy to add more disadvantages to their lot than they now have to contend with. As I understand it. reciprocity is to encour age the purchasing of goods that we do not produce in this country from the country that encourages their peo ple to purchase from us such articles as they do not produce in sufficient quantities to meet the demand. "To cripple the hosiery manufactur ing industry to benefit other industries is undoubtedly wrong. Mr. Search should not forget that the motto, "United we stand; divided we fall” can be applied to Protectionists; and unless he can explain his motives bet ter we must offer him our sympathy, as his future ability to do the country the good he has done in the past must he at an end.” Mr. Welheumaycr should be invited to read a paper before the reciprocity convention of the National Manufac turers’ Association. He would he the right man in the right place, for he could tell the convention some things which it ought to know. Among other thiugs, he can make clear the proposi tion that the only TarifT changes of any value whatsoever to the foreign producer are changes that will enable him to sell in the American market goods which are now made in America and by so much displace domestic pro duction and decrease the employment of domestic labor; in short. Free Trade. Anything less than that would be a worthless concession. The same facts obtain in many *44er lines of In dustry whose exrslence was Threatened by the Kansas treaties. Once in pos session of these facts the reciprocity convention would have an easy task — simply to reaffirm th .* national Repub lican platform for of 1900, sanctioning reciprocity “in articles which wo do not ourselves produce," and then ad journ and go home. PACIFIC COAST SENTIMENT. A