Ida no sooner found herself alone than she took from her wardrobe a
black dress, a long cloak, a bonnet and black veil. She quickly donned
them, then stole into the corridor, locking the door after her, and
putting the key in her pocket.
If she could get out of the house and into the grounds unobserved, all
would be well. Fortune favored her; no one was in sight.
She made her way to the railway station, and bought a ticket for
Washington. On the train was quite a number of people whom she had met
before. But they did not recognize her with the veil pulled so closely
over her face.
The world seemed to stand still; but her heart seemed to beat wildly,
as she thought of it all.
At last Washington was reached, and for a minute she stood irresolute
as she stepped upon the platform of the depot. Then she timidly crossed
over to where a policeman stood.
"I--I would like to be directed to a pawn-broker's store, if--if you
know where there is one," she said.
The guardian of the peace looked at her suspiciously.
It was a part of his business to believe all strangers dishonest until
he found them otherwise.
"Are you so much in need of money as to have to resort to that?" he
asked, taking in the stylish make and fine texture of the clothes she
wore.
"Yes," she answered, timidly.
The policeman pointed to a store a couple of blocks further up, and Ida
started for the place indicated, after stopping to inquire when the
train returned to where she had come from.
He gave her the information, and watched her curiously until she was
out of sight.
"It is evident that she has come to Washington simply for the purpose
of pawning something. As soon as I reach the other end of my beat I
will make it my business to step into Uncle Samuel's and ask what she
has disposed of. It is just as well for me to know."
Meanwhile, Ida hurried quickly on her errand.
The pawn-broker's clerk glanced up impatiently as the door opened and
the dark-clad figure glided in.
"I--I should like to see the proprietor, to ask if he will advance me a
sum of money on some diamonds."
"Have you got them with you?" asked the man, carelessly.
"Yes," said Ida, faintly; "but can't I see the proprietor?"
"You can deal with me just as well," he answered.
After a moment's hesitation, Ida produced the package from her pocket,
and unwrapping it, disclosed the magnificent diamonds.
A cry of surprise broke from the clerk's lips. In all the years of his
life he had never seen anything so grand as the diamond necklace. But,
like all shrewd men in his calling, he carefully suppressed the cry of
astonishment.
"How much do you want to realize on this?" he asked, indifferently.
"One thousand dollars," said Ida, faintly.
"Ha! ha! ha!" he laughed. "That's pretty good, when you know full well
that you couldn't realize one-half that sum on them."
"But I shall have to!" cried Ida.
The man closed his hand down over the lid.
"How did you come by these?" he asked.
He saw the slender figure shiver.
"You have no right to ask me anything like that," she replied.
"Probably not," returned the man; "still, when we don't ask, we
generally do a great deal of guessing. But to end the matter, I will
advance you a couple of hundred on them."
"I must have a thousand dollars," repeated Ida. "If it were not
absolutely necessary for me to raise the money on them, I should not
have brought them here."
"Two hundred is a nice little sum," said the man. "If you refuse to
take that, I might take it into my head to hold you on suspicion, and
call in a policeman. Bear in mind, I will give you that amount of money
without asking you where they came from. A policeman would want to
know the whys and wherefores of the whole thing."
"I--I _must_ raise a thousand dollars on them," she reiterated,
grasping the jewel-case.
The man's bluff had not worked.
"That's all _I'll_ give; but father might accommodate you with a little
more," he added, touching a little bell.
The summons was instantly answered by a short, stout little man who
looked as if he had overheard the conversation.
A quick glance passed between them.
"Here is something for you to decide," went on the young man. "This
lady tells me that she wants a certain amount for these diamonds."
"I must have a thousand dollars," interposed Ida, "and if you can
not advance me that amount, do not detain me, please; I must look
elsewhere."
Again the lid was thrown back, and the casket exposed to the elder
man's gaze. He fairly caught his breath as the blazing jewels met his
eye. A wolfish expression leaped into his face.
"I think I can accommodate the lady," he said, blandly. "My motto is to
please the ladies even if I have to strain a point to do so."
He placed his hand in his pocket and brought forth a roll of bills.
"How will you have the money--in tens or twenties?" he asked.
"It does not matter much," said Ida.
He handed her a roll of bills.
"You can count it, and see if the amount you wish is there," he said.
She counted it over with trembling hands. Yes, there was just a
thousand dollars there.
"You will take great care of the diamonds?" she asked, eagerly.
"Certainly--certainly. They are as safe in my hands as though they were
in your own keeping, lady."
She put the money in her pocket, and hurried from the place.
"Abraham! Abraham!" cried the old man, excitedly, as soon as the street
door had closed upon her, "our fortune is made! This necklace is worth
at least a cool seventy-five thousand if it's worth a penny, and we
have got it in our possession for a paltry thousand dollars!"
"I knew the diamonds were very fine, and worth a fortune," replied the
young man; "but I did not know they were worth as much as that. What do
you intend to do with them, father? You will have to give them up to
her if she claims them."
"Do you think I'm a fool!" exclaimed the elder man, angrily. "She'll
never lay eyes on those stones. Depend on that!"