Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-01-04
CHAPTER XIV.

u
them, for his Indignation at what h.
considered Delroy's laxness in enter
tanning man whose conduct was SO
mysterious and whose past was so
little known had not In the least di-
minished, and his distrust of Ire
maine had grown stronger with the
passing hours. The prospect of day
alone in the house was intolerable,
and he felt that Grace Croydon would
wish to avoid him till the hour of ex-
PLANTATION was at hand.
Indeed, the sudden antagonism he
had developed toward Delroy would
have suggested permanent return to
town had not point of honor, as 1t
were, compelled him to stay. He could
not, at this moment, desert Grace Croy-
don 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
details of the days business, left him
severely to himself He babe them
goodby at the ferry and, in sort Of
! desperation, 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 a
strong, cool hand to pluck him back
to safety, but he found that Godfrey
was out Of town.
no1rou on1 ,,,o~& o,>na
to the Wall street Office where the con-
ference concerning the railroad was to
take place. Memories of that confer
ence still survive in the street; wild
legends concerning it-hoX.a company
of conservative cold blooded, steel gut
ted capitalists were worried upon,
bamboozled, hypnotized, wrought up to
enthusiasm over project which was
proved by the subsequent reports of
engineers to be about as practicable as
bridge to the moon. Even yet the
glamour of that meeting endures with
some Of the investors who were pres
ent, and they are still convinced that a
railroad in Martinique would pay a
fabulous return. Tremaine set for the
street new standard of "smoothness'
and one which has never been ap-
preached.
The conference was over by noon,
and Tremaine announced his intention
of returning to Edgemere by the first
train.
"Im feeling a little worn out by the
mornings exertions," he explained,
and he really looked it. when are
you coming out?"
I'm going up to Tiffany's first" Del
roy answered, land have talk with
them about my wife's necklace. 1 left
1t with them Saturday. If they advise
sea bath, I'll bring it along with me,
and We'll see what virtue there is In
the treatment"
Perhaps there isn't any" said Ire
maine, "or it may be that Tiffany has
some better method"
well, I'll know by tonight" and
Delroy held up reckoning finger to a
passing cab "Goodby till then"
Delroy and Drysdale returned to-
gether on the o'clock train and hur-
ried into the house. They found Ire
maine lounging in great chair in the
hall, and If ~he glance which Drysdale
shot at him was electric with suspicion
he had at least self control enough to
restrain any i'll considered or hasty
words. But he blamed himself bit
terly for not having foreseen the pos
| sibility Of Tremaine's early return, the
reason for which he guessed at once.
| We've just time to make the ar
| engagements before dinner" said Del
roy, and he held up long morocco
case.
"Ah"-and Tremaine rose lazily-"so
| you've brought it? Tiffany advises it,
| then?"
"Yes-but come into the library, and
you shall hear. 1t seems that the only
thing to be done is to immense them
in their native element for few days,
and the sooner it's done the better.
That's what brought this cage for.
| Wen put the necklace In 1t and let 1t
down into the water at the end of the
pier. Only living sea water will do; it
seems to have no efficacy shut up in
a vessel of any kind. I asked about
that particularly"
II would suggest" put in Tremaine,
shat guard be stationed at the pier
to prevent any possibility Of danger"
perhaps you're right"-and Delroy
nodded. Graham and his boy will be
just the ones. They can relieve each
other so that the time won't seem so
long"
The Grahams were summoned, and
they came promptly, -. -.
! A single glance was enough to con-
vince any one Of their absolute probity
The elder man was perhaps sixty years
Of age, In the very prime of health and
strength, with weather beaten coun-
tenance, surrounded by a grizzled
beard; the younger one was about
twenty-five. Both showed the CLEAN
skin and clear eyes and firm muscles
restlting from life in the open air, for
they had the care of the acres of lawn
and garden and woodland and meadow
belonging to the estate.
Delroy held up the little cage,
"sThis string Of white stones,". be
said, SIS Mrs. Delroy's pearl necklace
worth something over 100000. ! put
them in this cage, close the lid and
fasten 1t with these little hooks. Now
| Graham, these stones have lost their
ulster, and live sea waters the only
thing that will restore it. want you
to tie rope to this cage and lower II
into the bay from the end of the pier,
securing 1t, of course, so that 1t can't