Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-10

| know. Perhaps from some uncriticaI
man in the street But gain 1t he did,
and he used the opportunity to good ad-
vantage. / can easily imagine the per-
lection Of wizardry he brought to bear
upon Delroy, the persuasive eloquence,
the irresistible fascination In the end
he succeeded not only in persuading
Delroy Of the perfect feasibility Of the
scheme, but In gaining admission to
Delroy's family.
! 1t had been achieved in this wises
They were discussing the railroad en-
terprise one afternoon, and finally the
Delroy was delighted to find his COM
panion a conhoisseur Of delicate per-
ception and apparently wide expert
ence.
II suppose you've been attending
the opera" he inquired finally.
ooh. certainly; always when there Is
something care especially to hear"
''De Reszke and Melba are on to-
night"
! II intend to be there" said Tremaine
instantly, no doubt guessing at what
i would follow.
'Then come up to our box" said
Delroy. wen be glad to have you"
81 shall be very glad to come"
The words were spoken evenly,
quietly. without any indication of that
deep burst of triumph which glowed
within him; for 1t was a triumph-a
veritable one-one for which many
men and most women would have
made any sacrifice He controlled him
self admirably, too, at the opera, and
4 1t was not until the end of the second
! act that he sought the box. He en-
tered quietly, and the introductions
were accomplished In q moment Be-
sides Delroy and his wife. Miss Croy-
don and Drysdale were present. Their
reception Of him, 1t must be added, was
somewhat icy, but this he did not seem
to notice.
1t was not to be denied that he added
greatly to the life of the party; his
comment was SO apt, so brilliant, SO
Illuminating, yet not In the least self
assured. Drysdale fell under the spell
at once. and even the women. who
naturally looked somewhat askance ut
the intruder-who, indeed, had greeted
him with glances almost Of repugnance
lin the end yielded to it.
! During q pause in the conversation
Delroy's glance happened to fall upon
the superb necklace Of pearls which
encircled Mis- wife'S throat
"Why, see there, Edith" he cried,
"how those pearls have changed. They
seem absolutely lifeless"
Mrs. Delroy picked up a strand with
trembling fingers and looked at it.
$50 they do" she agreed, little
hoarsely. That's queer. They've
changed since put them on"
Fortunately said Tremaine suave-
ly, 1.-THE defect is one which Is very
easily remedied. A few days bath in
salt water will restore their brilllancy.
It might be worth asking some jeweler
about. Mrs. Delroy's necklace is orth
saving" and he examined it win the
glance of connoisseur.
1t invited examination, for 1t was
almost unique in its perfection. 1t had
been Delroy's one great extravaganza.
He had spent many years collecting
the stones, which were of beautiful
iridescence and perfectly matched, and
they had formed his wedding gift to his
wife. The value Of the separate stones
was not less than 100000; their value
combined in the necklace could be only
a matter Of conjecture.
EYES," agreed Drysdale, with little
laugh, ut certainly is. You'd better
take 1t down to Tiffany, Dickie."
"r WILL" said Delroy. "And don't
think anything more about it, Edith"
II won't" she answered, still smil
ing, her eyes unnaturally bright. "But
It's very close in here. should like a
glass Of water"
It appeared that the press of social
duties and the trying spring weather
were proving too much for Mrs. Del
roy's strength, which was never great,
and which had been especially taxed
this season by the Introduction Of her
sister to New York society. Even the
comparative quiet, Of the Lenten sea-
son failed to restore her, and the re-
sumption of the social whirl after
Easter moved Delroy to protest.
you're going 1t too hard, Edith, " he
remarked. sYou need rest and a
change of air; so do I, though perhaps
don't look 1t. Suppose we go down to
Edgemere for week or two"
'sWould you like to go?" she asked
eagerly. "Thank you, dear. do feel
the need Of it."
"Then I'll wire at once to Thomas to
get the house ready. Shall we say next
Saturday.
"That will do nicely"
It was not till the evening before
their departure that he referred to the
matter again.
Jacks coming with u.s." he said,
'.and, by the way, Edith, I've asked
Tremaine to come down tomorrow and
stay the week. / want to perfect our
plans for that railroad project; and.
besides, he's about the most fascinat-
ing fellow ever met
eyes," she agreed. with q strained