< Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu
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lady has fallen under a thief?”

“Ah! that 1s where the m,” exclaimed Mro Kingsley o great distress. T ask vou now, 1s 1t likely that Beryl, who has cverything she requires for her uncle is wealthy - and who would shudder at anvthing that by any possible means could be (()nstluul as wrong-doing, would descend to purlomn jewcellery from a jeweller’'s shop 27

I could not help smiling at what scened to be the sweet simplicity of this love-stricken young man, nor could I refraum from saying = -

the suspicion of being

mvstery comes

DONTT DRIVE ME

YROR HEAVEN'S SAKLE

“Tnanswer to your question, Mr. Kingsley, permit me to say that the annals of erime contain many such cases. Unhappily, neither

cducation nor moral tminin‘gr s sufherent safeguard agaimst transgression, where the

tendencey to wrong-domg exists. In the case I point 3t 15 very |)()ssll)IL that the lady’s vanity and love of display have tempted her to her fall.”

“TFor Hceaven's sake, Mr. Donovan, don't drive me mad,” eried my visitor, with an out- burst of passionate distress that begot my fullest sympathy. “If all the angels Heaven were to come down and proclanm Beryl's cuilt, [ would sull belicve her innocent.”

STRANLD

MaD !

M AGAZLINY,

“May I venture to remark,” T answered, “that m all probability this sentiment docs more eredit to your heart than vour head ?”

SDotedl vou, sin” o exclaimed Kingsley, almost ficreely, *that Bervl Artois s as imnocent as you are !’ “Well, now, Mo Kingsley,” as - we o have had the sentimental and poctical side ol the affair, let us go into the more vulear and prosaic part of the husiness, Therclore please give me a plain, straight- forward answer to the questions 1 shall put

to vou. Iirst, where does Mr. Tamworth reside 27

I observed,

[

e resides at Linden House, Thames Ditton.”

“Nou say he s well off 27

“Yes. He keeps numerous ser- vants, rides to hounds, drives his carrlage, and is very highly re- spected.”

“Has he his nicee 27

“Inoevery behieve,”

“And has supplicd her with all she has wanted 2”7

“Yes. T odo not think any reasonable wquut of hers has ever been refused.”

And now, as regards the charge she has to meet. Give me full particulars of that.”

“ICappears that the day before vesterday she came up to town in the ln()uwlmm, and drove to Whit- ney, Blake, and Montague, the well-known jewellers of - Regent Street. “There she stated that she wished to purchase a diamond bracelet for a New Year's gift, and some costly thmgs were shown to her. Butafter more than an hour spent e the shop she could not make up her mind, for though she saw what she wanted, the price was higher than she cared to go to and, before committing hersell to the purchase of the article, she was anxious to consult her uncle, sinee she is necess: wily dependent upon him for her pocket-money. Conscquently, she told the assistant in the shop that she would cadl agam the nest dayv and decide. She thereupon took her departure, and entered tne brougham, hut had not procceded very Lar hefore the assistant tore down the street, accompanied by a policeman, overtook the brougham, which had been brought to a standstill owing to the congested traffic, and accused Miss Artors of having purloined a

always been kind to

possible way, 1

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