Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-21
| a
$3.50


such reason, Bertha had fitted herself
out in her most taking costume. Her dress oi
rustling black silk, with deep rich lace was top
ped of with modsh hat Of chiffon and jet and
plunes. Her creaseless gloves, the glinting tips
of her patent feathers, and the diamondshaped
girdle at her waist, satisfied the eye that every
essential Of a well-dressed woman had been at.
tended 10.
So complete was the ensemble that felt at
a glance that such woman should not be seen
in the street outside of carriage. In fact, Ber-
tha herself seemed conscious of the incongruity
So, after leaving her hotel she walked down
the street to a livery stable. There her eyes
critically scrutinized every jehu and his car
riage. Not detail of man, beast, or vehicle es-
capped her artistic judgment-or, rather, her bus
mess acumen But at last her woman's instinct
of the eternal fitness Of things seemed to become
satisfied.
The carriage was one which public service had
not yet dimmed Of an arstocratic polish and
Skinner. The harness mounted, the horses
well checked up, and the driver possessed of a
suit of green livery and conscious sedateness of
manner that marked him apart from the common
"eabby" At some time, in shrouded past, he
had been private eoachman.
With such an entourage, it was only natural
that, as the carriage drew up before large jew
elry establishment in fashionable business thor
oushfare of the city, the boy in livery swung
open the plate-glass door unusually wide and
obsequopsly. He had learned the art of his vo-
cation. The proprietor, too, hastened forward
with an unusual blandness.
''And what can show MADAME he queried,
with unctuous Difference, inspired by this pos
sible customer of wealth.
T,,t tha &C. 10of he
was blase, languid. She pulled off her gloves list
lessly-a matter of business necessity, and also
an essential to bored ennui.
'fReally," she replied, II don't know. 1 was
just driving by, and came in; it warm in
the carriage But let me see'-she paused rehec-
tively-"yes, believe have pearl brooch. 1
want it reset with diamonds"
'fYou have it with you?" asked the jeweler,
almost apologetically.
Bertha aroused herself sufficiently to feel the
soft, silk band about her throat.
"Ah, no! I have left it at home," she replied.
ssBut it makes difference. l will just see
what stones you have while am here. Perhaps
/ can pick out the ones l want. Then you can
send and get the brooch tomorrow"
Certainly; just madam wishes"
The tray which the diamond merchant set on
the heavy glass case before her showed just eigh-
teen unset diamonds. He had counted them ac-
curately-Very accuraJely-De1ore ne set them
forth. That was hobby of his If there were
eighteen stones in the tray when he set it out,
and eighteen stones in the tray when he set it
back, why, manifestly, one had taken any in
the interim.
1t was clever idea, all his own, on which he
secretly and sometimes publicly congratulated
himself. 1t enabled him to display more mark
ed insoucance and confidence in his customer
than he otherwise could possibly have DONE
STILL his eyes occasionally turned toward Ber
tina, as she daintily poised each stone between
her eyes and the light. But it was not the deft
suppleness of the taperng fingers, however, that
occasioned this caution; Bertha was evidently
too much of lady for him to think of that 1t
was mere force of habit
For even some ladies, wives of brokers' and
bankers, this man had learned have to be watch
ed. Why they would persist in taking an occa
sional diamond, brooch or a pin, he had never
been able to fathom; men-at least, men of
wealth-neyer did such things.
STILL it could not be said that he really cared
Just so long as he saw them do it. OF course
he was too much of gentleman-and business
man--ever to make scene with them. He sim
ply told their husbands and the latter gladly
little more, by way Of suggesting secrecy. 1t !
was really most profitable branch of his busi-
ness.
But Bertha quickly satisfied him on that score.
She was too languidly indifferent, too lethargic
There was about her none of that quick tense
nervousness which marked the well-to-do women |
whom he had learned to watch. She was sim |
ply leaning forward, with her elbows resting on
the case and the tray conveniently in front OF
her.