The Argosy — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Lhe Diamond Bracelet. 67 “Were they all escaped convicts, I don’t see that it would throw light on this,” retorted Colonel Hope. “If they came into the room to steal the bracelet, Miss Seaton must have seen them.” “From the time you put out the bracelets, to that of the ladies coming up from dinner, how long was it ?” inquired the officer of Alice. ‘““T scarcely know,” panted she. What with his close looks and his close questions, her breath was growing short. “I did not take par- ticular notice of the elapse of time: I was not well yesterday evening.” /Weeaeie Half an hour?” ~ ‘ Yes—I daresay—nearly so.” ‘Miss Seaton,” he continued, in a brisk tone, will you have any objection to take an oath before a magistrate—in private, you know— that no person whatever, except yourself, entered either of these rooms during that period ?” Had she been requested to go before a magistrate to testify that she, herself, was the guilty person, it could scarcely have affected her more. Her cheek grew white, her lips parted, and her eyes assumed a beseech- ing look of terror. Lady Sarah Hope hastily pushed a chair behind her, and drew her down upon it. “Really, Alice, you are very foolish to allow yourself to be excited about nothing,” she remonstrated : ‘‘ you would have fallen on the floor in another minute. What harm is there in taking an oath privately, when it is to further the ends of justice?” The officer’s eyes were still keenly fixed on Alice Seaton’s, and she cowered visibly beneath his gaze. He was puzzled by her evident terror. ‘ Will you assure me, on your sacred word, that no person did enter the room ?” he repeated, in a low, firm tone; which somehow carried to her the impression that he believed her to be trifling with them. She looked at him ; gasped, and looked again; and then she raised her handkerchief in ber hand and wiped her damp and ashy face. ‘I think some one did come in,” whispered the officer in her ear ; “try and recollect who it was.” And Alice fell back in hysterics, and was taken from the room. ‘Miss Seaton has been an invalid for years; she is not strong like other people,” remarked Lady Sarah. ‘I felt sure we should have a scene of some kind, and that is why I wished the investigation not to be gone into hurriedly.” “ Don’t you think there are good grounds for an investigation, sir?” testily asked Colonel Hope of the officer. “JT must confess I do think so, colonel,” was the reply. ‘“Of course: you hear, my lady. ‘The difficulty is, how can we obtain the first clue to the mystery?” ‘“‘T do not suppose there will be an insuperable difficulty,” observed Mr. Pullet. ‘I believe I have obtained one.” GOMLGD OO <S CO im