The Argosy, April 1916 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

22 “Jewels have been left around. Nothing was ever stolen before.” “Have you anything further to say about the prisoner? Her answers are straight enough, even though she has little regard for the sacred dignity of the court. At least she has not prejudiced her own case.” “Well, I have this to say, your honor, that your pleasant conversation with Miss Wayne has revealed nothing. I am not sur- prised, I am old, and know the world. I never saw a more fascinating young woman in my life. But that is not to the point. I know nothing—my daughter really knows nothing—concerning Miss Wayne. Their acquaintance began at Smith’s College, and they have met nowhere else, so far as I know. I am still of the opinion that Miss Wayne is either an accomplice of the rob- bers, or is concealing information that might be useful.” “Your honor,” said Beverly, “I swear I know nothing about the robbery.”’ “A woman,” continued Mr. Raymond, “lightly regards the sanctity of an oath. I do not wish to humiliate this girl. She is still my daughter’s friend, and I have aroused a feeling of animosity in my daugh- ter by the step I have taken... It is not the value of the presents that actuates me. But I am determined to have them back if I spend a million dollars and put every friend of my family in jail. And to prove my sincerity I will say right now that I will give fifty thousand dollars to the.per- _ son furnishing the first evidence that leads to the detection of the thieves and the re- covery of the stolen property. I want the girl kept within the jurisdiction of the court until further search is made.” “Well, I can place Miss Wayne under bond. Can you furnish a bondsman?” ‘‘He must own property in Utica,.mustn’t he?” “Not necessarily in Utica. County.” ‘Well, that’s all the same to me. I don’t know any one who can go my bail in Oneida County.” “Your honor,” spoke up Yale, “my grandfather, Latimer Yale, died a short time ago, leaving me a farm and certain buildings on the west bank of West Canada Creek, this side of Trenton Falls. The property is in Oneida County, and is a farm of about two hundred acres. There is an old stone mill on the place, and the farm is called the Old Mill Farm. I was born in In Oneida THE ARGOSY. Utica. Will I serve as bondsman for Miss Wayne?” “Can you prove title?” “T can. The papers are in the hands of the surrogate.” “The clerk will make out the papers. Next case! You may step down, Miss Wayne.” “Thanks, your honor,” she said, with a flash of the violet eyes. The judge scarcely knew what the evi- | dence in the next case was. He discharged a prisoner who confidently expected to spend three months in the Bleecker Street Jail. Oh, violet eyes! CHAPTER XII. A POSSIBLE CLUE. HAVING executed the bond to the satis- faction of the court, Yale and his charge bowed to the judge, shook hands with Blake, and walked out of the court- room, ignoring both Mr. Raymond and George Greenland. When the pair had reached the entrance to the city hall, on Genesee Street, Yale was startled by a rippling laugh at his side. He himself was in no laughing mood. “What a farce!” exclaimed Miss Wayne. “But isn’t it funny?” : Her bondsman glanced at her. Beauti- ful as he had thought her before, she was exquisite now, with her cheeks flushed, her lips parted in soft laughter, and her eyes sparkling with amusement. And yet somehow, in spite of her beauty, her mirth jarred on him. “I assure you,” he said, in the newly ac- quired stern tones of a person who had as- sumed great responsibility, “that I see no farce about it, nor anything funny. Do you realize that I have pledged my only posses- sion in the world upon your sense of honor?” She stopped short on the city hall steps. ‘‘And now you begin to regret it. You think you will lose. And of course there al- ways is that possibility. Let us go back. Withdraw your bond, and I will—what do they call it?—give myself into custody.” ‘No, no, I didn’t mean that,” he has- tened to assure her. He was really alarmed. Her manner had suddenly changed, and fium the laughing beauty of a moment before she had be- come an outraged Venus. MICLOOOK C@