Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-17
CHAPTER ~.
Cut and Thrust.

Indignation at what he considered Del
roy's laxness had not In the least dimin-
ished. and his distrust of Tremaine had
grown stronger with the passing hours;
but the prospect of a day alone in the
house was intolerable. and he felt that
Grace Croydon would wish to avoid him
till the hour Of explanation was at hand.
Indeed, the sudden antagonism he had
developed toward Delroy would have sug-
gested permanent return to town had
not a point Of honor. as 1t were, COM
PEELED him to stay. He could not, at this
moment, desert Grace Croydon TO the
Vaccinations of Tremaine; he must save
her If he could, not only for his own sake.
but for hers.
1t was this gloomy meditation which
occupied him on the trip In to the city,
for his companions, Immersed in the de-
tails of the days business LETT him Sc
verely to himself He bade them good
bye at the ferry, and. in a sort of desper-
alton went down to the Record office and
asked for Godfrey. He felt that he was
being swept into waters beyond his depth
that he needed strong. cool hand 10
pluck him back to safety; but he iouhu
that Godfrey was out of town.
Delroy and Tremaine went at once TO
the Wall street Office where the confer
ence concerning the railroad was to take
place Memories of that conf erence SUN
survive in the street; wild LEGENDS con-
corning it-how a company of conserva-
tive cold blooded steel Quilted capitalists
were worked upon, bamboozled hypno.
tiZed. wrought up to enthusiasm oNsl
project which was proved, by the subse-
ouent reports of engineers, to be about as
practicable as a bridge to the moon. Even
yet the glamour of that meeting ehoures
with some of the investors who We're
present and they are still convinced thdt
a railroad in Martinique would pay q
fabulous return. Tremaine set Tor the
street a new standard OF smoothness,
and one which has never been approached;
Tremaine announced his intention OF re-
turning to Edgemere by the first train.
I'm feeling a little worn OUT py .me
mornings exertons" he explained ana
he really looked IT. When are you COM
ing out?' s..,, 1,o,ro,,
answered, and have talk with theIh
about my wife's necklace. l left 1t with
them Saturday. If they advise sea path
I'll bring it along with me. and we II see
what virtue there Is in the treatment
Perhaps there isn't any said Ire
maine; "or 1t may be that J1hany mas
some better method.
well I'll know by tonight" and Delroy
held up n reckoning finger to passing
cab. Goodbye till then"
When Tremaine reached Edgemere ne
made a tour of the hall. library, pllliaro
room, but finding them deserted at ias'
went slowly up to his own room ana re-
manned there for an hour or more men
he came down and spent the remainder OF
the afternoon walking thoughtfully ABOUT
the grounds smoking innumerapie CIGAR
cites If the object OF his early return was
another interview with MISS SpoEu .an diss
one would naturally suppose. he was as
appointed in 1t, for she, knowing perhaps
that he had come back alone, did not leave
her apartments.
Delroy and Drysdale returned togetner
on the : o'clock train. and hurried into the
house They found Tremaine lounging In
a great chair in the hall, and II the eiahGe
which Drysdale shot at him was elec.III I
- 10 od a
enough to restrain any ill-consldered or
hasty words. But he blamed himself bit-
terly for not having foresesn the posi-
bility of Tremaine's early return the rea-
son for which he guessed at once
we've Just time to make the arrange
rnents before dinner" said Delroy, and he
held up a long morocco case. ,...
All" and Tremaine rose-lazily, SO you We
brought 1T? Tiffany advises 1T, them?
.'Yes-but come into the library and you
sball hear Thomas ask Mrs. Deyroy and
Miss Croydon If they will come down TO
the library for moment. l want to get
the stones in the water at once ,.
Drysdale. looking at Tremaine, thought
he perceived a sudden flash OF triumph IN
his face. but it was instantly repressed
and may have been only fancy. the wo-
men Joined them in the library almost I'M
mediately. Delroy unwrapped punuie
and laid 1t on the table. 1t was a little
cage of fine but exceedingly strong GIT
wire, closely meshed. 81.
MY dear" he began, turning to his
wife you know l took your necklace 10
Tiffany's lust before We came out mere
and left it for them to examine. They
seemed rather puzzled by its CONDITION,
rather skepticai about its having chahSeu
so suddenly-and they asked me TO ieaNe
q until TODAY When | went back after IL,
their expert gave me a long lecture ahout
the action of fatty acids and Inc danger OF
leaving pearls shut up in alrtgnt sate uc
postt boxes. | assured him that lhese hauI
been shut up-they haven't have they'
Editn?" ~ too
promptly. at, e Ia ,,rr,,
Il thought not. but l doubt II ne iul ts
believed me. Finally he said that In case
81 unusual as this. 1t would be wei 10 Try
the sea water treatment before proceeding
to ANYTHING more heroic-peeIng loI ~
stance" -,, ,,.-
Not very encouraging, feihiih 'U -
dale d.. ,,,,,
Tinany's up to that queer Htl!e Ia! an
Jewel store-C0ntianiS-on SD street. ooii-
tiani himself was there and he grew qul.g
excited VIXEN he saw the stones ana hei'Fd
the story. He said that a sea path WdS III
auestionabiy the best thing Tor thehlTlh
fact he advised ii most strongly ne
stones are getting deader and deadeF' 50 ~
He took up the case from the table and
snapped il open. The necklace lay "eA'ie
them a dull, clammy white
$50 il seems that the only thing to De
done is TO immerse them in their naive ere
ment for a few days" he continued; anu
the sooner it's done the better, Contain
saws That's what l brought this cage TOT.
Well put the necklace in 1t and let ii GOWN
into the water at the end of the pier
1T seems a rather dangerous thing 10
do !" objected Drysdale. why not have a
lot of water brought up to the house ana
immense them here?
Because only living sea water Will do IL
seems to have no efficacy shut up In vessel
of any kind. l asked about that particu-
larly. Besides. l don't see that therell he
any danger-we're the only ones who know.
Stin, If Edith objects
"Oh. not at ALL" said Mrs. Delroy in
stantly Il only hope the stones VIII be
restored; l think they're horrid now and
she shivered a little as she looked at them.
II would suggest, nevertheless, put in
Tremaine that a guard be stationed at the
pier, to prevent any possibility OF danger.
IL YOU haven't any servants you can fully
trust. we might ourselves take turn about"
NONSENSE" protested Delroy quickly.
DO you think I'd impose on you like thatf
II think Mr. Tremaines suggestion good
one. nevertheless" said Miss Croydon. "A
guard could stay in the boathouse for few
days without any great discomfort
Perhaps you're right and Delroy
nodded Graham and his boy will be just
the ones They can relieve each other. 80
that the time won't seem so long,"
Yes" agreed Drysdale, 1.-The Grahams are
all right.