Owen Oliver

“ Parson Smith was still standing motionless when the carriage turned the corner. He did not sleep that night.
He called upon her next morning and gave her the jewels,
“You are mistaken on one point,” he began; but she cut him short fiercely.
“Do not dare to speak to me!” she cried. “And do not suppose that I am influenced by any pity for you—or any softening of the heart! Those who steal deserve to pay the penalty. It is just. It is right. If the thief had been this man Jones, he should go to prison. ”

“ And then he told him of his interview with Miss Bell.
“Now, Jones,” he concluded, “I've let her think this because she'd spare me, but she wouldn't spare you; and—she's the woman I love. So you'll have to keep straight. You owe it to me.”
“Sober Jones” cried like a child. He wished it was even harder to go straight, he said, so that he could do it for the parson. And from that day to this there is no more upright man than “Sober Jones.”
The next afternoon Parson Smith was sitting in a little room, compiling the accounts of the coal club; and Mrs, Millet showed in Sadie Bell. ”

“ It was a foolish thing to do, and she had it in her power to give you a deal of trouble.”
“Yes,” said Parson Smith. “She had.”
He brought “Sober Jones” back to his family, and started him upon a life of honesty out of the balance of the “overcoat fund.” He denied himself more, and worked harder among the poor. He grew quieter and more thoughtful; and, when he preached, the gift of words seemed to come to him. Sorrow speaks, especially when we are silent about the sorrow. ”

“ They are a queer flock; but there are some rough diamonds among them.”
“And some polished ones!” cried Miss Sadie. “Mine!”
Parson Smith shook his head sadly. “I fear so!—I fear so! I thought I had persuaded him to give up that sort of thing, but——”
“You know the thief?” she interrupted quickly.
“I understand that it is 'Sober Jones.'” He glanced at the superintendent; and the superintendent nodded. “It is a blow to me. I had great hopes of Jones—great hopes. He is an abstemious man, and a kind husband and father. Circumstances led him into evil courses ”

“ She was staying at Lord Endswell's country house, just outside Endswell. Some of her diamonds had been stolen the night before; hence her excursion into the town, and some disposition to criticise it.
“It doesn't even look wicked,” she complained; “only nasty.”
“Ah!” said the superintendent. “You ought to go down some of those alleys—or rather you ought not. There's no one can venture there alone, except Parson Smith.”
Miss Sadie turned to the Hon. Tom. They did not share their parents' desire for a matrimonial alliance between them; but they were on good terms. ”

“ He put on his hat and strode away.
“I'll soften my heart when I get back those diamonds,” Miss Sadie told her companions; “and not before, I guess!”
She watched Parson Smith's broad back, with a strange look in her eyes. “What do you make of him?” she demanded sharply.
“A man,” said the Hon. Tom, with unusual gravity.
“That's it,” the superintendent agreed.
“I'll tell you what I make of him,” said Miss Sadie. “A thief! He stole my diamonds!”
The Hon. Tom glared, and the superintendent laughed.
“Hang it all!” the Hon. Tom spluttered. “Hang it all! He's a 'varsity man; and a double blue ”

“ He jerked his head toward a man who had just come out of a narrow passage on the other side of the road, and was striding along parallel with them—a very tall young fellow, who seemed to have obtained an unfair share of arms and legs, and to be somewhat embarrassed with them. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1933, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 90 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”