The Argosy — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

312 The Diamond Bracelets. “The detective, no doubt,” thought Morton, as he courteously returned the new-comer’s salutation, and requested him to be seated. ‘“T have taken the liberty to call, sir,” began Mr. Burtenshaw, ‘‘about your good lady’s bracelet. I always like in these matters to get my information first-hand; it saves a deal of trouble, and when I can put this and that together, a trifle sometimes makes all the difference.” “True,” assented Morton; ‘‘ but I hardly see what particulars I can give you, beyond those your inspector knows already.” “That’s just where you are wrong, sir, if you will excuse my saying so,” replied Mr. Burtenshaw. ‘‘ When I took the office, and got the heads of the story from my chief, there was one point in it which struck me as being the keystone of the whole affair. From what I gather, there is a second bracelet exactly similar to the one we are on the look-out for. Now, if I could only see that for a moment, it would help me more than all the descriptions in the world.” ‘‘ Nothing easier,” said Dewsbury. ‘‘ My wife has it on her arm still, and you can examine it as long as you please.” ‘“‘ Certainly,” chimed in the lady, who by this time had partially recovered her usual cheerfulness. Unfastening the desired object, she handed it to the detective, who inspected it minutely, but with an evidently disappointed air. ‘The stones are wonderfully fine,” he muttered, half aloud; “especially the centre one; but the design of the setting might be more original, instead of what we call the regulation pattern. It would be next to impossible, except for the diamonds, to distinguish a bracelet like this from a dozen others, unless we could light on the exact fellow to it; and, to do that, we must have this one in our hands for a few days. It is our only chance.” ‘Do you mean to say,” inquired Morton, who had overheard the colloquy, ‘‘that one would enable you to discover the other ?” ‘ Undoubtedly,” replied Mr. Burtenshaw, in a confident tone. ‘* All we require is the test of comparison, and if the lady doesn’t object ——” ‘Not in the least,” said Mrs. Dewsbury, after a moment’s consultation with her husband. ‘It will be as safe with you as with me.” ‘‘ Safer, perhaps,” observed the detective, carefully depositing the case containing the bracelet in his breast-pocket, and taking up his hat to depart. ‘“‘If the other is where I strongly suspect it ought to be, you will see them both again before the week is out.” On the following evening, punctual to his appointment, the in- spector arrived, and produced a copy of the handbill, which had been widely circulated throughout the city, offering a reward of five hundred pounds for the recovery of the stolen bracelet. ‘We can do no more at present,” he said, “ until we receive our CORMIECLIOO;KS.(E©) m